Administrative Citations

Enforcement officers may issue notices of violation and administrative citations, inspect public and private property, and use whatever judicial and administrative remedies are available under this code and other law to enforce the ordinances of the city.

When a violation pertains to building, plumbing, electrical or other similar structural or zoning issues which create an immediate danger to health or safety, or to a violation of Section 13.24.060 or 13.24.230 (regarding mandatory water conservation) during a declaration of a drought emergency, an enforcement officer may immediately issue an administrative citation without a notice of violation. In the absence of an emergency, whenever an enforcement officer determines that a violation exists, the enforcement officer may issue a notice of violation to any responsible persons.

Enforcement officers are authorized to enter upon any property or premises within the city to ascertain whether code violations exist, and to make any examination and surveys as may be necessary in the performance of their enforcement duties, in accordance with Fourth Amendment of United States Constitution and the related protections of the California Constitution. These inspections may include the taking of photographs, samples, or other physical evidence. All inspection, entries, examinations and surveys shall be performed reasonably and in accordance with law. If an owner or occupant or property or his or her agent refuses to consent to entry and inspection, an enforcement officer may seek an administrative inspection warrant pursuant to law.

If a responsible person(s) fails to correct a code violation within the time prescribed in a notice of violation, an enforcement officer may issue an administrative citation to each and every responsible party who knew or reasonably should have known of that notice of violation of whom the enforcement officer has knowledge.