INDIANAPOLIS -- A new city department has taken aim on Indianapolis massage parlors and escort services.

The Department of Code Enforcement, approved by the City-County Council Monday night, will focus on issues that threaten safety and property values, and adult-oriented businesses are the first targets, 6News' Jack Rinehart reported.

Various code enforcement functions will now be consolidated under one city agency, giving one office the teeth to clean up what city officials think is a pervasive problem.

No appointment is necessary at Chinese Therapeutic Massage, on Indianapolis' far northeast side, but employees didn't seem sure if they had licenses.

Relaxation Asian Massage, on the city's east side, boasts licensed masseuses, but couldn't provide license information to 6News.

Nearly 100 businesses offer massage services in Indianapolis, but the city said that none of them have a license.

"Our focus is going to be on those areas that are more sensitive to the public and can breed criminal activities -- some of the adult-related instances, and we're focusing on those first," said Rick Powers, director of code enforcement.

Indianapolis has more than 30 escort service operations, and none of them are licensed either, according to the city.

Powers said his office will partner with police when needed to target businesses that violate criminal and civil laws.

"Code enforcement, alongside public safety, is probably a huge contributor to those points of quality of life issues in neighborhoods," Powers said.

The Division of Code Enforcement plans to increase fees and change ordinances to ensure that businesses meet the conditions of their license, with a goal of using fees and fines to make the users and abusers fund the department.

The agency will also tackle problems with overgrown weeds, abandoned cars and unsafe buildings.