Complaint Timeline

Once a complaint is received the following is a rough timeline of how the case will proceed. Many times the matters are completed at the first step; residents often are unaware that a violation has occurred on their property and immediately remedy the issue.

• An informal notification is made to the property owner if possible and if the violations are easily addressed, otherwise;
• A formal Notice of Violation listing the ordinances or codes violated is sent to the property owner via regular mail.
• A reasonable date to fix the violation(s) is always included, up to 30 days.
• Routinely, an extension is granted if the property owner asks for one, unless the violations involve life-safety or public health issues.
• If the problem isn’t taken care of and no extension has been requested, a 2nd notice is sent by registered mail.
• If that too is ignored, after 5 days, then the only recourse is to send the property owner to municipal court, usually held twice a month.
• Property owners must be served with a summons and complaint by a disinterested constable.
• Only the judge has the power to assign fines and fines are the only punishment available to the judge. Fines become liens on the real estate and are attached to the property.
• Often there’s a daily fine attached to entice people to quickly address the problem.
• Anyone who receives a notice has the right to contest the violations, contest them in municipal court, and make further appeals to state courts.