I want to report a property maintenance problem in my neighborhood but I don't want anyone to know I called. Do I have to give you my name?
What will Code Enforcement do if I refuse to comply with the City's Municipal Code?
My neighbor's tree branches overhang onto my property and are dropping leaves into my pool/patio/garden, etc. - can the City make them trim the branches or remove the tree?
The house next door is a rental and the tenants are messy. There are several dead cars in the driveway, the house paint is peeling, and they constantly park on the lawn - can you make the owner do something?
Q: I want to report a property maintenance problem in my neighborhood but I don't want anyone to know I called. Do I have to give you my name?
A:Please be assured that your identity is protected by the Government Code and is never released to anyone outside of staff. Our files are not readily available to the general public. Code Enforcement must have your name and phone number to provide the best follow-up action possible for every complaint. Many times we need to contact you to confirm either continuing problems or that the violation has been eliminated to your satisfaction. It is also important to be able to contact you in the event we find that the “problem” is not a violation enforceable by our Division or, maybe, not even a violation at all. If you are anonymous and we're unable to let you know these circumstances, you will be left with the negative impression that we have ignored your complaint.
Q: What will Code Enforcement do if I refuse to comply with the City's Municipal Code?
A:Code Enforcement attempts to solicit voluntary compliance with the property maintenance, health & safety, and other quality of life violations that come to their attention. Failure to gain compliance within a reasonable period of time may result in criminal prosecution or civil abatement.
Q: My neighbor's tree branches overhang onto my property and are dropping leaves into my pool/patio/garden, etc. - can the City make them trim the branches or remove the tree?
A:This is a commonly asked question because the problem occurs in nearly every residential neighborhood where aging landscape conditions exist. Code Enforcement does not have the authority to require a property owner to trim or remove any of their vegetation unless it overhangs into a public right-of-way - impeding either pedestrian or vehicular traffic, or unless the vegetation is dead and presents a potential fire hazard.
Instead, this particular question is a good example of a civil matter between property owners. Code Enforcement does recommend callers attempt to work this out amicably with their neighbor; however, if both parties are unable to resolve the problem satisfactorily then they have the option of working through the court system, with or without an attorney. Code Enforcement also suggests that any offending branches/vegetation may be trimmed back to the caller's property line, as long as the trimming does not impact the future life of the plant.
Q: The house next door is a rental and the tenants are messy. There are several dead cars in the driveway, the house paint is peeling, and they constantly park on the lawn - can you make the owner do something?
A:Yes we can! Code Enforcement works with both property owners and their tenants when enforcing responsible property maintenance standards. The property owner is usually contacted by mail regarding sub-standard conditions that occur at the property and tenants are contacted on site about violations that require their attention. The property owner is ultimately held jointly responsible for any continuing problems that result from the tenant's lack of compliance.
Of the specific problems at the property, the repair of any damaged or deteriorated house paint would be the responsibility of the property owner. Any structural or safety issue that would require a substantial financial investment to correct is usually the property owner's responsibility, such as a leaking roof, dilapidated fencing, a cracked and broken driveway, etc. Tenants have legal custody and control of the property so they are required to correct the violations that are of their making. They would be held accountable for either repairing the inoperable vehicles or removing them from public view and will be the ones cited if any parking upon unpaved surfaces reoccurs. They would also be held accountable for providing a continuing program of landscape maintenance to ensure attractive and thriving vegetation and the removal of any trash, discards, or litter accumulations about the property, keeping trash containers screened from public view, etc.