ICC encourages communities to take advantage of the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) available through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support your local code programs. Many state and local governments are currently in the process of developing Consolidated Plans for the CDBG program to identify housing and community development needs, priorities, and goals. These Plans will span 3 to 5 years and will determine where CDBG funding will be directed.

Eligible activities through CDBG must meet one of three national CDBG objectives: benefiting low- and moderate-income persons in a targeted area; preventing or eliminating slums and blight in a targeted area; or serving an urgent need. Code activities (including adoption and enforcement) are eligible so long as those activities further one of the three national objectives. ICC and HUD have prepared a backgrounder for code officials on the CDBG program, which is available here.

Specifically as it relates to code enforcement, CDBG funds may be used for costs incurred for code inspections and other aspects of code enforcement, including salaries and related expenses, and expenses for legal proceedings on code issues in deteriorated and deteriorating areas.

Participation in your jurisdiction’s public hearing and comment processes is the best way to ensure your community leverages CDBG to invest in needed code activities.

If you have any additional questions about the program, please do not hesitate to contact your local Government Relations representative or the Code Council’s D.C. Government Relations staff.