Any person who violates any provisions of this Ordinance Code or Tulare County Ordinance No. 352, as amended from time to time, or any person who owns property upon which a violation exists, irrespective of whether that person caused the violation, shall be subject to an administrative fine or penalty up to the maximum amounts set forth in this Article.
(Added by Ord. No. 3213, effective 11-26-98)
If this Code or Tulare County Ordinance No. 352 designates the violation as an infraction, the Director may impose as the administrative fine up to the maximum fine or penalty amounts for infractions set forth in subdivision (b) of California Government Code section 25132; the Director may impose the fine if the violation is not abated by the date specified in the Notice of Violation issued in compliance with Section 1-23-5000 of this Chapter. If each day the illegal condition exists is deemed a separate violation, the amount of the fine which may be imposed shall be calculated based upon the number of calendar days from the date of transmittal of the Notice of Violation through the date for abatement specified in the Notice of Violation.
(Added by Ord. No. 3213, effective 11-26-98; amended by Ord. No. 3251, effective 3-8-01)
If this Code or Tulare County Ordinance No. 352 does not designated the violation as an infraction, the Director may impose an administrative fine within the amounts set forth below if the violation is not abated by the date specified in the Notice of Violation:
(1) 
Up to one thousand dollars ($1000.00) for each calendar day from the date of transmittal of the Notice of Violation through the date for abatement specified in the Notice of Violation through the date for abatement specified in the Notice of Violation; or
(2) 
In the event the violation is the illegal use of a structure and the violation may be corrected by obtaining the appropriate permit, up to a maximum of five times the amount of the standard fee for the permit.
(Added by Ord. No. 3213, effective 11-26-98; amended by Ord. No. 3251, effective 3-8-01)
Any administrative fine and penalty shall accrue interest at the same annual rate as any civil judgment. Interest shall accrue commencing on the 20th day after the penalty becomes a final decision or order.
(Added by Ord. No. 3213, effective 11-26-98)
(a) 
The Director shall determine fines in the first instance. In making the determination, the Director may take into account the facts and circumstances of the violation, including without limitation:
(1) 
The length of the time the violations existed;
(2) 
The culpability of the owner and the willfulness of the violation;
(3) 
The number of previous violations of the same or related type committed by the owner within the preceding 36 months;
(4) 
The extent of the violation and the effect of the violation on neighboring properties;
(5) 
Attempts, if any, to comply with the applicable ordinances;
(6) 
The time necessary to abate the violation; and
(7) 
Any other information relevant to a determination of the fine.
(b) 
In making a determination of the fine, the Director may consider any information submitted by the property owner. In the event that the Director determines that the violation was not caused by, or with the knowledge of, the current owner, the Director may reduce or eliminate the fine. In the event the Director determines that the correction of the violation is not feasible, and the violation does not present a threat to public health or safety, the Director may reduce or eliminate the fine.
(Added by Ord. No. 3213, effective 11-26-98)