How Does the Enforcement Process Work?

The process begins with a report/complaint filed by a concerned citizen.

• Anyone may submit a report relating to activities and/or structures on a piece of property. Complainant identity is treated as confidential unless disclosed by court order. Anonymous complaints will not be accepted.
• The report/complaint will be logged in and assigned to the Code Compliance Officer for investigation.
• If the Code Compliance Officer confirms that a violation of the Zoning Ordinance or Building Code exists, a Notice of Violation and Notice of Impending Civil Administrative Penalties may be issued to the property owner.
• If the violation continues unabated for another 30 days, the County may record a Notice of Noncompliance against the property with the County Recorder’s office. A Notice of Imposition of Civil Administrative Penalties may also be issued, and a Civil Administrative Penalty lien may be recorded. Civil Administrative Penalties range from $50 to $1000 per violation per day. The County’s Civil Administrative Penalties Program is described in more detail in the County’s Zoning Ordinance and Building & Safety Code.
• If a violation poses an immediate threat to public health or safety, is a repeat offense, or is transient in nature, the 30-day notice and compliance periods described above may be waived and immediate enforcement and/or legal action may be taken. Actions may include criminal citation or complaint, or civil court injunction. It is important that complainants provide their name, mailing address, and phone numbers so the Code Compliance staff can contact them if there are questions about their complaint. Code Compliance Officers do not call complainants with regular status reports, but they do upon request provide complainants with “blind” copies of correspondence sent to the offending party.