What process is used to cite owners for property maintenance code violations?
The violations must first be verified by a field inspection. The Division of Property Standards makes every effort to actually speak to the owner of the property at the time of the inspection. Any violations are then made part of a formal violation notice, which is then mailed to the owner, by proof of mailing. Except in cases of severe life/safety violations, lack of proper heat, accumulations of junk and trash and similar instances, the City does not instantaneously require that the repairs be made. A time frame is developed that recognizes the amount of work to be completed, the effects of the weather, etc. Reinspections are completed to assure that the work is being completed in the agreed upon manner. Many times work on the interior is being completed until the proper weather arrives for the completion of exterior work such as scraping and painting.
