Butte County Municipal Code Art. XVI Recovery of Costs Related to Code Enforcement, Nuisance Abatement, Permit…

For the purpose of this Article, certain words are defined as follows:

(a) The term "County Code" shall mean the Butte County Code.

(b) The term "Enforcement Officer" shall include the Director of Development Services, Building Official, Director of the Department of Public Works, Director of Environmental Health, Treasurer-Tax Collector, Fire Chief, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, Sheriff, District Attorney, County Counsel, and their designees.

(c) The term "Person" means any natural person, firm, association, club, organization, corporation, partnership, business trust, company or other entity which is recognized by law as the subject of rights or duties.

(d) The term "Abatement Costs" means any costs or expenses reasonably related to the abatement of conditions which violate the Butte County Code, and shall include, but not be limited to, enforcement, investigation, collection and Administrative Costs, and the costs associated with the removal or correction of the violation.

(e) The term "Administrative Costs," shall include the cost of County staff time reasonably related to enforcement, for items including, but not limited to, site inspections, investigations, summaries, reports, notices, telephone contacts and correspondence, as well as time expended by the Enforcement Officer and Auditor-Controller staff calculating the above costs and preparing itemized invoices showing such costs. Costs for travel time for inspections shall not be included.

(f) The term "County" shall mean the County of Butte.

(Ord. No. 3824, § 1, 7-23-2002; Ord. No. 3936, § 2 (part), 6-13-06)

The Enforcement Officer shall keep an account of the total cost of each abatement performed by the County. The Enforcement Officer shall request that the Auditor-Controller establish a project number to be used to account for the cost of each abatement carried out by the Enforcement Officer, other County departments, and/or by independent contractors retained by the Enforcement Officer or other County departments.

(Ord. No. 3824, § 1, 7-23-2002; Ord. No. 3914, § 4, 10-13-05)

Upon completion of an abatement of conditions which violate the Butte County Code by the Enforcement Officer, he or she shall send to the notified owner or occupant or appellant by certified mail a notice stating:

1. The total Abatement Costs and Administrative Costs; and

2. That the Abatement Costs and Administrative Costs shall be specially assessed against and shall become a lien against the subject property unless paid within forty-five (45) days from the date of the notice. If the Abatement Costs and Administrative Costs are not paid within forty-five (45) days of the billing date, the Enforcement Officer shall thereafter file with the Board of Supervisors an itemized statement of Abatement Costs and Administrative Costs.

(Ord. No. 3824, § 1, 7-23-2002; Ord. No. 3936, § 2 (part), 6-13-06)