Trenton — Ch. 8 Art. III Property Maintenance § 8-191
Code enforcement officer
Operative Text
It shall be the duty and responsibility of the appointed code enforcement officer to enforce the provisions of this article as herein provided. The officer shall be appointed by the mayor with the consent of the city council. The officer shall have the power and duty to: (1) Enforce all the provisions of this article relative to the maintenance of structures and premises except as may otherwise be specifically provided for herein or by other codes or ordinances. (2) Issue all necessary notices and orders to abate illegal or unsafe conditions in order to ensure compliance with this article's requirements for the safety, health and general welfare of the public. (3) Enter any nonresidential structure at any reasonable time for the purpose of making inspections and performing duties under this article when there is sufficient exterior evidence of deterioration or neglect to warrant interior inspection. (4) Enter and conduct interior inspection of residential property or structures for the purpose of determining the question of condemnation only upon application to, and issuance of an order by a court of competent jurisdiction authorizing such entry. (5) To seek from a court of competent jurisdiction an order for an owner, occupant, or other person in charge of a premises to cease and desist in refusing, impeding, inhibiting, or obstructing the free access by the officer to any part of a structure wherein inspection is sought.
Section 8-191 of Trenton's Ch. 8 Art. III establishes the role and authority of the city's code enforcement officer, who is appointed by the mayor with city council approval. This officer is responsible for enforcing property maintenance standards, issuing notices and orders to address unsafe or illegal conditions, and conducting inspections of structures. For nonresidential properties, the officer may enter at reasonable times when exterior signs of deterioration are visible, while entry into residential properties for condemnation purposes requires a court order.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 8-191, property owners and managers in Trenton should expect that a code enforcement officer has the legal authority to inspect nonresidential structures when exterior evidence of neglect is apparent, and to issue formal notices and orders requiring corrective action. Compliant operators generally respond promptly to any notices issued under this article and provide reasonable access to their properties to avoid court-ordered compliance measures. Obstructing or impeding the officer's access can result in the officer seeking a court order to compel entry, making cooperation a standard part of responsible property management.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 8-191 gives Trenton's code enforcement officer the duty to enforce property maintenance standards and issue orders to address unsafe or illegal conditions that affect tenant health and welfare. Tenants who observe unsafe or deteriorating conditions at their residence may report those concerns to the code enforcement office, which has the authority to investigate and require corrective action. Because residential interior inspections for condemnation purposes under § 8-191 require a court order, tenants who have questions about their specific rights in an inspection or condemnation situation may benefit from consulting a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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