La Palma Municipal Code Art. I In General

(a) In order to provide for final interpretation of the provisions of the codes adopted by this article and to hear appeals provided for hereunder, there is hereby established a housing advisory and appeals board consisting of five members of the City Council of the City of La Palma. The Building Official shall be an ex officio member of and shall act as secretary to the board. The board may adopt reasonable rules and regulations for conducting its business, and shall render all decisions and findings in writing to the appellant with a copy to the Building Official.

(b) Appeals to the board shall be processed in accordance with the provisions contained in Chapter 5 of the Uniform Building Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings adopted by reference in this chapter. Copies of all rules and regulations adopted by the board shall be delivered to the Building Official, who shall make them freely accessible to the public.

(Code 1975, § 7-5; Ord. No. 85-08, § 1)

State Law reference— Local appeals board authorized by City council to hear appeals regarding building requirements of the City, Health and Safety Code § 17920.5.

No provision of this chapter shall be construed to relieve from or lessen the responsibility of any person who owns, operates, maintains or installs any facilities contrary to the provisions of this chapter for damages to persons or property caused by any defect therein, nor shall the City be held as assuming any such liability by reason of any inspection, approval or certificate of inspection as provided in this chapter or by reason of the adoption of the codes in this chapter.

(Code 1975, § 7-6; Ord. No. 85-08, § 1)

State Law reference— Authority of enforcement agency officer to enter and inspect any building or premises to secure compliance with or prevent a violation of State Building Code, Health and Safety Code § 17970; limitations on authority to enter, Health and Safety Code § 17972.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, or corporation to violate any provision or to fail to comply with any of the requirements of this chapter or any of the codes hereby adopted. Any person, firm, partnership, or corporation violating any provision of this chapter or any of the codes hereby adopted or failing to comply with any of their requirements shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $1,000.00, or by imprisonment not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(b) Each and every person, firm, partnership, or corporation shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each and every day or any portion thereof during which any violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or the codes hereby adopted is committed, continued, or permitted by such person, firm, partnership, or corporation, and shall be deemed punishable therefor as provided in this chapter.

(c) In the alternative, any such hazard may be prosecuted originally as an infraction or amended thereto in the discretion of the City Attorney or any deputy district attorney, upon a determination that the circumstances warrant such action.

(Code 1975, § 7-6.1; Ord. No. 2007-07, § 2)

The violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or any of the codes hereby adopted shall constitute a nuisance and may be abated by the City through civil process by means of restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or in any other manner provided by law for the abatement of such nuisances.

(Code 1975, § 7-6.2; Ord. No. 2007-07, § 2)

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any of the provisions of this chapter and of any code adopted by reference by this chapter to fail to comply therewith, or to violate or fail to comply with any order made thereunder, or to build in violation of any detailed statement or specifications or plans submitted and approved thereunder or any certificate or permit issued thereunder, or to fail to comply with an order issued thereunder.

(b) Any person violating any provision of this chapter or any code adopted thereby, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and each such person shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each and every day or portion thereof during which any violation of any of the provisions of such code or provision is committed, continued or permitted. Upon conviction of any such violation, such person shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500.00 or by imprisonment for not more than six months or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(c) The application of the above penalty shall not be held to prevent the enforced removal of prohibited conditions under the codes of this chapter.

(Code 1975, § 7-47; Ord. No. 79-11, § 1)