Enforcement

§ 707 Enforcement

[Amended 5-3-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-04; 8-16-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-06]

A. Violations of the Ordinance. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this Ordinance or any condition or requirement of any action imposed by the Zoning Board of Review or any other agency pursuant to this Ordinance may be fined up to $500 for each violation. The penalty for the violation shall reasonably relate to the severity of the offense. Each day the violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense.

1. Notice of Violation. Upon finding a violation, the Zoning Official (or their designee) shall serve notice by personal service or by certified mail addressed to the premises or the person committing or permitting the violation, or on the owner of the property as shown on the latest copy of the Town assessment rolls, indicating the nature of the violation and ordering the action necessary to correct it.

2. Compliance Time. Such notice shall give a compliance date which shall establish the length of time reasonably required to so comply, subject to the following:

a. The notice shall require compliance within no more than 30 days and not less than 10 days, except as provided in this Section below.

b. Compliance may be ordered within 24 hours of notice of violation if it is determined that the violation constitutes an immediate hazard to public health or safety.

c. Notice of the violation shall be posted in the Office of the Town Clerk and, upon failure to correct the violation by the compliance date, notice thereof shall be sent to the Chairman of the Planning Board, the Chairman of the Zoning Board of Review, and the Town Solicitor, and shall be recorded in the Land Evidence Records of the Town.

B. Enforcement. Upon notification of any violation of the Ordinance which has not been corrected by the compliance date, the Town Solicitor may initiate legal proceedings to restrain the violation of, or compel compliance with, the provisions of this Zoning Ordinance. The Town may consolidate an action for injunctive relief and/or fines under the Ordinance in Superior Court.