Enforcement is the final step in bringing property into compliance, if voluntary compliance is not possible. The type of enforcement depends upon the location and accessibility of the violations on the property.
If the violations on the property are enclosed within a fence or are located on a porch or under anything constructed upon the property, the case will be prepared for Municipal Court. The inspector summarizes the case and presents it to his supervisor for final approval. The inspector then writes a Notice to Appear to the defendant. Once in court, the defendant, if found guilty, can be fined as much as $500 and up to 6 months in jail for each offense. The judge generally sets a review or sentencing date several weeks after the first appearance, at which time, if the violations have corrected, he will reduce the fine and suspend the jail time. This usually motivates the defendant to clean up the property.
If the violations on the property are accessible, then the case will be prepared for Nuisance Abatement. The inspector summarizes the case and presents it to his supervisor for final approval. The case is then logged in and a work order is sent to the private contractor who cleans the property. The City then pays the contractor and charges the cost of the cleanup to the property owner.