I’ve received a Notice of Administrative Violation.
A Notice of Administrative Violation specifies an administrative sanction. You can find this sanction on the lower half of your Notice, in the area under the heading "Administrative Sanction Schedule." If you pay this sanction within the next 10 days and make the required corrective action, then your case will be closed. If you want to contest the Notice of Administrative Violation, you have the right to a hearing. You must request a hearing within 10 calendar days of the date you received the Notice of Administrative Violation. A Request for Hearing form must be accompanied by a hearing fee and a payment of the proposed administrative sanction of up to $500 that is held as a security.
Hearings are held within 30 days from when you filed the Request for Hearing form. Impartial administrative hearing officers conduct the hearings, which are open to the public. All parties to a hearing have the right to present evidence and witnesses, present opening and closing comments, and to be represented by an attorney.
The hearing officer will issue a written decision within 30 days after the conclusion of the hearing. The hearing officer's decision is not appealable to the city council or to any city employee. The decision may only be appealed to a court as specified in the California Code of Civil Procedure.
If you fail to pay the sanction and do not request an administrative hearing to appeal the Notice within the next 10 days, then interest will be assessed on the outstanding amount, and the city may seek to collect the amount of the sanction by lien, special assessment, withholding of entitlements such as licenses and permits, or any other action allowed by law. If you have questions about the Notice, or disagree with the requested correction(s), you are encouraged to meet with the enforcement authority and/or the appropriate department head and/or designee in order to resolve the matter. While this is encouraged, it is important to note that this does not extend the 10-day period in which you must request a hearing. Therefore, if you intend to contest the Notice, you still must request a hearing before the 10-day period has expired.
After you have filed a request for an administrative hearing, you may request mediation, if you are interested. If the city also agrees to mediation, then a mediator will be assigned. The mediator will help you and the enforcement authority to reach a mutual agreement as to the steps and timeline needed to comply with the Folsom Municipal Code and other applicable laws. If both you and the enforcement authority agree upon a compliance plan, then it will be placed in writing and signed. If both parties agree, the administrative hearing may be postponed until the mediation is completed.
Additional rights and details are specified in the Code Enforcement Ordinance, copies of which may be obtained from the City Clerk's Department.