Mountain House Municipal Code Ch. 1 Definitions

Unless otherwise specified the following definitions shall be applicable throughout this Division:

(a) "Administrative Costs" means all costs incurred by, or on behalf of the City regarding the violation from the discovery of the violation of this code through the appeal process and until compliance is achieved, including, but not limited to, staff time investigating and/or inspecting the property where the violation occurred, preparing investigation reports, telephone and digital contact, correspondence, notice, and preparing for and attending any appeal hearing. Administrative Costs shall not include attorney fees.

(b) "Enforcement Official" means any City Official, Officer, Department Head, or their deputy, designee, or employee, agent or any person otherwise authorized by that person, law, or ordinance.

(c) "Hearing Officer" means a qualified person selected to be a Hearing Officer pursuant to Title 2, Division 3, Chapter 5 of this code.

(d) "Nuisance" means the same as Section 3479 of the California Civil Code which states that a nuisance is "anything which is injurious to health, including, but not limited to, the illegal sale of controlled substances, or is indecent or offensive to the senses, or an obstruction to the free use of property, so as to interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property, even if it does not directly damage land or prevent its use, or unlawfully obstructs the free passage or use, in the customary manner, of any navigable lake, or river, bay, stream, canal, or basin, or any public park, square, street, or highway."

(e) "Owner" means the real party in interest in the property, or the holder of record title in the property, real or personal.

(f) "Person" has the same meaning as defined in Section 1-3-103 of this code and additionally shall include any "responsible party" as defined below.

(g) "Responsible Party" means:

(1) Each person, other than a minor, who commits or causes a violation of this code to occur, exist, or continue;

(2) Each person who is the parent or legal guardian of the minor person who commits or causes a violation of this code to occur, exist, or continue;

(3) Each person who has a legal or equitable ownership interest in any parcel of real property located within the City and who commits, causes, or otherwise allows a violation of this code to occur, exist, or continue on such parcel;

(4) Each person who, although not an owner, nevertheless has a legal right or legal obligation to exercise possession and control over any parcel of real property located within the City and who commits, causes, or otherwise allows a violation of this code to occur, exist, or continue on such parcel; and

(5) Each owner of a business entity that commits or causes a violation of this code to occur, exist, or continue.

(Ord. 2024-19, § 1(Exh. A), 2024)