Code Enforcement Procedure

City staff responds to code violation complaints according to the impact of the violation on the community. Situations that 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 code complaints, the first step is an inspection by City staff to verify if a code violation exists. In many cases, the responsible party for the code violation is allowed to voluntarily correct the situation and comply with current codes without a penalty. If the correction is not made, the responsible party may be subject to fines and civil injunctions or other penalties.

Identifying Code Violations

The City relies on residents to help identify possible code violations, particularly in these areas:

• Street parking and parking on lawns
• Overflowing garbage or other garbage problems
• Zoning and occupancy issues
• Property maintenance issues
• Encroachments in the public right of way, such as  (basketball hoops or skateboard ramps)
• Illegal signs, such as advertising flyers and portable ground signs
• Graffiti on public or private property
• Long grass and weed violations
• Illegal dumping of garbage and debris
• Abandoned and/or inoperable vehicles
• Illegal dumping of oils and other hazardous materials into storm drains
• Overgrown foliage blocking stop signs, impeding sight of driveways, or making corners dangerous
• Ice or hazards on public sidewalks

Code enforcement penalties range from $100 to $10,000, depending on the citation.