The Neighborhood Services Department oversees a variety of programs dedicated to improving the physical appearance of our communities and enhancing the quality of life of Covington’s residents and visitors.
The Department consists of five service-oriented divisions:
Additionally, the Department is responsible for other issues that strengthen our diverse neighborhoods, such as housing, disposition of City-owned real estate, community outreach, and the City’s early learning initiative, “Read Ready Covington.”
Neighborhood Services strives to provide high-level communication and collaboration and ultimately improve how the City interacts with our customers.
Temporary Housing Shelter License
In order to improve the way shelters serve the people who need them and are safe and compliant with requisite standards, the City of Covington has enacted Chapter 117 of the Covington Code of Ordinances to create a uniform set of standards for shelters providing temporary housing.
These regulations are intended to: comply with local, state, and federal law; continue to recognize and protect all citizens’ constitutional rights; ensure public safety; and ensure shelter compliance with health and safety codes.
Anyone operating homeless shelters, transitional housing or boarding and lodging houses is required to obtain an annual Temporary Housing Shelter License.
License application and instructions can be found HERE, as well as Chapter 117 of the Covington Code of Ordinances.
Neighborhood Grant Program
The Neighborhood Grant Program is a competitively awarded program administered by the City of Covington. The goal of this program is to provide flexible funding, using a simple application process, to neighborhood groups in order to improve the physical appearance of their communities and enhance the sense of social cohesion through beautification projects, blight removal, special events and activities. If you are interested in this opportunity, more information can be found in the Neighborhood Grant Program Guidelines and Application HERE.
City-Owned Real Estate
In order to provide increased opportunities for housing and economic development, blight reduction, and general public benefit, the City of Covington seeks the return of surplus City-owned real property to the highest and best productive use. Please note that applicable Kentucky law governs how Covington can sell or transfer its real property to members of the public. The City has several options ranging from transferring real property with or without compensation to another governmental agency to selling at appraised fair market value with or without bids. Certain limitations apply to the disposition options and a more detailed list can be found by reviewing Kentucky Revised Statute § 82.083.
Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program
The City of Covington is looking for homes to participate in its first-ever Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program.
The goal of the three-year, federally funded $1.66 million program is to protect children and vulnerable adults from potential health risks from deteriorating paint in homes and apartments built before 1978.
Homes found to have lead-based paint hazards will be assigned a contractor who will repair or replace affected areas, which might include such as plaster, baseboards, windows and doors, and other trim pieces.
For an information packet and application, see HERE. For further information, call the Neighborhood Services Department at (859) 292-2323.