I'll be doing this in a friendly and educational way - I hope.I think a packet of move in information with suggested checklists like this would work for my tenants but I don't think i could enforce rules on them unless it was a house hacking roommate type of situation.

Just know that to be enforceable, they have to be specific as one person's idea of yard maintenance and cleanliness would not come close to another's.  

If a landlord is aware that a tenant is breaking a rule in the lease but doesn't enforce it for an extended period of time, the tenant can claim that the landlord verbally allowed the change. 

You just need to do the market research for rentals on the block before you place your offer, and make sure to have a reputable property manager in place to enforce payments and upkeep.

Now, it's starting to sound like a promotion, LOL.Verbal judo is a technique, often taught to police officers/law enforcement types that is designed to ask questions to clarify a matter, it may be used to let the other person understand that their point of view or logic isn't logical or appropriate.

Especially since its new city inspectors and such will have very inconsistent views on the laws and requirements and how to enforce them.

Now that said if you are in the city limits of one of the towns that is different and they can have their own laws which they may enforce much more vigorously. 

I also like to call the code enforcer and hear his or her take.  

Excessive noise means any unnecessary noise which persists for ten minutes or more; such period of noise need not be witnessed by enforcement personnel if the occupants of two or more separate housing or commercial units certify that they have experienced such period of noise and describe with particularity the sourceExcessive noise means the presence of sound, as measured by standard testing devices, of a volume or in quantities and for durations which endangers human health, welfare or safety, animal life, or property or which unreasonably interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life and property in the County or in such areas of the County as are affected thereby.There is 2 "legal" definitions of excessive noise

Whether or not the owner lives in an “illegal” apt has no bearing on enforcement.