Code Enforcement

The Residential and Commercial Complaint and Referral division is responsible for investigating code violations on existing commercial buildings, hotels, motels, and single-family residential buildings.

Note: Code violations on existing apartment buildings (two or more units) are investigated by the Housing Department, at (866) 557-7368.

See Forms & Publications

As a part of our effort to reduce visual blight in the City, our Sign Enforcement Division is comprised of three units that enforce the City's sign regulations:

1. General Sign Code Enforcement
   This unit responds to complaints regarding all types of signage and illegal signs. 
2. Inspection of New Sign Construction
   When permits are issued to alter a sign or for new signs, this unit inspects the construction of the sign.
3. Off-Site Sign Periodic Inspection Program (OSSPIP)
   The OSSPIP Section is dedicated to conducting a fee-supported program 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.

The current rise in construction projects in Grading Hillside Areas has seen an increase in truck traffic related to the importing and exporting of soil. In working with the Council Offices and listening to the communities, LADBS recognized the need of added enforcement of the hauling activities to ensure safety and the quality of life for the residents.

The Haul Route Monitoring Program is enforced by the Grading Division of the Inspection Bureau.

See contact list and report a haul route violation

The Local Enforcement Agency (LEA) is a state-mandated regulatory program that permits, inspects, and enforces State and specific local standards for solid waste facilities, including landfills and transfer stations and various recycling facilities. The LEA protects the health and safety of the community by serving as the lead City investigators and inspector for solid waste and recycling operations that could have a significant public health and environmental impact if not properly regulated. The LEA accomplishes this by conducting unannounced periodic inspections of permitted facilities and issuing corrective notices and enforcement orders in the case of non-compliance. The LEA also investigates citizen's complaints related to solid waste or recycling facilities and directly order corrective measures or make referral to the proper agency(s) should conditions require follow up.

The Annual Inspection Monitoring (AIM) Division conducts a fee-supported program, annually inspecting all auto repair garages (including smog test shops, window tinting and replacement shops, vinyl or similar covering materials, installation of parts/accessories and all similar uses) used vehicle sales areas, auto dismantling yards, junk yards, scrap metal or recycling materials processing yards, recycling collection and/or buyback centers, recycling materials sorting facilities and cargo container storage yards for violations of both building and land use ordinances.

The Contract Nuisance Abatement Division abates open, vacant, abandoned, and vandalized buildings, under a process known as Vacant Building Abatement (VBA).

The VBA process includes declaring these properties 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, VBA steps in and performs the physical abatement work of cleaning, securing, and if necessary, demolishing a building by way of an annually awarded contract to various private contractors.

See list of open jobs for Vacant Building Abatement Opens in new window

The Pro-Active Code Enforcement Division 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.

The Citations Unit issues citations primarily on transient types of violations such as open air vending on private property, a variety of zoning violations, noise violation from air conditioning, refrigeration, heat pumping, filtering equipment 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.