The Code Enforcement Office seeks to provide our citizens with the highest quality of service and to uphold and enforce codes and standards established by the City Council to protect the Public Health, safety and welfare of residents, business owners and visitors of the City of Canton. Courtesy and professionalism will serve as guiding principles to ensure that our determination to deter blight within the City is tempered with sensitivity and compassion. Since the goal of Code Compliance is voluntary compliance, our staff will work with citizens and business owners towards reasonable and timely compliance of Code Violations to enhance neighborhood livability and improving property values.

Residential Properties

Each day, children and parents wake up around our City and start out their days.  It may be a walk through the front door to a nearby bus stop or loading into a personal vehicle to head off to work. Regardless, as you drive down the street, you are certain to see the diversity in our housing styles, cultures, and neighborhoods. Sometimes, decisions made by a resident have an impact on their neighbors. Whether or not the impact is intended, the way we keep our homes does affect our communities.

The City of Canton, working through our Code Enforcement Office, is promoting good stewardship of our most expensive personal assets, our homes. We want to assure that our houses and yards mirror the pride we have in Canton. Well-presented homes that have protected exteriors, controlled vegetation, and follow standards for residential zoning are necessary for our success. Below is more specific information about the areas we will focus on this year.

Residential Properties Focus Areas:

• Exterior walls and surfaces—no flaking paint, no mold, no mildew
• Accessory structures—clean, properly installed/located, tidy
• Vegetation/Landscape—no tall grass, maintained shrubbery, no trees touching rooflines
• Roofs—properly installed and functioning (no long-term tarps, no missing shingles/metal, closed soffits)
• Inoperable vehicle—properly stored/parked vehicles that function and are properly registered, no illegal vehicles
• Trash/rubbish—must be in can, cart only at the curb on collection day
• Illegal businesses
• Accessory signs—any sign must meet sign code

Commercial Properties

Each day, thousands of residents from our City and neighboring areas move about Canton to get to jobs, shop for family needs, seek healthcare options, support local businesses, dine in fantastic restaurants, and get the goods and services necessary to lead a variety of lifestyles. Regardless of the destination, it is important to remember that Canton is the commercial heart of Cherokee County. As a property or business owner, you have seen the value of investing in our community.

The City of Canton will be working through our Code Enforcement Office promoting good stewardship of commercial investments through a targeted property maintenance focus. We want to assure that our businesses, shopping centers, offices and industries mirror the pride we have in Canton. Well-presented properties that have protected exteriors, proper signage, welcoming parking areas, manicured landscaping, and keep the safety of the public to a high standard are necessary for our success. Below is more specific information about the areas we will focus on this year. 

Commercial Properties Focus Areas:

• Well maintained exteriors—properly maintained landscape, mulch, pine straw, parking lots in good repair, functional lighting
• Rubbish and garbage—no overflowing garbage areas, secured enclosures, no over-capacity donation boxes
• Signs-no mold/mildew, functional lighting/lettering, painted surfaces, not hidden by landscape, unauthorized accessory signs or banners
• Exterior structure—painted, no mold/mildew, clean and well secured handrails, maintained sidewalks and driveways
• Window signage—percentage over pane

We look forward to working with you this year on making the City of Canton a beautiful, safe, and welcoming place to live, work, play, and stay. If you should have any questions, please contact Merrick McClure, Code Compliance Manager, at merrick.mcclure@cantonga.gov or 770-704-1554.

Should you need to report a code compliance issue, please contact our Code Compliance Office, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 770-704-1554 or via email at codecompliance@cantonga.gov.