Title
Annual Review and Updates to the Neighborhood Services Department's Code Enforcement Policy - Citywide
Description
Request City Council approval of changes to the Neighborhood Services Department's (NSD) Code Enforcement Policy (CEP), based on the annual review.
Report
Summary
The CEP provides guidelines for enforcement of the Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance, Zoning Ordinance and portions of other City codes/ordinances enforced by NSD (Attachment A). Each year, NSD staff presents a review of the policy with any recommended updates to the City Council, as stated in the policy, which was last updated June 12, 2025. The information in this report is intended to initiate the review process and recommend updates for consideration.
The CEP is comprised of five sections. Section I of the CEP establishes the purpose of standard code enforcement, and the notification and enforcement options available to inspection staff. Section II defines recidivist person/properties and the possible consequences for repeat offenders. Section III describes the inspection and enforcement protocols for resident complaints with exceptions for proactive code enforcement in the immediate area of a complaint and in strategic action areas. Section IV includes information encouraging the use of hardship assistance programs for low- and moderate-income households where funding is available and support for owners/responsible parties who are impacted by homelessness. This includes increased communication, assistance and support in the form of information, referral counseling, outreach and the provision of volunteer labor and/or direct financial assistance. Section V provides guidance for NSD to work cooperatively with other departments and agencies to resolve complex and hazardous cases.
Based on NSD's annual review of the CEP, NSD staff is proposing the following updates:
• Specify egregious violations may result in an immediate citation upon inspection.
• Add Shopping Cart Certification cases to the list of violations that may be inspected proactively.
• Allow staff to address similar violations when addressing common blight violations at a property.
• Replace "Immediate Inspection" with "Hazard Inspection."
• Allow 11 days to conduct an inspection after issuance of a Pre-Notification Letter.
• Differentiate timelines for Notice of Ordinance Violation compliance from inspection timelines.
• Add timelines for inspection when not already referenced in the CEP.
• Add language regarding when consecutive citations will be considered and require approvals.
• Add language to clarify immediate area for purposes of proactive inspections when responding to a complaint.
• Replace Neighborhood Fight Back and Neighborhood Initiative Areas with Neighborhood Action Plans and Strategic Code Enforcement Areas.
• Fix incorrect references and unnecessary duplications.
The staff recommended updates to the CEP are highlighted on pages three through eight of Attachment B, with the current CEP provided for reference.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
On May 27, 2026, the Community Services and Education Subcommittee unanimously recommended City Council approval of all CEP updates, by a vote of 4-0.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Cynthia Aguilar and the Neighborhood Services Department.