DeKalb County Code Enforcement Policies and Procedures

The following information was gathered from a conversation with Officer Heckert, DeKalb County Central Precinct Code Enforcement Officer, who handles “quality of life” complaints such as junk cars, weeds, open storage in carport, etc, as well as barking dog complaints for the area that encompasses the Merry Hills neighborhood.

This information pertains to “quality of life” complaints. Major property maintenance issues, that affect habitability, are handled by the DeKalb County Code Enforcement Office (404-417-1240).

Quality of Life Complaints

What are “Quality of Life Complaints”?

“Quality of Life Complaints” are about non-adherence by property owners and occupants to standards for maintaining residential property in accordance with the DeKalb County property maintenance ordinance. These standards are summarized in the Code Enforcement Property Maintenance Ordinance brochure for Unincorporated DeKalb County available at www.merryhills.com.

Who can make a complaint

Anyone can make a complaint

• In their own name
• Anonymously
• In the name of a Homeowners Association, without identifying themselves

Note: A complaint by a Homeowners Association does not receive priority over an individual complaint.

How to complain

• Call the DeKalb County Code Enforcement Office at 404-417-1240. Give the address of the possible code violation and a description.

Note: It may take several weeks before the complaint is handled by the code enforcement office,

OR

• Call Officer Heckert at 404-294-2641. Give the address of the possible code violation and a description. Complaint usually handled within a week.

What Code Enforcement Officer does

• Inspects property as a result of a complaint
• Will often perform a street survey of the entire street or neighborhood  as a result
• If violation is found, a warning citation is issued for a first offense
• Code enforcement officer will reinspect property after two to three weeks of warning citation
• If violation has not been corrected upon reinspection, a court summons is issued
• If  reinspection shows compliance with the code, the case is closed.  If within a year, a second complaint is made about the same violation, and violation is found again, a court summons is issued
• Judge can fine up to $1,000 for an offense

Recommendation by Officer Heckert on role of Homeowners Association

• Provide education to homeowners about DeKalb County Code and violations
• Share information with homeowners about procedures for making complaints
• Invite code enforcement officer to Membership Meeting