Camarillo Municipal Code Ch. 9.50 Prohibition on the Occupancy of Non-Habitable Rooms, Spaces and Structures

The purposes of this chapter include:

A. To restate in a single place the prohibitions on the occupancy of non-habitable rooms, structures or spaces for cooking, eating, living or sleeping purposes, which are contained in multiple code provisions including the uniform codes that are adopted by reference in Chapter 16.04;

B. To provide for recurring inspections of properties found to be in violation of this chapter in order to ensure continued compliance; and

C. To provide for enhanced civil penalties to deter such illegal uses of property and to recover part of the costs associated with such property inspections and related code enforcement activities.

(Ord. 1007 § 2 (part), 2007.)

As used in this chapter:

"Responsible person" means a person with a right of ownership, management, occupation, or possession of private property.

(Ord. 1007 § 2 (part), 2007.)

No person may cause or permit on any property the occupancy of non-habitable rooms, structures or spaces for cooking, eating, living or sleeping purposes in violation of this code.

(Ord. 1007 § 2 (part), 2007.)

Any property found in violation of Section 9.50.030 under any of the code enforcement remedies authorized under Title 1 or Title 9 of this code, or by state or federal law, is subject to reinspection up to four times a year for a period of five years from the date of the violation by city code enforcement officers to ensure that no further occupation of non-habitable rooms, structures or spaces for cooking, eating, living or sleeping purposes in violation of this code exist at such property.

(Ord. 1007 § 2 (part), 2007.)

A. Civil Fines. The fine schedule for administrative citations resulting from violations of this chapter is as follows:

1. A first violation is punishable by a five hundred dollar fine;

2. A second violation at the same property or by the same responsible person within a twelve-month period is punishable by a fine of one thousand dollars;

3. A third or subsequent violation at the same property or by the same responsible person within a twelve-month period is punishable by a fine of one thousand five hundred dollars.

B. The second, third or subsequent violation fines prescribed in subsections (A)(2) and (A)(3) are payable whether or not the responsible person for allowing such illegal occupation of non-habitable rooms, structures or spaces is different from the responsible person for any prior violations at the same property.

C. The fine schedule prescribed in subsection (B) is a "rolling schedule" meaning that in calculating the fine payable the city will count backward starting from the date of the most recent violation to determine the number of violations at the same premises or by the same responsible person.

(Ord. 1007 § 2 (part), 2007.)