Camarillo Municipal Code Ch. 1.12 City Code and Entitlement Violations, General Penalties and Enforcement

The provisions of this chapter represent the general means and methods by which the city may secure compliance with the provisions of this code and city approvals, licenses or permits. The city may use any available legal remedy to secure compliance and multiple enforcement remedies may be used to achieve compliance with respect to persons who commit continuing violations.

(Ord. 1008 § 1 (part), 2007.)

A. It is unlawful for any person to violate any provision or to fail to comply with any requirement of this code.

B. Whenever in this code any act or omission is made unlawful, it includes causing, permitting, aiding, abetting, maintaining, suffering or concealing the fact of such act or omission.

C. Any person violating any of the provisions of this code is guilty of a misdemeanor, unless: (1) the offense is specifically classified in this code or by state law as an infraction, or (2) the city attorney reduces the charge to an infraction, or (3) a peace officer as designated in Penal Code Section 830.1 or a city code enforcement officer as designated in Section 1.12.040 of this chapter issues an infraction citation for the violation, or (4) a civil penalty is imposed.

D. Each day that any condition caused or permitted to exist in violation of this code continues will constitute a new and separate violation.

E. The owner of any property, building or structure within the city has the responsibility for keeping such property, building or structure free of violations related to its use or condition. The owner of such property, building or structure is separately liable for violations committed by tenants or occupants relative to the use or condition of the property.

(Ord. 1008 § 1 (part), 2007.)

(Ord. No. 1072, § 2, 6-13-2012)

A. Each person or the successor of each person who holds a city-issued license, permit, land use approval, or entitlement authorized under this code must comply with each mandatory provision of the applicable license, permit, land use approval or entitlement.

B. Each person who violates subsection (A) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be punished as provided in Section 1.12.060 or in Section 1.12.070 if the charge is reduced to an infraction. The penalty provided in this section is in addition to other provisions of this code that provide for revocation of a license, permit, land use approval, or entitlement, or which authorize the imposition of a civil fine or penalty.

(Ord. 1008 § 1 (part), 2007.)

Pursuant to California Penal Code Section 836.5, city code enforcement officers are authorized to issue criminal citations following the procedures set forth in Penal Code Sections 853.5 through 853.6a, or such other procedures as the State of California may subsequently enact.

(Ord. 1008 § 1 (part), 2007.)

Pursuant to California Government Code Section 36900, the city attorney may prosecute any violation of this code in the name of the people of the State of California. In any such criminal prosecution, the city attorney is authorized to reduce the charge for any misdemeanor violation to an infraction.

(Ord. 1008 § 1 (part), 2007.)

Any person convicted of a misdemeanor for the violation of this code may be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment not to exceed six months, or by the imposition of both such fine and imprisonment.

(Ord. 1008 § 1 (part), 2007.)

A. Except as provided in subsection (B) below, any person convicted of an infraction for the violation of this code may be punished by:

1. A fine not exceeding one hundred dollars for a first violation;

2. A fine not exceeding two hundred dollars for a second violation of the same code section within one year;

3. A fine not exceeding five hundred dollars for each additional violation of the same code section within one year.

B. Any person convicted of an infraction for a violation of any city building or safety code may be punished by:

1. A fine not exceeding one hundred dollars for a first violation;

2. A fine not exceeding five hundred dollars for a second violation of the same code section within one year;

3. A fine not exceeding one thousand dollars for each additional violation of the same code section within one year.

(Ord. 1008 § 1 (part), 2007.)

In addition to the penalties provided in this chapter, any condition caused or permitted to exist in violation of this code is deemed a public nuisance and may be abated as such by the city in any manner provided by law or in this code for the abatement of a nuisance.

(Ord. 1008 § 1 (part), 2007.)

Upon a finding by a city official vested with the authority to enforce the provisions of this code that a violation exists, such official may issue an administrative citation under Chapter 1.13.

(Ord. 1008 § 1 (part), 2007.)

The city attorney, at the direction of the city council or city manager, may institute an action or proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction to restrain, enjoin or abate any condition found to be in violation of this code or any approval, order, rule or regulation issued by any duly authorized officer or agent of the city in the manner provided by law. In any action or proceeding in which the city elects, at the initiation of that individual action or proceeding, to seek recovery of its own attorneys' fees and costs, the prevailing party in any such civil action or proceeding will be entitled to the recovery of its reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred in such action or proceeding.

(Ord. 1008 § 1 (part), 2007.)