How do Code Enforcement Officers enforce City Ordinances and Codes?
Code Enforcement Officers are not Police Officers and cannot issue citations. However, officers can still file complaints with the City’s Municipal Court, which requires a property owner to occupant to appear in court to answer to charges of code violation. Fines up to $2,000 per day may be assessed by the court, depending upon the type and severity of violation. In addition, for certain types of violation, the City may remove the nuisance and charge the property owner for the cost of work, including placing a lien on the property to recover the costs. However, the primary focus of the officers in enforcement is education, and officers will normally work with first-time offenders and allow them time to remove the nuisance themselves. Q: If if can’t be seen, is it a violation? A: Many of the codes and ordinances of the City require that a violation be visible from “public view,” that is, from a public street, right-of-way, alley, or sidewalk, before it is considered to be a violation. H
