FAQs • What are the penalties for doing work without a permi

What are the penalties for doing work without a permit or for failing to correct a zoning violation?: The penalties for failing to get a permit for building/remodeling projects range from $100 deposit against 50% permit fee for smaller projects and go up to $1,000 deposit against four times the permit fee for larger projects. For failure to correct a zoning violation, penalties start at $100 and go up to $1,000 if not corrected.

Code Compliance

1. Can you tell me who complained about my property?: The Board of Supervisors has deemed all our cases to be confidential and we may not disclose that information.

2. What do I need to do to file a complaint?: A complaint can be filed with the Community Development Department orally or in writing. We require a physical address and a short description of the alleged violation.

3. Do I have to give my name if I want to complain about someone in violation?: No. We take anonymous complaints and are careful to safeguard all information pertaining to the case.

4. How long can a person use a recreational vehicle for human occupancy?: A recreational vehicle may not be used for human occupancy for more than 30 days in a calendar year. However, with approval from the Building and Safety Division, one may reside in a recreational vehicle while they have an active permit for the new construction of a residence or business.

5. Why are you singling me out when you can drive down the street and find 10 others who are in violation?: As directed by the County Ordinance Code, for planning-related violations, CDD is reactive not proactive. We do not take action until we receive a complaint. Once a complaint is received then we proceed in working with the property owner to mitigate the violation. For building-related violations the CDD is proactive and will initiate enforcement action without a complaint to ensure that life safety concerns are addressed.

6. What are the penalties for doing work without a permit or for failing to correct a zoning violation?: The penalties for failing to get a permit for building/remodeling projects range from $100 deposit against 50% permit fee for smaller projects and go up to $1,000 deposit against four times the permit fee for larger projects. For failure to correct a zoning violation, penalties start at $100 and go up to $1,000 if not corrected.