City of Davenport Iowa

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Department Director:
Glenn Hobart
1737 West 12th Street (Rear)
Davenport, IA 52804
  • (563) 326-7746
  • (563) 888-3521
  • Monday - Friday
    7:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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Community Services Division

About Us

The Community Services Division of the Davenport Fire Department formerly known as the Neighborhood Enhancement Office (NEO) strives to build working relationships with landlords, tenants and neighborhood groups to ensure all rental housing in the city meets minimum code standards.
 
The Fire Department Community Services Division will strive to effectively serve all residents by promoting a high standard of ethics and a commitment to the essential services we provide. These services shall preserve the quality and value of property while promoting a high standard of living by eliminating conditions that threaten the health, safety and general welfare of the public. The investment into the quality of our neighborhoods presents a positive image of the City of Davenport.
 
The Community Services Division is involved in various areas of enforcement. The areas of responsibility include the inspection and code enforcement of the following: all rental housing within the city (routine and complaint-based); residential housing that is deteriorated, dangerous, or presents a hazard; buildings in which fires have occurred; vacant properties in need of being secured to prevent unauthorized entry; abandoned property; and the demolition or abatement of dangerous buildings. Enforcement of the Nuisance Ordinance is performed by the Community Services Division as well, and this is done by ensuring the abatement of nuisances, both criminal and non-criminal in nature.
  • Rental Property Inspection
    Guide to the Davenport Property Maintenance Code
    Landlord and Tenant FAQs
    Printable and submitable forms
    Links and Resources

  • Environmental Improvement Program
    Guide to the Davenport Environmental Improvement Code
    FAQ
    Submitable forms
    Links and Resources

  • Vacant/Abandoned Structures
    Vacant/abandoned structures are the most striking indication of neighborhood decline.  These properties threaten neighborhood stability and undermine the investments made by other property owners.  Vacant/abandoned buildings are a significant public safety issue.  Aside from being unsightly, they attract criminal activity and are a threat to public safety wherever they exist.  The National Fire Protection Association estimates that more that 6000 firefighters are injured each year while fighting fires involving vacant/abandoned properties.  Statistics show that more fire fighters are inured while operating at fires involving vacant/abandoned buildings than in any other property classification.

    The owners of these types of structures are first ordered to repair or demolish the structure at their expense, Chapter 8.17 .  In cases where the owner fails to repair or demolish the structure, or when the owner can not be located, this office may find cause for the building to be demolished.  Properties with that distinction will be prioritized based on certain criteria.

    Prior to demolition, a title search is ordered and; asbestos testing, asbestos abatement, historic review, other environmental impact studies are made, and finally the project goes through the bid process.  The cost of demolition becomes the responsibility of the owner with liens placed against the property to recover costs.

    In the cases when this division determines that immediate danger to public health or safety exists because of a vacant/abandoned structure,  immediate measures will be taken to ensure that the structure be demolished or repaired to a state in which it will no longer create immediate danger.

To view the Davenport Municipal Code, including the Property Maintenance Code and the Environmental Improvement Code, click here.

News Highlights

Pre-Demolition Information
Monday, October 05, 2009
Information on properties considered for demolition by the City of Davenport.
Updated City Ordinance
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Read More

Useful Links

Map of Inspector Areas
Updated City Ordinance
Community Services Division Contacts
Housing Rehabilitation Assistance
Inspection Cycle Criteria
Residential Code Enforcement: Department Overview
Public Nuisance Petition Form