The Code Enforcement Process

The City of Delano's Zoning Enforcement Specialist is only available Monday through Wednesday.

1. To initiate the code enforcement process, the City must first receive a complaint by a resident or City staff. Learn more about how to file a complaint by clicking here.
2. Once the complaint is received, it will undergo thorough review by our Zoning Enforcement Specialist.
3. If a violation is verified the property owner and/or resident is notified of the violation by mail, email, or in-person.
4. Select members of City staff, or any member of City staff to whom such authority is delegated by the City Administrator, may enforce the provisions of the City Code and enter the property on which the administrative offense is suspected with consent from the property owner, or by securing a search warrant.
5. The alleged violators are given a set amount of time (up to 30 days) to correct or abate the administrative offense.
6. If the violation persists, the City can take further action, up to and including administrative citations and fines.
   1. There may be a late payment fee of ten percent (10%) assessed for each 30-day period or time after the due date that the fine remains unpaid.
   2. Administrative fines that remain unpaid within the specified time will result in (1) a property lien upon which the violation occurred if the property or it's improvements were a subject of the violation and the property owner was notified of the violation, (2) along with a personal obligation of the violator. 
7.  Alleged violators are granted the ability to appeal their citation to a panel of two (2) Councilmembers and one (1) member of the Planning Commission (the "Appeal Panel").
   1. Appeal requests must be submitted by sending a written request to the City Administrator either in-person, or by mail within 10 days of the issuance of the citation.

For further details, please consult Adopted Ordinance O-20-07.