Any building or structure hereinafter erected, moved or any use hereinafter established in violation of the provisions of this chapter by any person, firm, association, corporation (including building contractors or their agent), shall be deemed an unlawful structure or use.
It shall be the duty of the Zoning Administrator, acting under the supervision of the Officer and Zoning Committee, to enforce the provisions of this chapter. The Zoning Administrator is hereby delegated authority to enforce the provisions of this chapter, including the power to delegate these duties to subordinates, inspect private premises, issue orders for abatement and take action to abate violations of this chapter.
Whenever, in the judgment of the Zoning Administrator, it is determined that a violation of the provisions of this chapter is being committed, exists, or is being maintained in the County, that officer may issue a written order of abatement ordering the person committing or maintaining said violation to cease and desist, remove the conditions, or remedy the defects creating the violation. The order for abatement shall include the following information:
A. 
The name and address of the owner, operator and or occupant and description of the real estate involved.
B. 
The nature of the violation and the steps necessary to abate or correct it.
C. 
The time period in which the violation must be corrected and/or abated, which will be no less than five days and not more than 30 days, depending on the nature of the violation. Allowance for limited extension of this time period may be permitted if warranted by extenuating circumstances as determined by the Zoning Administrator.
D. 
The order of abatement shall be served upon the person committing or maintaining the zoning violation by either certified mail or registered mail, or in the manner set forth for service of a summons in Chapter 801, Wis. Stats. If the premises are not occupied and the address of the owner is unknown and cannot be determined with due diligence, service on the owner may be accomplished by posting a copy of the order of abatement in a prominent place on the premises. The order of abatement shall require the owner or occupant of such premises, or both, to take reasonable steps within a reasonable period of time to abate and remove the zoning violation. Whenever an investigation hereunder involves a search of private premises and the owner or other person having equal rights to the use and occupancy thereof does not consent thereto, and absent any exception to the warrant requirement, that officer shall apply to the Circuit Court of the County for a special inspection warrant pursuant to § 66.0119, Wis. Stats.
In cases where a violation poses an immediate risk of public health or safety as determined by the Zoning Administrator or in the case of repeated occurrences of the same violation by the same person, the violator shall be considered to be in noncompliance and subject to immediate action under § 391-33 of this chapter, without issuance of a written abatement order.
A. 
If a person does not comply with a written order from the Zoning Administrator or his/her designee, the violator may be subject to one or more of the following actions and/or penalties:
(1) 
The issuance of a citation.
(2) 
Commencement of legal action against the person seeking an injunction to abate the violation and/or correct the violation.
(3) 
Commencement of legal action against the person seeking a court imposed forfeiture, court costs, and/or the costs of abatement.
(4) 
Seeking appropriate injunctive relief to abate the violation and enjoin its continuation in the future, and/or recovery of the costs of abatement.
B. 
The initiation of one action or penalty under this section does not exempt the violator from any additional actions and/or penalties prescribed by law.
Where zoning violations as defined in this chapter or in the Wisconsin Statutes are encountered on private property which require ordered abatement and/or correction, the Zoning Administrator shall serve on the responsible person a written court order as per § 391-29 of this section. If the violation is not abated and/or corrected within the time period specified in the order, the Zoning Administrator may enter upon the property and abate and/or correct the violation or cause such action to be taken. The cost of such abatement and/or correction is to be recovered either directly from the responsible party or as a special tax assessment on the property.
A. 
Penalties shall be as set forth in each ordinance; otherwise, this chapter applies. The Court may order injunctive relief. Failure to comply with an order for abatement issued under this chapter in the time allowed shall constitute a separate violation of this chapter, and each day of continued violation shall constitute a separate offense.
B. 
Any person, firm, or corporation who or which fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, forfeit not less than $50 nor more than $500 and costs of prosecution for each violation and, in default of payment of such forfeiture and costs, shall be imprisoned in the County jail until payment thereof, but not exceeding 30 days. Each day a violation exists or continues shall constitute a separate offense.
C. 
Execution against defendant's property. Whenever any person fails to pay any forfeiture and costs of prosecution upon the order of any court for violation of any ordinance of Adams County, the court may issue a lien against the property of the defendant for such forfeiture and costs.
D. 
Commencement of an activity requiring a permit prior to obtaining the appropriate permit(s) through the Planning and Zoning Department may result in the required permit fee being doubled.
Where a zoning violation involves noncompliance with a federal or state-enforced statute or administrative code, the Zoning Administrator may refer the complaint to the appropriate agency for abatement and/or correction in lieu of, or in addition to an enforcement action under this chapter. If the violation continues without adequate enforcement from the federal or state agency to cause abatement and/or correction, then the Zoning Administrator or his/her designee shall initiate action under this section to bring about proper abatement and/or corrections.
If the owner of a POWTS, holding tank or non-plumbing sanitation system fails to have his or her system properly serviced in accordance with the Adams County Mandatory Management and Maintenance Program in response to orders issued by the Adams County Planning and Zoning Department to prevent or abate a human health hazard as described in § 254.59, Wis. Stats., the County may enter upon the property and cause to have the servicing performed and place the actual costs of such servicing on the property tax bill as a special charge for current services rendered, as prescribed by § 66.0627, Wis. Stats.