When are Structure Neighborhood Services & Enforcement Violations occurring?

• When an inspector observes a housing violation, a letter is sent to the owner with details on the housing violation(s) along with the deadline for the repairs to be completed by.
• Depending on the severity of the needed repairs, the inspector may request the repairs to be completed in 24 hours, 10 days, or 30 days by sending a notice to the property owner. 
  • NOTE: The number of days an owner is given to repair the property varies based on the type of violation.  There are also special circumstances/emergency situations which may cause this process to be sped up.
• After 10 or 30 days, the inspector will return to the property to verify if the repairs have been completed. If the repairs have not been completed, the property owner may sign a repair agreement or may be ordered to attend a public hearing. 
• Typically, housing violations follow this general repair/securement guideline:
  • Broken Window/Door Violation – allows the property owner 10 days to secure the structure.
  • Substandard Housing Violation – allows 30 days to repair the structure.
• Once the time period for repair/securement has passed, the inspector will reinspect the property to see if the violation was repaired.
• If the violation was repaired/secured by owner, the case is closed.
• If the violation is still present:
  • Broken Window/Door violation – Neighborhood Services & Enforcement will facilitate the board up of the property with a local contractor and bill the property owner for work performed (plus an administrative fee).
  • Substandard Housing violation – Neighborhood Services & Enforcement will continue to reinspect the property every 30 days.
    • The property will be prepared for the hearing process as either a repair or demolition case.
    • Property owners will receive tickets and/or civil penalties (up to $5,000 per hearing) if the property continues to remain in disrepair.
    • If the property is affirmed for demolition through the hearing process, Neighborhood Services & Enforcement will conduct asbestos testing and facilitate the demolition of the property.  Neighborhood Services & Enforcement will bill the owner of record for the demolition (plus administrative fees).

• Common Housing Violations include: roofs that are not weather tight, substandard or inoperable plumbing, electrical wiring or heating systems, deteriorated and unsound structures, open cracks and breaks in foundation walls, lack of adequate heat and hot water, holes and rotting boards in exterior walls.

How do I get more information on Structure Neighborhood Services & Enforcement Violations?

You can obtain more information by calling 311. 

View the Neighborhood Neighborhood Services & Enforcement brochure.

View the Landlord Registration brochure.

311 Process Notes

• If a complaint, please create an Accela online complaint. 
• If the caller is referencing a letter they received, please transfer them to the inspector mentioned on the letter.
• If the caller is referencing an existing/specific case, additional time is requested, or mentions an inspector by name, please to transfer to the Neighborhood Services & Enforcement inspector.