Code Enforcement

Code Enforcement is the manner in which codes, the standards and laws of the City, are enforced to assure that the City's safety, health, welfare and aesthetic values are observed.

How are codes enforced?

The code enforcement process is typically initiated in several ways:

1. Observation of a code violation by City staff
2. Construction of a property improvement without required City permits;
3. In response to a complaint by an individual.

Possible Code Violations include the following:

• Illegal signs such as advertising flyers
• Shopping carts on streets, sidewalks, etc
• Illegal dumping of garbage and debris
• Abandoned and/or inoperable vehicles
• Leaning or damage fences
• Decks or Boat Dock in need of repairs
• Boats or Recreational Vehicles stored on street or driveways for more than three days
• Missing or damaged landscape in residential and commercial areas
• Weeds and/or debris in yards
• Garbage cans left in front yards; Violations of approved permits
• Construction prior to obtaining required permits
• Other property maintenance issues

The city primarily relies on residents to help identify Code violations. How do I notify the City about a possible code violation?

A complaint about a possible code violation is made by letter, telephone, email, or in person to the Planning/Code Enforcement Division.
Please be prepared with specific information, such as the address of the property, detailed description of the situation, and the length of time you have observed the situation. Complaints may be made anonymously (however, this may restrict the City's ability to follow-up on the complaint or our ability to obtain additional details which might assist in resolving the situation).

What is the procedure for following up on possible code violations?

City staff responds to code enforcement complaints according to the impact of the violation on the community. Situations that appear to pose a serious risk to health and safety are given top priority; others are pursued in the order in which they are received.

For all types of code complaints, the first step in the follow-up procedure is site visit of the possible violation by a City staff member to ascertain if a code violation exists. If a violation does exist, a member of the City staff will contact the person responsible and request that the violation be corrected. The City will work with the person responsible to ensure that the violation is corrected in a timely manner and will work with the responsible party to ensure that they have enough time to correct the violation. The City may also follow-up with the individual who made the complaint after a site visit has been conducted.

What penalties result from code violations?

In many cases, the individual responsible for the code violation is given the opportunity to voluntarily correct the situation and comply with current codes without a penalty. If the responsable part does not correct the code violation or respond to the City's request for remediation of the violation, the City may take court action against the individual in order to rectify the situation.

If you would like to report a violation, you may contact the City's Community Preservation Officer. Letters may also be sent to the Planning/Code Enforcement Division regarding any violations.