Malibu Wants to Establish Fines for
Building and Zoning Code Violations
• City Council Slated to Ask for New
Law
Malibu City Council members are being asked
next week to approve an ordinance that would establish fines
for violations of the municipal code.
If the ordinance is approved, the staff
will return with a separate agenda item to establish specific
fine amounts for administrative penalties, according to a staff
report.
“This ordinance has been prepared in
response to the desire to provide administrative enforcement
procedures for violations of the municipal code which are
deemed relatively minor in nature,” wrote Gail
Sumpter, division manager-permit services/ code enforcement.
Sumpter indicates such violations typically
include building codes, zoning, animal nuisance, noise and
other violations that “do not constitute immediate
threats to public health or safety.” Many of these are
brought to the city’s attention by neighbors or other
affected parties who file complaints.
The head code enforcement officer noted the
citations and fees imposed will provide for “a more
efficient and streamlined enforcement procedure”
than is currently available under the present provisions.
She said the procedure has proven effective in a number of
other cities, such as West Hollywood and Santa Ana.
There is a proposed procedure that includes
serving the citations personally, an appeal procedure before a
hearing officer appointed by the city manager, and ultimately
the ability to contest the citation in Superior Court.
