North Austin Civic Association
Archived from June, 2006
Code
Enforcement 101: Dangerous Buildings and Housing Violations |
The City of Austin has codes and ordinances to protect the health, safety, and quality of life for Austin's citizens. Austin's Solid Waste Services Code Enforcement Division investigates reports of most code violations and ensures that the standards are met. The Division works closely with local authorities to bring properties into compliance. Code enforcement was the focus of the April 20, 2006 NACA meeting. The main speaker was Steve Ramirez of the Code Enforcement Division. Copies of the 2006 Austin Police Resource Manual were distributed, as well as a pamphlet on the types of investigations by the Code Enforcement Division. Types of investigations include:
A Notice of Violation includes a report of the violation, department contacts, a timeline for compliance, and consequences of non-compliance. The inspector later confirms compliance within the timeline issued. If compliance is achieved, the case is closed. If the violation continues, resolution measures may include criminal charges in Municipal Court hearings, fines, or penalties issued by the Building and Standards Commission. If the City of Austin corrects a violation which the owner or tenant has failed to correct, the owner or tenant will be responsible for paying fees for those services (such as mowing, sign removal, clearing illegal dumping, or tree trimming) . Whoever is in charge of a property (owners, tenants, or residents) is also responsible for keeping the property and any sidewalk, alley, or street adjacent to the property free of violations. Failure to comply may result in criminal charges being filed against the owner and a lien placed on the property. To report code violations for investigation, call 311. Be sure to request the case number assigned to the report. |
~by NACA Reporter |