When a potential violation is identified either by a Code Enforcement Officer or through a citizen complaint a case is opened. The initial step typically involves issuing a Courtesy Notice, often left as a door hanger, informing the resident of the issue and providing a deadline for correction. If the violation is not resolved by that deadline, a formal Notice of Violation (NOV) is issued. Once an NOV is served, there are three possible next steps:

1. A citation may be issued to the individual responsible for the violation.
2. A Notice to Appear (NTA) may be served, requiring the individual to attend a judicial court hearing.
3. The case may be referred directly to a Special Magistrate, which can result in a lien being placed on the property.

 

If a citation is issued and the violation remains unresolved, it can be escalated to a Notice to Appear (NTA), which may then be referred to the Special Magistrate if necessary. Similarly, if an NTA does not result in timely compliance, the case can be advanced to the Special Magistrate.

Once a case is presented to the Special Magistrate, daily fines may be imposed—$50 per day for residential properties and $100 per day for commercial properties—until the violation is corrected. Additionally, a lien may be placed on the property.