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Commercial and Residential Complaint and Referral These sections are responsible for investigating code violations on existing commercial buildings, hotels, motels and single family residential buildings. The types of violations investigated and cited on these buildings run the gamut of all of the codes including the city zoning ordinances. NOTE: Code violations on existing apartment buildings (two or more units) are investigated by the Housing Department, at (866) 557-7368. New Signs, Sign Code Enforcement, Off-Site Sign Periodic Inspection As a part of our effort to reduce visual blight in the City, our Sign Enforcement section responds to complaints regarding illegal signs. This unit also inspects all newly constructed signs. A separate team is dedicated to conducting a fee-supported program recently approved by the City Council for on-going periodic inspections of all off-site signs in the City which includes an evaluation of the sign's safety and legal status and compliance to the codes. Pro-Active Code Enforcement (PACE) - CDBG This is our only program that operates full-time on a pro-active or survey basis. Our Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funded teams target specific code enforcement problems in limited geographic regions of the City. Our PACE teams work very closely with a number of other city agencies and the Office of the City Attorney. Annual Inspection Monitoring (AIM) Most of LADBS' code enforcement programs are financed by the City's General Fund. This program is a fee-supported program. This Annual Inspection Monitoring (AIM) program requires an annual inspection of all auto repair facilities, auto dismantling yards, junk yards, scrap metal processing plants, used car lots, cargo containers, storage yards, and recycling centers for violations of both building and land use ordinances. The sites monitored in this program are subject to fines and revocation of their Certificates of Occupancy if compliance with the ordinance is not maintained. Vacant Building Abatement Section The mission of the Vacant Building Abatement Section is the abatement of open, vacant, abandoned, and vandalized buildings. The process includes declaring these properties to be a "Nuisance" and/or "Hazard" after a public hearing. When property owners fail to comply with orders requiring them to clean, secure, rehabilitate or demolish these buildings, the Vacant Building Abatement Section steps in and performs the physical abatement work of cleaning and securing by way of an annually awarded contract to various private contractors. The scope of the work performed by these contractors includes: removing debris, rubbish and excessive vegetation; barricading all of the openings on the buildings; painting out graffiti; fencing the lot; and demolishing the buildings when they become a repeated problem. The cost of this work (plus a 40% administrative fee) is assessed as a lien against the property. Citations Unit This unit issues citations primarily on transient types of violations such as open air vending, a variety of zoning violations, fixed machinery noise violations and nuisance lighting violations. The citations they issue are actually 'Notice To Appear' tickets and are punishable as misdemeanors and/or infractions. These inspectors also act as a liaison between LADBS, the City Attorney and the court system for prosecution of the more difficult code enforcement cases and prepare cases for court filings, attend hearings etc. Environmental Affairs Division- Local Enforcement Agency (LEA) Program The Local Enforcement Agency (LEA) program is now part of Code Enforcement Bureau within LADBS and is directed at the City wide permitting, inspection and regulation of solid waste facilities and certain recycling facilities. These facilities are involved with collection, transfer, storage and disposal or recycling of materials which are regulated by state law. Click the link for further LEA Information. |
