It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or
corporation to construct, alter, repair, move, remove, demolish, equip,
use, occupy or maintain any building or structure or portion thereof
in violation of any provision of this chapter or to fail in any manner
to comply with a notice, directive or order of the Building Inspector
or to construct, alter or use and occupy any building or structure
or part thereof in a manner not permitted by an approved building
permit or certificate of occupancy.
Any person who shall fail to comply with a written
order of the Building Inspector within the time fixed for compliance
therewith, and any owner, builder, architect, tenant, contractor,
subcontractor, construction superintendent or their agents or any
other person taking part or assisting in the construction or use of
any building who shall knowingly violate any of the applicable provisions
of this chapter or any lawful order, notice, directive, permit or
certificate of the Building Department made thereunder shall be punishable
by a fine of not more than $1,000 per day per violation or up to one
year in jail, or both.
Except as provided otherwise by law, such a
violation shall not be a crime and the penalty or punishment imposed
therefor shall not be deemed, for any purpose, a penal or criminal
penalty or punishment, and shall not impose any liability upon or
affect or impair the credibility as a witness, or otherwise, of any
person convicted thereof.
Appropriate actions and proceedings may be taken
at law or in equity to prevent unlawful construction or to restrain,
correct or abate a violation or to prevent illegal occupancy of a
building, structure or premises or to prevent illegal acts, conduct
or business in or about any premises, and these remedies shall be
in addition to the penalties prescribed in the preceding section.
