Code Enforcement Ordinance Goes to Commissioners

DAYTON – The Columbia County Planning Commission gave its approval last month to a proposed new county ordinance which would add much-needed teeth to the county’s ability to enforce its zoning and health codes.

The proposed code-enforcement ordinance would be a completely new document for the county, according to County Planning Director Kim Lyonnais. It stemmed from a need shared by his office and the county prosecutor’s office, he said.

Lyonnais said that he and his staff have become very frustrated with a recent spate of violations to county building and health codes. These include everything from trash and junk piles and abandoned vehicles to cabins being built in the mountains without permits.

Lyonnais said that, beyond sending letters to property owners, his office is limited in the steps it can take to enforce county codes.

In a conversation with The Times, Deputy Prosecutor Dale Slack said that the new ordinance creates three levels of enforcement.

The first level is the notification process, which is similar to the current notification rules.

The second step allows the planning office to cite violators with an infraction when they fail to comply with the code after the notification process has taken place. The county could then impose a civil penalty and fine of up to $500 for first violations and $1,000 for subsequent violations.

The third level of enforcement would allow the county to charge a violator with a misdemeanor if they continue to fail to comply. Filing of criminal charges against violators would allow the Sheriff’s Office and criminal court system to assist the county in enforcing the codes.

According to Slack, the county currently does not have the capability for civil or criminal punishment for building and health code violators.

The Columbia County Commissioners are expected to take up the proposed new code enforcement ordinance at their first regular meeting next month. If approved by the commissioners, the ordinance will take effect later this year.