Modernizing Code Enforcement in Denham Springs, LA

Denham Springs, Louisiana, serves approximately 10,000 residents, and as the community grows, so does the volume of complaints, inspections, notices, and records its staff must manage. For Rick Foster, the city’s Director of Planning and Development, Building Official, and Floodplain Administrator, the challenge was finding a way to manage that workload without letting administrative tasks take time away from protecting public health and safety.

At the 2026 Forerunner Summit, Foster demonstrated how Denham Springs moved from paper-based processes to connected property records and AI-assisted documentation, improving accuracy while reducing the time needed to move cases forward.

From scattered paperwork to connected records

Before adopting Forerunner in July 2025, Denham Springs relied on paper forms, manual case tracking, and documents stored across filing cabinets, scanned PDFs, and digital folders. Finding records was often difficult, and preparing notices of violation meant filling out Word templates and manually checking every detail. Inconsistent information, including incorrect property addresses, created additional work for staff and could delay resolution for residents.

The city began addressing these challenges by organizing information around individual properties. Staff can now access inspection records, photos, notes, and supporting documents in one place. Even Elevation Certificates dating back to the 1990s are attached to the relevant properties, making historical information easier to retrieve.

By connecting complaints, inspections, notices, and follow-up actions in a single case history, Denham Springs has created a clearer record of each case from the initial complaint through resolution.

Turning inspections into notices in seconds

During his Summit demonstration, Foster walked through an inspection involving an improperly placed dumpster beside a storm drain inlet, surrounded by discarded furniture and trash. Addressing the issue required staff to document the conditions, identify relevant code violations, and prepare a formal notice explaining what needed to change.

Previously, that process meant selecting a Word template, entering property details, describing the violation, and checking the document for errors. Even routine notices required significant manual effort.

Using the inspection record, Forerunner’s AI identified relevant violations, including obstructed drainage, and produced a draft notice within seconds. The draft included applicable code sections, a description of the violation, and a follow-up deadline.

Staff can review and edit the notice before finalizing it for printing or mailing. Rather than assembling each document from scratch, inspectors have a consistent starting point while retaining responsibility for reviewing the final details.

The demonstration illustrated how information captured in the field can carry through to the next step, reducing repetitive work and the need to re-enter information across separate documents.

Improving accuracy and efficiency

Foster reported that document completion and review are now more than 50% faster, while documentation errors have decreased by more than 50%.

These improvements go beyond time savings. Incorrect addresses, missing information, or inconsistencies between records used to create extra work and delay formal notification, preventing residents from addressing violations promptly. With connected records, staff can verify information more easily, review a case’s history, and respond to questions with more complete documentation.

By linking field observations, property records, and notice generation, Denham Springs has made the process less dependent on manually transferring information between forms and files. Staff still review the documentation, but they have better access to the information needed to move cases forward accurately.

More time to serve residents

Foster’s demonstration showed how connected records and AI-assisted documentation can work together to make code enforcement more manageable. For other agencies, Denham Springs offers a practical lesson: digitizing forms is only one part of modernization. Connecting records, fieldwork, and follow-up documentation creates a more reliable process, while AI can reduce repetitive work when paired with consistent records and human review.

For Denham Springs, the goal was not simply to replace paper with digital records; it was to improve accuracy, manage a growing workload, and give staff more time to focus on the issues affecting their community.

Watch the full session: