Code Enforcement Doesn't Play Favorites in Mableton

Mr. Jerry Silver is the Code Enforcement Director for the City of Mableton.

What's the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions code enforcement? Most people immediately picture an officer showing up in their yard to tell them their grass is too long.

It's easy for everyday homeowners to think local government departments exist solely to issue citations and collect revenue, but a recent conversation with Mableton Code Enforcement Director Jerry Silver revealed a refreshingly different philosophy.

The True Purpose of Code Enforcement

​At its core, code enforcement is simply how the city makes sure properties follow local rules, zoning guidelines, and basic upkeep standards. The real goal behind all these regulations is to protect public health, safety, and the overall aesthetics of our community. 

To do this, code enforcement officers handle a wide range of daily responsibilities. They investigate citizen complaints, conduct field inspections, issue formal warnings and citations, and even prepare legal cases for court. At the same time, they focus heavily on educating the public to encourage everyone to follow the rules voluntarily.

Because Mableton is a new city, Jerry noted that residents are still adjusting to this local system. In the past, Cobb County handled these issues with a very limited number of officers for a massive area. This forced them to be largely reactive, meaning an officer might have to drive past seven different violations just to respond to one specific call. 

Now that Mableton has completely taken over its own code enforcement, the localized team can be fully proactive. Instead of strictly chasing complaints, officers go block by block to address all issues at once and improve the overall aesthetics of the community.

It's easy to think this local team spends all its time driving around looking for regular homeowners with overgrown lawns or trash cans left on the curb. But keeping Mableton safe and beautiful goes far beyond simple neighborhood upkeep. It means holding the biggest players in town to the exact same standards. 

No Free Passes for the Big Guys

"We write up notices to everyone," Jerry stated clearly.

Major corporations and prominent public figures face the exact same scrutiny as everyone else in Mableton. For instance, Georgia Power recently received a violation for one of their properties.

"They were given a warning notice and told that they had to clean up all the trash and debris off the property," Jerry detailed.

Jerry pointing to a current issue involving trash dumped in a church-owned property.

The utility company quickly removed the debris and put a fence up "to prevent anybody from going back there again," Jerry explained. 

The department even cited a property owned by former governor Roy Barnes for having a large amount of trash. After receiving a warning notice, they brought in dumpsters and completely cleaned everything up.

While visiting the site of Rural King, Jerry noted exposed wires as a safety hazard.

The site of the new Rural King on the East West Connector had been a major source of frustration for residents, who frequently complained about graffiti and abandoned cars at town halls and city council meetings.

The team wrote up the property to make sure the area was completely clean before its soft opening on Friday, June 26.

In fact, while we were there, Jerry noticed exposed wires on a light pole in the parking lot that his department will now have to address.

The Most Common Violations

Code enforcement monitors several property standards to keep our neighborhoods in good shape. The most common citations for homes and businesses include:

Overgrown Yards: Grass and weeds exceeding local limits at 12 inches.

Accumulated Trash and Debris: Leaving garbage, construction scraps, or household debris out in open yards.

Junk and Inoperable Vehicles: Keeping cars on the property that are dismantled, flat-tired, unregistered, or parked directly on the grass.

Illegal Outside Storage: Keeping indoor appliances, indoor furniture, or scattered items outdoors where they collect rainwater and breed pests.

Unpermitted Work: Building structures, decks, and additions, or removing major earth and trees without getting proper city clearance first.  

Blocked Storefront Windows: Gas stations and convenience stores cannot cover their windows with excessive promotional signs. If the windows are completely blocked, police cannot see inside during a potential robbery, making it a major safety concern. 

Commercial Safety Hazards: The department aggressively addresses business dangers reported by citizens.

In one instance, an elderly resident complained about rats at a local business. Officers found an unenclosed dumpster attracting rodents, along with hot commercial barbecue pits placed right near a driveway where small children could easily touch them. The business was required to enclose the dumpster, secure the grills, and fix their exterior lighting. 

This grill and smoker was once out in an open area causing safety concerns for small children.

Combating the Dumping Epidemic

​Illegal dumping is a major frustration for Mableton residents. Code enforcement tackles everything from spilled residential trash to massive piles of discarded construction materials and appliances left on the roadside.

​To combat this, the team acts like investigators, digging through the trash to find identifying paperwork.

​"If I get something with your name on it," Jerry warned, "we're writing you a citation and we're coming to hand deliver it."

Getting caught comes with a minimum $500 fine. To prevent dumping on vacant lots, Jerry advises landowners to block access with gates, chains, or barricades so vehicles cannot easily pull off the road.

Cultivating Community Through Education

This dumpster has been overflowing for several weeks and trash has been blowing on the ground on the property. There's also concern with the overgrown grass.

While the department undoubtedly issues citations, punishment is never the primary objective. The dedicated local team focuses on an "education-first" approach. Jerry aims to guide local proprietors and residents through the municipal codes to encourage voluntary compliance.

"If you educate a person, you turn them into a person that can go tell others," Jerry noted.

A Safer, More Beautiful Mableton

Ultimately, the goal of code enforcement isn't to hand out fines or catch residents off guard. It is a collaborative effort designed to keep Mableton beautiful, safe, and a place we are all proud to call home. When everyone from everyday homeowners to the biggest corporations in town plays their part, the entire community thrives.

If you want to learn more about Mableton's code enforcement guidelines, or if you need to submit a property complaint, click here to visit the city's portal.