It shall be unlawful for a person, firm or corporation
to be in conflict with or in violation of any of the provisions of
any of this chapter.
The Code Enforcement Supervisor shall serve a notice of violation or order in accordance with Article
IV of this chapter.
Any person failing to comply with a notice of violation or order served in accordance with Article
IV of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a violation of this Code, and the violation shall be deemed a strict liability offense. If the notice of violation is not complied with, the Code Enforcement Supervisor shall institute the appropriate proceeding at law or in equity to restrain, correct or abate such violation, or to require the removal or termination of the unlawful occupancy of the structure in violation of the provisions of such code or of the order or direction made pursuant thereto.
In addition to any injunctive relief which may
be sought, any person who shall violate a provision of any of the
codes, or fail to comply therewith or with any of the requirements
thereof, shall be fined on the first offense of a violation a fine
of $50. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been
served shall be deemed a separate offense subject to a daily fine
of $50 per day. Any person who is found to have committed a separate
offense under any of the codes after having been found to commit an
earlier offense under any of the codes within any two-year period
shall be assessed a fine of $100 per offense. The purpose of this
provision is to double the fines assessed against those persons.
[Amended 4-16-2007 by L.L. No. 6-2007; 6-19-2017 by L.L. No. 3-2017]
The imposition of the penalties herein prescribed
shall not preclude the City from instituting appropriate action to
restrain, correct or abate a violation or to prevent illegal occupancy
of a building, structure or premises, or to stop an illegal act, conduct,
business or utilization of a building, structure or premises. The
actual cost of restraining, correcting, or abating such condition
(minimum charge of one hour labor and one hour equipment) plus materials,
plus $250 for inspection, correction, restraining, or abatement costs
sustained in connection therewith shall be certified to the City Comptroller
by the Department of Public Works and/or its designee and shall thereafter
become and be a lien upon the property whereon such condition exists
or is located and shall be added to and become a part of the tax next
to be assessed and levied upon such lot and shall bear interest at
the same rate as taxes and shall be collected and enforced by the
same officer and in the same manner as taxes.