The goal of the Code Enforcement Division is that all property owners and tenants maintain their property’s appearance and value so as to enhance the quality of life for all Kerman citizens. The Division focuses on correcting violations that threaten the life, health, and safety within the community. The Code Enforcement Division takes all complaints seriously, and independently investigates each situation in a professional and effective manner.

The Code Enforcement Officer works with the Police Department, Fire Department, Building Department and Community Development Department to investigate reported violations of laws relating to nuisances and zoning, which typically includes illegal home occupations, illegal second units, dangerous structures, fence violations, illegal signs, graffiti, debris, weeds, as well as inoperable and illegal vehicles.

The code enforcement process is typically initiated in several ways: 1) observation by city staff; 2) as a consequence of an action (i.e., an application for a building permit or a request for a zoning variance); or 3) in response to a complaint by an individual.

The Code Enforcement Division focuses on the following areas:

Public Nuisance

Zoning

Housing

Common Code Violations and Public Nuisances

Public nuisances have an impact on all citizens. Typically, public nuisances are blight issues which lower property values and corrode the City's attractiveness and quality of life. The most common code violations in the City of Kerman are those that are in public view. While there are many possible code violations, there are some that occur more commonly than others. Below is a list of the most common code violations in the City of Kerman.

• Building left in an unreasonable state of partial construction or partially destroyed.
• Any doorway, window, or an other opening into a vacant structure not closed and maintained secure
• Any broken window constituting a hazardous condition and encouraging trespass
• Overgrown, dead, decayed diseased hazardous trees, weeds, and other vegetation that present a fire hazard and public nuisance
• Any building exterior wall, fence, driveway, sidewalk, or walkway which is maintained in condition of disrepair so as to be unsafe or defaced as to detract from the neighborhood appearance
• Any attractive nuisance, including abandoned, broken or neglected machinery or equipment, any pool or excavation that is dangerous to children
• Lumber (excluding stacked firewood), junk, trash, garbage, debris or salvage material scattered around the property and visible from a public right-of-way
• Abandoned or discarded indoor furniture, refrigerator, or other household fixtures visible from a public right-of-way (e.g., indoor couches in front yard)
• Uncontrolled grass or weeds in public view lacking regular maintenance
• Cars parked on the lawn on other unimproved surface
• Abandoned or junk vehicles on public or private property visible from a public right-of-way
• Construction materials and basketball hoops places on the street or sidewalk
• Dilapidated or inoperative vehicles parked on private property and in public view
• Construction activity without required zoning approvals and/or building permits
• Loud noise from parties
• Illegal dumping of garbage and debris
• Violations of watering days

Code Enforcement Process

The code enforcement process is initiated in several ways:

Our goal is to have all investigations started within five (5) days of the initial complaint. Our Code Enforcement Officer must personally observe the violation before we can initiate any enforcement action. You may call after five days to inquire about our initial findings and to ascertain the status of the investigation process. It is important to not that some violations take longer than others to investigate. If the violation is an ongoing activity rather than a physical violation, the investigation may take longer to investigate, verify and abate.

If a complaint is valid, we are required to issue a written warning notice to the owner(s) to give them an opportunity to correct the situation. Normally we give the owner(s) 15 days to correct the problem. There are instances that we will ask for compliance in a shorter amount of time or a longer amount of time depending of the severity and the magnitude of the problem.

The Code Enforcement Division inspects and investigates complaints from citizens of the City of Kerman. Upon receipt of a complaint, the Code Enforcement Officer will conduct a site visit to investigate the reported violation. After confirmation of the violation, the Code Enforcement Officer will take necessary steps to gain compliance with City Codes. These steps are outlined in further detail below.

The following is a general description of processes and documents involved in the enforcement of various codes and ordinances. The following does not describe alternative methods and procedures that may be used in enforcement of various codes and ordinances.

Verbal Warning/Courtesy notice

Depending on the severity of a violation, the code enforcement process could begin with a conversation with an owner or tenant regarding the violation, method of correction, and a time to come into compliance. A Courtesy Notice may also be left with the owner or tenant or posted on the property. If the violation is corrected, no further action is required.

Notice of Violation

A  Notice of Violation (NOV) is a formal letter, sent both via certified mail, first class mail and may, in addition, be posted on the subject property, specifying alleged violations, method of correction and a period of time to come into compliance. The NOV may be the first step in the code enforcement process or follow verbal warnings or Courtesy Notices if the alleged violation is not corrected.

Notice of Violation Hearing

A  Notice of Violation Hearing is a formal letter, sent both via certified mail, first class mail and posted on the subject property, specifying a hearing date before the City Council for action on the alleged violations.

Violation Hearing

A hearing before the City Council to determine if, in fact, a violation(s), on a particular property exists, a period of time to come into compliance and a potential daily fine for continued non-compliance beyond the compliance date given. The City Council will make a finding of fact as to notification and due process, a conclusion of law as to the violation(s) and issue an order specifying a compliance date and a potential daily fine for continued non-compliance beyond the compliance date given. The finding or order is later reduced to writing (Notice to Abate), signed by the Mayor or City Manager and sent to via certified and regular mail to the violator. 

Notice to Abate 

A written Notice of Abatement (NOA) the City Council, resulting from a violation hearing, containing a finding of fact as to notification and due process, a conclusion of law as to the violation(s) and  an order specifying a compliance date and a potential daily fine for continued non-compliance beyond the compliance date given. If the violation(s) is not abated by the compliance date set forth by the City Council in the NOA, the City may cause the violations to be abated and record the cost plus accrued fines with the County Tax Collector as a lien against the property.

Weed Abatement Program

The City of Kerman’s Planning & Development Services Department, Code Enforcement Division, coordinates an annual Weed Abatement inspection program throughout the City. Each year, the program begins with the City of Kerman City Council, through resolution, declaring weeds and rubbish to be a public nuisance, and a Public Notice being published in the Kerman News newspaper. Weed Abatement Notices are mailed to property owners or properties that have had recurring problems or those properties where a problem is anticipated during the dry season. The Notice is sent as a reminder to property owners, and because many notices are sent at once, the Notice is written in general terms and does not identify specific problems.

The Notice lists the basic requirements of the City’s Weed and Rubbish Abatement Ordinance, and lists a date by which properties must be brought into compliance (May 1 of every year). After compliance date, field inspections of parcels are performed by Code Enforcement personnel on a regular basis.

If you received a Weed Abatement Notice from the Code Enforcement Division, it is important to act promptly. Inspect your property and determine if your property is in compliance. If any portion of your property is not in compliance, you must take steps to abate the problem prior to the inspection date listed on the Notice to avoid any charges. Property owners are billed for the cost of abatement along with an administrative fee for each individual parcel. Please remember that inspections are conducted throughout the dry season, and the property must be maintained throughout the dry season (typically May 1st through November 1st) in order to remain in compliance, and to avoid any charges.

Field inspections focus on fire safety as well as other general public safety and nuisance concerns. If a property is inspected and is not in compliance, Code Enforcement will mail a Weed abatement Violation Notice will be sent to the property owners, listing the violation(s) and a date for the next inspection. If the problem remains on the property after the Weed Abatement Violation Notice has been sent, the Code Enforcement Division is authorized by the City Council to hire a contractor to abate the property at the expense of the property owner. No additional notices or warnings will be sent before the property is abated.

The property owner is responsible, and will be billed for all costs related to the abatement of the property. These costs include an administrative fee for the inspection of properties, the publication of administrative notices, as well as the actual removal of weeds and/or rubbish from the property. Costs related to the abatement of properties will be billed to the property owner by invoice from the City. Unpaid costs will be assessed to the tax rolls as a lien against the property.