Code Enforcement Officer (State of Texas) Questions &
Answers(RATED A+)
The Code Enforcement Officer examination measures the ________ and ________ required to be a
code officer. - ANSWERKnowledge and Skills.
What is the purpose of Code Enforcement? - ANSWERTo establish and maintain a standard of quality
of life for all citizens by providing quality inspections and bringing about improvements and
rehabilitation to the community.
Code Enforcement started growing with what types of incidents? - ANSWERHealth/Environmental
issues, community safety, dangerous buildings, and fire incidents.
Define Code Enforcement? - ANSWERThe inspection, improvement, and rehabilitation of
environmental hazards in public and private premises by determining the presence of fire or health
hazards, nuisance violations, unsafe building conditions and violations of any fire, health or building
regulation, statute, or ordinance.
In regards to the Texas Administrative Code (2007), define a Code Enforcement Officer? - ANSWERAn
agent of this state or political subdivision of this state who engages in code enforcement and has one
year or more of experience in the field of code enforcement.
Define a Code Enforcement Officer-in-Training? - ANSWERAn agent of this state or a political
subdivision of this state who engages in code enforcement but who has less than one year of
experience in the field of code enforcement and is supervised by a registered code enforcement
officer.
T or F?
Code Enforcement Officers identify with the same citation powers as police officers, sheriffs,
marshals, and others. - ANSWERTrue!
Generally speaking, code enforcement does not deal with the _________ element of enabling
legislation and ordinances, while police officers do. - ANSWERCriminal.
,T or F?
Code officers are not allowed by law to provide a summons or set a court date. This must be done by
the municipal, county, or district courts. - ANSWERTrue!
In regards to non-citation enforcement options, what can a CEO do instead of issuing a citation? -
ANSWERServe a notice of violation.
Are trash, refuse, rubbish, debris, junk motor vehicles, high grass and weeds, nuisances, and zoning
worth risking personal safety? - ANSWERHell NO!
Being prepared is one way in which CEO's help protect themselves. Prepared is an acronym that
stands for what? - ANSWERProactive, Responsive, Empathetic, Patient, Alert, Ready, Educated, and
Disciplined.
The purpose of Code Enforcement Association of Texas (CEAT) is what? - ANSWERTo study and
advance the science and practice of code enforcement through certification designed to promote the
interests of the profession.
On a national level, what is the association that represents code enforcement officers? -
ANSWERAmerican Association of Code Enforcement (AACE)
What is the International Code Council? - ANSWERCode council involved in code on an international
scale. There are substantial advantages in combining the efforts of existing code organizations to
produce a single set of codes.
What is the State of Texas definition of Code Enforcement?
a. The ability to arrest anyone at anytime.
b. The abilitiy to write ordinances, inspect property, issue citations, and arrest violators.
c. The inspection, improvement and rehabilitation of environmental hazards in public and private
premises by determining the presence of fire or health hazards, nuisance violations, unsafe building
conditions, and violations of any fire, health, or building regulation, state, or ordinance.
d. The e - ANSWERC
The State of Texas defines a code enforcement officer as:
,a. An agent of this state or a political subdivision of this state who engages in code enforcement and
has one year or more of experience in the field of code enforcement.
b. An agent of this state or a political subdivision of this state who engages in code enforcement and
has three months or more of experience in the field of code enforcement.
c. An agent of this state or a political subdivision of this state who engages in code enf - ANSWERA
The State of Texas defines a code enforcement officer-in-training as:
a. An agent of this state or a political subdivision of this state who engages in code enforcement and
has three months or more of experience in the field of code enforcement.
b. An agent of this state or a political subdivision of this state who engages in code enforcement and
has one year or more of experience in the field of code enforcement.
c. An enforcement agent.
d. An agent of this state or a political subdivision - ANSWERD
Define Absolute Immunity? - ANSWERThe status of a person or body that places one beyond the law
and makes one free from legal obligations. Immunity for building official or CEO, not liable for their
discretionary acts.
Define Affiant? - ANSWERThe person who makes and subscribes an affidavit.
Define Affidavit? - ANSWERA voluntary, written, or printed declaration of facts, confirmed by oath of
the party making it before a person with authority to administer the oath.
Define Civil Action? - ANSWERLegal action to protect a private civil right or to compel a civil remedy.
Define Defamation? - ANSWERThat which tends to injure a person's reputation.
Ex: A lie that I tell that messed up Ruby's reputation.
Define Dillon's Rule? - ANSWERMunicipal governments only have the powers that are expressly
granted to them by the state legislature, those that are necessarily implied from that grant of power,
and those that are essential and indispensable to the municipalities existence and functioning.
, Define Enabling Legislation? - ANSWERThe act of giving or enacting laws; the power to make laws via
legislation in contrast to court-made laws.
Define General Law City? - ANSWERBasically, cities operate under the laws of the state with some
exceptions to those laws.
Define Home Rule? - ANSWERThe power of a city to govern itself so long as charter provisions or
ordinances are not inconsistent with state law.
Define Home Rule Charter? - ANSWEROrganizational plan or framework of a municipal corporation
like a constitution of a state or nation; it is drawn up by the municipality and adopted by popular
vote of the people. Comes after Home Rule is achieved.
Define Substantive Law? - ANSWERThe statutory or written law that governs rights and obligations of
those who are subject to it.
Define Testimony? - ANSWERThe evidence given by a witness under oath. It does not include
evidence from documents and other physical evidence.
Define Ultra Vires? - ANSWERBeyond the legal power or authority of a person or official or body, etc.
Define Voir Dire? - ANSWERThe preliminary examination made in court of a witness or juror to
determine his competency or interest in a matter. Literally, to speak the truth.
Define Venire? - ANSWERA writ summoning persons to court to act as jurors.
Define Writ? - ANSWERA judicial order directing a person to do something.
Define Writ of Madamus? - ANSWERAn extraordinary writ commanding an official to perform a
ministerial act that the law recognizes as an absolute duty and not a matter for the official's
discretion; used only when all other judicial remedies fail.
What are Statues? - ANSWERThe sources of law that affect property rights in greater detail than
federal or state constitutions.
