§ 12-43. Violations and penalties.

(a)

It shall be unlawful for the owner of any building to fail, neglect, or refuse to repair, alter, and improve the same; or to fail to vacate, close, and remove or demolish the same, upon order of the code enforcement officer duly made and served as herein provided, within the time specified in such order, and each day that any such failure, neglect, or refusal to comply with such order continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. It shall be unlawful for the owner of any building with respect to which an order has been issued pursuant to this article to occupy or permit the occupancy of the same after the time prescribed in such order for its repair, alteration and improvement or its vacation, closing and removal or demolition, and each day that such occupancy continues after such prescribed time shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.

(b)

Any owner of a building who fails to comply with any order described in subsection (a), or who allows occupancy of the building subject to such order after the compliance period in the order has expired, shall be subject to a civil penalty of $500.00 for each day that noncompliance continues following the expiration of the compliance period specified in the order of compliance. If a person fails to pay the civil penalty within ten days of receipt of the citation, the city may seek to collect it in a civil action in the nature of a debt.

(c)

Each day that a violation continues after notification that such violation exists shall constitute a separate and distinct offense for purposes of the penalties and remedies set forth in this section.

(d)

This article may be enforced by any appropriate equitable action.

(e)

This article may be enforced by any one, all, or any combination of the remedies authorized in this section.

(Ord. No. 08-0316, § 1, 3-6-08)