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CODE COMPLIANCE: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
You may find your question below, click it, and you’ll jump down the pag. If you don’t find your question here, try searching the County-wide FAQs.
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How do I submit a complaint?
Obtain a complaint form by visiting the Eric Rood Administrative Center, calling the Code Compliance Division at (530) 470-2788 or by downloading the form available from our Submitting a Complaint page. When submitting a complaint the reporting party must include their name, and phone number as anonymous or illegible complaints will not be processed. Reporting party information remains confidential except when disclosure is required by the Court.
I don’t want anyone to know who filed the complaint. Why do I have to sign the form?
Code Compliance’s policy, established by the Board of Supervisors, is that cases are generated through a formal complaint process, or through a referral from the Board of Supervisors or other agency. That said, reporting party confidentiality is of great importance to the Code Compliance Division. Our office staff creates the case files that the Officers carry on site, and these files contain copies of the complaint forms-with all identifying information removed-so even the Officers have no knowledge regarding the origin of the complaint. The original complaint form remains in our office, in locked storage. Only when requested by the Court will this be information be released.
Will I be contacted regarding the complaint I’ve filed?
No. Reporting parties names are kept confidential, even from the Officers who work the individual cases. This means they have no knowledge of who filed a complaint or how to reach them.
It appears nothing is being done on my complaint. Is any progress being made?
Most likely the County has started working with the property owner to resolve the violation. After receiving the case, a Code Officer will visit the property in question to confirm the existence of a violation. Once confirmed, the property owner is given a specific set of tasks-and a time frame for completing those tasks-that will bring the property into compliance with the County’s Codes. If the property owner chooses not to work with the County to cooperatively resolve the situation, we begin a more formal legal process that may take an extended time to fully resolve.
May I contact Code Compliance for the status on the complaint I’ve filed?
Absolutely. Please call our main number at (530) 470-2788 and our office staff will be glad to answer your questions and route you to the Officer assigned to a particular case. Please understand that as investigations are ongoing and may end up in Superior Court, Code Officers may not be able to share details of a case with you.
What happens if the property owner won’t correct the violation?
It is Code Compliance’s goal to achieve voluntary compliance whenever possible, and we will do all within our power to assist property owners in resolving the issues on their properties. If a property owner chooses not to work with the County to correct the violations on their property, the Code Officer may resort to a more formal legal process that can include issuing a criminal citation that will require the property owner to appear in Nevada County Superior Court to resolve the issue.
A complaint has been filed against my property. What happens now?
All complaints must be verified before any action is taken on our part, therefore a Code Officer will visit your property to confirm the validity of the complaint. If the complaint is valid, the Officer will explain to you all violations that currently exist on your property and the actions necessary to correct them. You will also be a given a time frame to correct the violations. The goal of Code Compliance is to achieve voluntary compliance whenever possible. If however, you choose not to work with the County to correct the outstanding issues, you can be cited and ordered to appear in Nevada County Superior Court.
Why was I reported for a violation and not my neighbor?
Code Compliance investigations are the result of public complaints, or referrals from the Board of Supervisors or other agencies regarding conditions on specific properties. We are obligated to act upon those complaints and resolve any violations that may be present. Every effort is made to enforce Nevada County standards fairly and consistently. If conditions on another property are of concern to you please report them to the Code Compliance Division, using the Complaint Form.
How long will I be given to correct the violations on my property?
The length of time given to each property owner varies based on each case and the violations present. Our goal is voluntary compliance whenever possible and we will work with you to achieve this goal.
What codes do Code Compliance enforce?
The Code Compliance division enforces regulations to the following:
- Condition of existing structures that constitute a clear and present danger to the public.
- Building Code violations (building, electric, plumbing, mechanical, access, etc) including construction without permits.
- California State Housing Law (minimum standards for safe and sanitary housing.
- Illegal solid waste
- Zoning requirements for structures such as use, location, configuration, size and land use requirements.
- Abandoned Vehicles
Who enforces brush and weeds abatement?
Complaints received by the Code Compliance Division regarding weeds and brush will be referred to the Fire Department. For faster resolution it is suggested that you call these complaints into the local Fire Department directly. (You can download a list of Fire Districts serving Nevada County; this is an Adobe Acrobat file.)
Who enforces illegal dumping of trash?
Complaints received by the Code Compliance Division regarding trash and illegal dumping on vacant or non-developed property will be referred to the Environmental Health Department. For faster resolution it is suggested that you call these complaints into the Environmental Health Department or the Illegal Dumping Hotline at (530) 265-7111.
Are abandoned/inoperative vehicles on my property a violation?
Vehicles on private property that are abandoned, inoperative, wrecked or dismantled are a violation of the Land Use and Development Code of Nevada County.
In response to written complaints, a Code Officer will visit the property in question and determine if the vehicles located there meet the criteria of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative. You will be asked to remove, conceal, or make operative each vehicle found to be in violation. The size and characteristics of your property can also dictate the form of remedy.
You can request a hearing before the County Zoning Administrator prior to any action if you wish to contest the County’s decision that the vehicles are a nuisance.
If all else fails, an abatement order will be sought from the Court to remove vehicles that remain in violation. Cooperation in resolving these matters is always the desired course of action.
Who do I contact to report abandoned vehicles on public roads?
The County participates in the Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Program funded by the Abandoned Vehicle Trust Fund. This fund provides for a program of Vehicle Abatement from public roads according the California Vehicle Code and local ordinance. To report abandoned or wrecked vehicles on public roads please call the Abandoned Vehicle Hotline at (530) 470-2750.
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