Although our society provides people considerable latitude in how they choose to live, most municipalities have a variety of housing, sanitation, zoning, electrical, plumbing, and safety codes which must be followed to keep communities safe and maintain property values.

One important tool that may be under-utilized are the housing, plumbing, sanitary, health, safety, and public nuisance codes that exist in every community. They are surprisingly detailed about requirements for safe, habitable dwellings. Reports of suspected violations can often be pursued with less evidence than required for probably cause in a criminal search warrant, and can allow officials to gain access to a dwelling for inspection purposes. Violations must be corrected, and correction of housing code violations will often require improving conditions for peoples and animals alike.

Every state and most municipalities have some sort of housing code that applies to rental as well as owner-occupied dwellings. These codes specify certain minimal standards of cleanliness, access, and safety that must be met. Often these standards will not be met in hoarding cases, and this can provide an avenue for either getting an official in to inspect the premises or to encourage the occupant to cooperate in a clean up that will benefit both the animals and people living in the home. Complaints to the health department or other appropriate agency must be investigated. This can provide a means of access by authorities, as well as a leverage point to encourage the hoarder to improve conditions. These standards include, but are not necessarily limited to:

• Exits free of obstruction
• Functional heat, electricity, and cold and hot running water
• Provisions for adequate light and ventilation
• Functional bathroom facilities
• Functional kitchen facilities
• Proper garbage disposal
• Reasonably sanitary conditions
• Not maintaining the premises in a way that pose a community hazard from fire or rodent infestation

There are also separate plumbing, electric, and plumbing codes that do not appear to be on-line. However, a call to your local building inspector or local library may be helpful in getting this detail, in addition to your state government bookstore. Another excellent checklist which details the types of violations and the time frame they must be resolved It is likely that similar lists exist for other states, and this document provides a sense of the types of violations that are actionable under the various housing codes.