Code Enforcement Key to Neighborhood Improvements

Broken windows, tall grass and weeds, garbage and refuse laying about, all contribute to the decline of
Freeport’s neighborhoods. This decline—if left unchecked--leads to increased blight, abandoned
properties, and crime. Ultimately, neighborhood disinvestment leads to a decline in residential property
values and erodes the community’s tax base.
“Neighborhoods start to deteriorate when we fail to hold property owners accountable for the
maintenance of their properties,” says Freeport Mayor Jodi Miller. “Rigorous property code
enforcement and blight removal has helped us turn the tide on neighborhood decline.”
Over the past few years, explains Jodi, the city has deployed several strategies to aggressively enforce
property and building codes in Freeport. These efforts have resulted in an astonishing number of code
citations and private property improvements.
“To start, quite simply, our Community Development Department has gotten much more aggressive
about enforcing our city ordinances and property and building codes,” says Jodi. “Last year alone the
department administered over 5,000 code enforcement activities. I can’t remember a time when the
city has ever had that much activity and success.”
Jodi explains these code enforcements resulted in properties being improved by their owners and 51
demolitions of blighted or dangerous properties.
With the hopes of eliminating illegal dumping in Freeport, Jodi says the city in 2025 launched its highly
successful “Refresh Freeport” project. Working with Gill’s Freeport Disposal, the city is collecting bulk
waste items at no charge to Freeport residents. In Refresh Freeport’s first two months, the city has
collected over 40 tons of bulk waste.
“It’s been a huge success so far and we are very pleased to offer this service to our residents,” says Jodi.
The city has also invested in new technology to help with their property code enforcement efforts. A
new online and digital rental property registration system has made it easier for rental property owners
to register their properties. The rental property registration requirement makes it easier for the city and
its public safety departments to contact rental property owners or managers in the event there is an
issue or concern at one of their properties.
Finally, explains Jodi, the city has implemented an I-Worx app that allows everyday citizens to log
complaints from possible property code violations to potholes.