In time, everything changes. The world of code enforcement is no different. When first entering this profession some thirty-three years ago, in a different town, the title was generally “Building Inspector.”
The duties were not so different; the administration of local zoning laws and issuing building permits, doing the inspections—basically all the same things that go on today, but not as comprehensive or detailed as today.
As in many communities back in 1980, the building inspector was also known as the zoning officer, because the duties included both local zoning regulations and the state building codes… assuming the community had adopted the state codes.
You see, back then all municipalities did not have to use the state codes. They could have their own, or none at all.
Most did have some kind of building code. The town of Webb had formally adopted the different NYS Codes available back in the early 1960’s.
Back in the ’50s and ’60s the Town of Webb was under unprecedented growth, especially along the lakes and shorelines.
This created huge concerns for the lack of any control or standards for lot size, setbacks from water, property lines, size of buildings, a whole host of things that today’s zoning regulation now address.
So, in 1965, the town of Webb formally adopted its first Zoning Ordinance.
And along with that was the beginning of a more formalized enforcement program, including someone to administer the new regulations. That person was called the “Zoning Officer.”
No training was needed. Usually this person was a retired individual just wanting to help out. No doubt the pay was poor, at best.
The person to administer the state building codes was logically the Zoning Officer.
Again, no training was required, and usually it was someone who had the time, was retired, and willing to try to deal with all the issues that came up.
Not only was there no training [except on the job training], there was little support within the industry, and often little support from the local boards.
Before 1980 all across New York State, many municipalities were struggling with all the same issues.
Maybe different types of things, because each town is different; however the concept of having [or not] the NYS codes for building purposes and then each municipality having [or not] their own local zoning and development standards, created a lot of confusion from one town to another all across the state.
By 1980, it was clear things had to change. Catastrophic fires, building collapses, injury to fire fighters, the threat to, or the loss of life, as well as property, had to be addressed on a state-wide level.
It was time to develop a state-wide mandated set of building and fire codes and train people to administer them.
The NYS Department of State [DOS] and the NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control [OFPC] became actively involved.
The state building codes that were available, not mandated, were under the jurisdiction of DOS.
And certainly OFPC was actively involved with fire prevention and was held high veneration across the state. Thus, the race was on…
Which state agency would end up having the job of administration, training and education for the new codes?
Being very involved in the process of everything at that time is something that will never be forgotten.
There was a huge battle between OFPC & DOS… and justifiably so.
Most zoning officers, especially towns and villages, were not trained to do what they were charged to do.
The permit and inspection process for all buildings, whether a house or a major commercial building, a mall or a major public assembly was clearly becoming a critical component to help establish a level of structural and fire safety.
This applied to not just the occupants, but fire responders as well. Locally, many fire departments got aggressively involved in trying to take the zoning officer’s job away, at least the state building code part, not so much the zoning.
In 1984, after four years of intensive hearings, negotiations and lobbying efforts, the Secretary of the State was given jurisdiction for the administration of the first Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code adopted by New York State.
Now nick-named the Uniform Code, this code is mandated to all municipalities within the state.
Along with this mandate for administration and enforcement, came the first ever requirement of minimum education, training and certification requirements for the officers charged with enforcing all the new codes; these people are now referred to as a “Code Enforcement Officer.”
It is amazing how the name “Zoning Officer” has stuck, and stuck hard.
Ever since 1984, which is thirty years ago, people still refer to the position as the Zoning Officer.
Although zoning administration is certainly still part of the job, it is no longer the main reason people are hired as enforcement officers.
Before 1984 people were hired to do the zoning and inherited the building codes.
Ever since 1984, people are hired for the building codes, required to take classes and pass the state exam to get the job, then they usually inherit all the zoning.
The idea of zoning officer vs. code enforcement officer is just a personal gripe.
The bigger picture is that over the last thirty years the level of professionalism in the world of code enforcement has exploded and it is only going to continue to grow.
It has to. There are already college programs and courses in code enforcement.
Not too far into the future there will be college degrees offered.
The job no longer just deals with the typical property owner over seemingly routine zoning matters.
Knowledge of the construction industry and practices, hi-tech energy concepts, structural design and analysis, materials, assembly of products, engineering, calculation of stress loads, waste water treatment, stormwater management, plan review and inspection techniques are all getting more intense.
Then add to that, people skills. You have to deal with not just the property owner but a whole range of personalities.
Design professionals, engineers, architects, mechanical engineers, contractors, trades-people, home owners, angry people, argumentative people, uninformed people, over informed people, state administrators, other state, county and federal agencies, attorneys who are knowledgeable of NYS Town Law and some not so, staff in the office and local elected officials to name some.
Having said all this, and being closer to the end of a career than the beginning, the world of code enforcement will continue to move in a direction that demands higher standards, better education, a broad range of knowledge, and profound communications skills.
It also requires a strong knowledge of the law, budgeting and organizational skills, and the ability to manage others all in a fast paced and potentially hectic environment.
Code enforcement can offer a very diverse career.
And New York State, with their minimum training, education and exam requirements that exceeds almost all other states, is recognized around the country as a leader in the industry.
Remembering many years ago during the first required state training program and the instructor said; “so you want to be a code enforcement officer… well, good luck.”