Code enforcement throughout the United States generally involves maintaining a certain level of public and environmental health and safety. Code violations are those things that are seen as a threat to public health, safety and welfare. Such violations can involve unregistered vehicles, construction being done without proper permits, noise ordinance issues, or complaints of overgrown trees, vegetation and/or weeds, and complaints are most often received through citizen complaints, which are registered upon noticing these conditions.
As with any legal issue, it is important to know what is and is not a possible code violation. In addition, if you find yourself in a situation of dealing with a complaint made against you for an alleged code violation, you should seek the advice of competent legal counsel in order to ensure that your rights are protected.
A code violation involving a vehicle is generally a complaint of an abandoned or inoperative vehicle parked on the street or in public view. If a vehicle cannot be legally driven on the street, it can be considered a code violation. Vehicles not stored away must have current license plates and be operational.
A code violation involving junk or debris that is perceived to have accumulated on private property can involve anything from lawn mowers, concrete blocks, lumber, buckets, or old car parts. All of this should be stored out of sight in a storage shed or garage. At a minimum, it would need to be blocked from public view by a fence or wall.
Building code violations can be of several varieties. Structural complaints may involve general rundown conditions such as damage to the roof, broken windows, and fading or peeling paint. These types of complaints could also deal with a building or home perceived to be abandoned. The other types of building code violations can involve complaints of construction without proper permits. This would include renovations to existing buildings being done without the proper permits.
In general, code enforcement exists to maintain a certain quality of life for everyone within a community, city, county, and state. By ensuring that public safety issues are addressed promptly and property values are maintained, codes and ordinances are put in place with the intention of serving the greater good.