Community Relations Division

Division Description:

The Community Relations Division is commanded by Commander Anson Shells, who reports directly to the Chief of Police.  Commander Shells has been with the department for 19 years. The Community Relations Division is responsible for city zoning and codes violations including animal control.   The Community Relations Division is comprised of the Code Enforcement Unit and the Animal Control Unit.  The Code Enforcement unit investigates violations and work diligently to remediate them.  Remediation of violations can be done through the City’s livability court process as well as other acceptable methods.  The Animal Control Unit works to help enforce city codes and ordinances related to domesticated animals.

Code Enforcement and Neighborhood Redevelopment

The City of Florence is in the ongoing process of neighborhood redevelopment and the Community Relations Division’s Codes Enforcement Unit plays an important role in that effort.  Most neighborhood problems are effectively resolved through the City’s normal enforcement procedures.  However, there are some areas of the City that require more enforcement activity because of the greater number of property maintenance problems in those neighborhoods.  Many of these neighborhoods are part of the City’s neighborhood redevelopment effort.   Here, the role of the Zoning and Codes Enforcement Unit is to identify derelict property conditions and to follow through with enforcement all the way to remediation. The division also works in partnership with other divisions of the City such as Community Services, Planning and Zoning and Public Works to eliminate neighborhood problems that hinder redevelopment efforts.  

Code Enforcement and the Rental Registry

The City of Florence has a Rental Registry Ordinance which is enforced by the Codes and Zoning Enforcement Unit.  The ordinance requires that rental property owners comply with all property maintenance and zoning requirements of the City of Florence.  It further requires owners to obtain a rental permit, and in some cases, a business license prior to being allowed to rent a property.  The Rental Registry Ordinance can be found on the City’s website along with the City of Florence Code of Ordinances and the Unified Development Ordinance.  If you wish to make a complaint, please contact us at (843) 665-3191 or you may register your complaint online through the City’s website.

Animal Control Unit

The Animal Control Unit, comprised of certified Class III police officers, assists the patrol division by investigating complaints of animal abuse and neglect, as well as animals running at large and vicious animals.