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1. What is the purpose of code enforcement?

Code enforcement’s purpose is to improve the safety, health and welfare of all citizens living within local governmental jurisdictions. Municipalities have the authority to impose administrative fines when a code violation persists. While every governing body has its own procedures for noncompliance, it is common to issue notices of violation to the property owner. If there is no cooperation within a given time frame, either abatement processes commence or fines are imposed.

2. How does the code enforcement process work?

1. A complaint is received.
2. An inspection of the property is conducted to see if complaint is valid.
3. If a violation is found, a letter is prepared and mailed certified to property owner with time to correct said violation.
4. If said violation is not corrected within the set time frame a failure to comply notice is mailed certified with a date to appear.
5. If the violator is found guilty a fine may be assessed for each day the property is in violation.
6. Failure to pay fines can result in liens being placed on said property. If the liens are not paid, the attorney may be instructed to foreclose on said property.

3. What are some common items that are considered a violation?

• Household furniture (chairs, couches, beds, tables, etc.)
• Old appliances (washers, dryers, refrigerators, etc.)
• Yard trash or litter (accumulation of objects such as buckets, coolers, aluminum cans, tarps)
• Tires, construction debris (the city will not pick up these items)
• Address numbers not affixed to the structure, clearly visible from the roadway, must be at least be 4 inches in height for residential properties and 6 inches in height for commercial properties
• Dilapidated dwellings and structures
• Flaking paint, rotten wood, broken windows, roof damage
• Fences in disrepair
• Signs placed in the right-of-way and on utility poles
• Inappropriate occupancy of certain accessory structures (i.e. storage sheds)
• Junked, inoperable or unlicensed vehicles (must have current tags and be in working order)
• Boats and other recreational vehicles parked in the front yard (must be in side or rear yards)

4. I want to report a property maintenance problem in my neighborhood but I don't want anyone to know I called. Do I have to give you my name?

Your identity is protected by the government code and is not released to anyone outside of staff. Code enforcement should have your name and phone number to provide the best follow-up action possible for every complaint. Many times we need to contact you to confirm either continuing problems or that the violation has been eliminated to your satisfaction. It is also important to be able to contact you in the event we find that the “problem” is not a violation enforceable, maybe, not even a violation at all. 

If you are anonymous and we’re unable to let you know these circumstances, you will be left with the negative impression that we have ignored your complaint.

5. What will Code enforcement do if I refuse to comply with the City's Municipal Code?

Code enforcement attempts to solicit voluntary compliance with the property maintenance, health and safety, and other quality of life violations that come to their attention. Failure to gain compliance within a reasonable period of time may result in municipal prosecution or civil abatement.

6. The house next door is a rental and the tenants are messy. There are inoperable cars in the driveway, the house siding and shingles are falling off the house. Can you make the owner do something?

Code enforcement works with both property owners and their tenants when enforcing responsible property maintenance standards. The property owner is usually contacted by mail regarding sub-standard conditions that occur at the property and tenants are contacted on site about violations that require their attention. The property owner is ultimately held jointly responsible for any continuing problems that result from the tenant’s lack of compliance.

Any structural or safety issue that would require a substantial financial investment to correct is usually the property owner’s responsibility, such as a leaking roof, dilapidated fencing, or collapsing adjacent storage structures, etc. Tenants have legal custody and control of the property so they are required to correct the violations that are of their making. They would be held accountable for either repairing inoperable vehicles or removing them from public view. They would also be held accountable for providing a continuing program of landscape maintenance and the removal of any trash, discards, or litter accumulations about the property.

7. My neighbor’s tree branches overhang onto my property and are dropping leaves into my yard/patio/garden, etc. Can the City make them trim the branches or remove the tree?

This is a commonly asked question because the problem occurs in nearly every residential neighborhood where aging landscape conditions exist. Code enforcement does not have the authority to require a property owner to trim or remove any of their vegetation unless it overhangs into a public right-of-way - impeding either pedestrian or vehicular traffic, or unless the vegetation is dead and presents a potential fire hazard.

Instead, this particular question is a good example of a civil matter between property owners. Code enforcement does recommend callers attempt to work this out amicably with their neighbor. (Any offending branches/vegetation may be trimmed back to the caller’s property line, as long as the trimming does not impact the future life of the plant.)