Live Oak, Sutter County Municipal Code Ch. 14.01 Neighborhood and Community Preservation Program

The Live Oak Neighborhood and Community Preservation Division provides professional code enforcement services with the goal of improving and stabilizing neighborhoods, protecting property values and helping to promote a healthy, safe environment.

Substandard structures and buildings are a very serious problem in the City of Live Oak, especially in older neighborhoods. The problems that stem as a result of blighted properties affect the entire community in many ways. For example, it is a well established fact that blighted conditions encourage crime and degrade the viability of a City. The Live Oak Neighborhood and Community Preservation Division is dedicated to working with the community to improve deteriorating properties and blighted conditions by placing a high priority on encouraging voluntary abatement by property owners of these types of problems and conditions.

(Ord. 517 § 1, 2008)

The Live Oak Neighborhood and Community Preservation Division will make every effort to assist the community during any stage of the Neighborhood and Community Preservation Program process and acknowledge any effort made by the citizens of the City of Live Oak to keep the City beautiful and vital.

(Ord. 517 § 1, 2008)

This chapter provides a supplemental method to enforce the 1997 Edition of the "Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings" and the 1997 Edition of "The Uniform Housing Code."

The City reserves any other enforcement method allowed by law.

(Ord. 517 § 1, 2008)

The City Inspector conducts an inspection of the property to determine whether or not a code violation(s) exists. If a code violation(s) exists on the property the City Inspector will proceed to the noticing process.

If a code violation(s) does not exist on the property the investigation process is terminated.

(Ord. 517 § 1, 2008)

If a code violation(s) is present, the City Inspector will mail a certified legal notice to the legal property owner to request the code violation(s) be corrected; the notice process is as follows:

A. The first legal notice letter provides a 30-day period of time for the legal property owner to correct the violation(s). Additionally, the City Inspector will also make every attempt to contact the legal property owner by phone at this stage of the noticing process. At the end of this time period, the City Inspector will re-inspect the property to determine whether or not the code violation(s) has been corrected. If the code violation(s) has been corrected to the satisfaction of the City Inspector, the City Inspector will notify the legal property owner in writing indicating the case has been closed.

If the code violation(s) has not been corrected and the property owner has not requested an extension of time from the City Inspector, the City Inspector mails a second certified legal notice letter to the legal property owner.

B. The second legal notice letter provides a 10-day period of time for the legal property owner to correct the violation(s). The City Inspector will make every attempt to contact the property owner by phone at this stage of the noticing process. At the end of this time period the City Inspector will re-inspect the property to determine whether or not the code violation(s) has been corrected.

1. If the code violation has been corrected to the satisfaction of the Inspector, the Inspector will notify the legal property owner in writing indicating the case has been closed.

2. If the code violation has not been corrected and the property owner has not requested an extension of time from the Inspector, the Inspector mails a third and final certified legal notice letter to the legal property owner.

C. The third and final legal notice letter provides a five-day period of time for the legal property owner to correct the violation(s). At the end of this period of time the City Inspector will re-inspect the property to determine if the code violation(s) has been corrected.

1. If the code violation has been corrected to the satisfaction of the Inspector, the Inspector will notify the legal property owner in writing indicating the case has been closed.

2. If the code violation has not been corrected and the legal property owner has not requested an extension from the City Inspector a "notice and order" will be issued by the Building Official.

D. Depending on the severity of the violation(s), the Building Official may dispense with any of the above notices and proceed immediately to the notice and order process OR take any other appropriate action.

(Ord. 517 § 1, 2008)

A. Important Note. There are certain resources available to assist the property owner, who qualifies, in correcting the property maintenance/Dangerous Building Codes violation(s). It is the property owner's responsibility to contact the City Building Official before the 30-day time period expires to inform him or her that resource assistance is needed.

B. The Building Official will issue a "Notice and Order" directed to the legal property owner of the building in accordance with Section 401 of the 1997 Edition of the "Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings." The notice and order will contain the following:

1. Street address and a legal description sufficient for identification of the premises upon which the building is located.

2. A brief and concise description of the deficiencies found to render the building dangerous under the provisions of Section 302 of the code referenced above.

3. A statement of the action required to be taken as determined by the Building Official.

a. If the Building Official determines that the building or structure must be repaired, all required permits shall be secured and the work physically commenced within 30 days from the date of the notice and order and the work shall be completed within 60 days from the date of the notice and order.

b. If the Building Official determines the building or structure must be vacated, the building or structure shall be vacated within 30 days from the date of the notice and order.

c. If the Building Official determines that the building or structure must be demolished, all required permits shall be secured and the work physically commenced within 30 days from the date of the notice and order and the work completed within 60 days from the date of the notice and order.

(Ord. 517 § 1, 2008)

When all measures for code violation compliance have been exhausted the City staff, as outlined above, and code violation(s) still exist the Building Official shall file a notice of noncompliance with the Sutter County Recorder's office. The cost to file a notice of noncompliance will be charged to the property owner.

(Ord. 517 § 1, 2008)

When code violation(s) compliance has been achieved to the satisfaction of the City Inspector a release of the notice of noncompliance will be granted to the property owner. The cost for the release of the notice of noncompliance will be charged to the property.

(Ord. 517 § 1, 2008)