It's not instead of anything. A township government can only enforce the code, even if you paid 200% property tax. And codes are pretty loose because to change

It's not instead of anything. A township government can only enforce the code, even if you paid 200% property tax. And codes are pretty loose because to change it you need some kind of majority in the town government. And even if something has been made a code it doesn't mean the government can enforce it, for example my city is barred from enforcing the code on short term rentals by a law suit, which will take years to resolve.