ENFORCEMENT

Columbus City Codes tit. 13, ch. 1307

in effect

Columbus City Codes § 1307.01 Inspection, Right of Entry, Evidence.

1307.01 - Inspection, Right of Entry, Evidence. A. The director is authorized to make inspections when there is a valid reason to believe a violation exists of this title or applicable rules and regulations. B. Upon presentation of proper credentials, the director is authorized, where permission is granted, to enter any dwelling unit, rooming house, sorority or fraternity house, transitional housing, place of business, or premises in the city at reasonable times to perform any duty imposed by this title. If any owner, subject to the provisions of this title fails or refuses to permit free access and entry to the dwelling unit, rooming house, sorority or fraternity house, transitional housing, place of business, or premises, the director may apply for a search warrant, pursuant to Ohio Revised Code 2933.21(F). (Ord. No. 2846-2024, § 1, 11-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 1307.02 Notice of Violation.

1307.02 - Notice of Violation. A. Issuance of Notice of Violation. Whenever the director determines there is a violation of any provision of this Title or of any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, the director may issue a notice of such violation to the owner, as hereinafter provided. B. Content of Notice of Violation. The notice of violation may be in any format that includes all of the elements required by this section. All notices of violation shall: 1. Except for emergency orders, be in writing 2. Identify the section(s) of this Title to which the notice applies; 3. Provide a description of the violation(s); 4. Provide the location or a description of the location where the violation(s) exist; 5. Specify a reasonable time for compliance with any order contained in the notice; 6. Advise the owner of the right to appeal in accordance with section 1308.05 and that the failure to appeal the notice of violation in accordance with section 1308.05, or failure to pay the costs imposed under section 1307.03 (C) and (D) not later than twenty (20) days from the date of service shall constitute a waiver of the right to appeal and a default finding of civil liability shall be imposed upon the owner for the costs established in section 1307.03 (C) and (D); and 7. Advise the owner that if the order is not complied with by the specified date, the director may: assess a civil penalty, initiate a criminal action, and/or initiate a civil action against the owner; and/or by city personnel or private contractor, cause the violations to be corrected with the cost of such correction to be charged as a lien upon the real estate. C. Service of Notice of Violation. A notice of violation shall be served upon the owner. Such notice shall be served by any one (1) of the following methods: 1. Personal service; 2. Certified mail; 3. Residence service; 4. Publication; 5. Regular mail service to an address that is reasonably believed to be: a. A place of residence of the owner, or b. A location at which the owner regularly receives mail; 6. Posting the notice of violation on the property, except that if a structure or premise is vacant, then the notice shall be posted on the structure or premise and one (1) of the above methods of service shall also be used. D. When the notice of violation has been issued, any order and civil penalty contained within the notice shall be effective as to anyone having any interest in the premises whether recorded or not at the time the notice was issued. E. Written or oral acknowledgment by the owner of receipt of a notice of violation shall be evidence that the owner received the notice of violation. An appeal of the notice of violation by the owner pursuant to Section 1308.05 shall constitute evidence of written acknowledgment by the owner of service of notice of violation. (Ord. No. 2846-2024, § 1, 11-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 1307.03 Civil Penalties.

1307.03 - Civil Penalties. A. Noncriminal Offense; No Conviction. The fines established by this section are noncriminal. The imposition of liability under this section shall not be deemed a conviction for any purpose. B. Other Costs and Penalties Not Abrogated. Nothing in this section shall be construed as altering or limiting the effects of any other section of the city codes, the criminal penalties imposed by any such other section, or the ability of a law enforcement officer to enforce those sections. C. Penalties Established. In addition to any other means of enforcement provided for by law, the director may assess civil fines for the violations of the following sections by the issuance of a notice of violations pursuant to section 1307.02.: Subject | Section | Civil Penalty Containment and Storage | 1303.021(C)(1) | $250 Containment and Storage | 1303.021(C)(2) | $250 Containment and Storage | 1303.021(C)(4)(a) | $250 Containment and Storage | 1303.021(C)(4)(b) | $250 Containment and Storage | 1303.021(C)(5) | $250 Containment and Storage | 1303.021(C)(6) | $250 Containment and Storage | 1303.021(C)(7) | $250 Containment and Storage | 1303.021(C)(9) | $250 Unacceptable Waste | 1303.021(D)(1) | $1,000 Unacceptable Waste | 1303.021(D)(2) | $1,000 Unacceptable Waste | 1303.021(D)(3) | $1,000 Obstruction | 1303.021(E)(1) | $250 Restricting Access | 1303.021(E)(2) | $250 Bulk Collection | 1303.021(F)(1) | $250 Bulk Collection | 1303.021(F)(2) | $250 Bulk Collection | 1303.021(F)(3) | $250 Bulk Collection | 1303.021(F)(4) | $1,000 Bulk Collection | 1303.021(F)(5) | $500 Bulk Collection | 1303.021(F)(6) | $500 Bulk Collection | 1303.021(F)(7) | $500 Evictions | 1303.021(G)(1) | $1,000 Evictions | 1303.021(G)(2) | $1,000 Evictions | 1303.021(G)(3) | $1,000 Yard Waste | 1303.021(H)(1) | $250 Yard Waste | 1303.021(H)(2) | $1,000 Yard Waste | 1303.021(H)(3) | $1,000 Yard Waste | 1303.021(H)(4) | $250 Multiple Dwelling | 1303.021(I)(3) | $500 Multiple Dwelling | 1303.021(I)(4) | $500 Multiple Dwelling | 1303.021(I)(5) | $500 Mixed-Use Property | 1303.021(J) | $1,000 Place of Business | 1303.022 | $500 Waste Hauler | 1303.023(C ) | $1,000 Waste Hauler | 1303.024(C) | $250 Waste Hauler | 1303.024(D) | $1,000 Accumulating Waste | 1305.01 | $1,000 Burning | 1305.02 | $1,000 Illegal Dumping | 1305.03(A) | $1,000 Illegal Dumping | 1305.03(B) | $1,000 Pushcart Prohibited | 1305.04 | $100 Scavenging | 1305.05 | $100 D. Late Penalties. Late penalties shall be assessed in accordance with the following schedule: 1. If the fines established in subsection 1307.03 (C) remain unpaid twenty (20) days after the notice of violation is issued or twenty (20) days after the conclusion of all appeals, an additional twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be assessed; and 2. If the fines established in subsection 1307.03 (C) remain unpaid forty (40) days after the notice of violation is issued or forty (40) days after the conclusion of all appeals, an additional forty dollars ($40.00) shall be added to the twenty dollars ($20.00) assessed under subsection 1307.03 (D) (1) for a total additional penalty of sixty dollars ($60.00) in such a case. E. Collection. The costs imposed by this section may be enforced and collected by means of a civil action or any other means provided for in these city codes or the Ohio Revised Code. (Ord. No. 2846-2024, § 1, 11-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 1307.04 Emergencies.

1307.04 - Emergencies. A. Whenever the director finds that an emergency exists which requires immediate action to protect the health and safety of any person, the director may issue an oral or written order reciting the existence of such an emergency and requiring that such action as that director deems necessary be taken to meet the emergency. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this title, such order shall be effective immediately and complied with immediately. B. If necessary to protect the health and safety of any person where an emergency exists in an occupied building, the director shall order that the premises be vacated forthwith and further that it shall not be reoccupied until the conditions causing the emergency to exist have been abated and approved by the director. C. In cases where it reasonably appears that there is imminent danger to the health and safety of any person unless the emergency condition is immediately corrected and if after reasonable attempts to notify the owner it appears that the owner will not or cannot immediately correct the condition, the director may cause the immediate abatement, including building demolition of such emergency condition. The director shall further cause the cost of such abatement to be charged against the land on which the building exists as a municipal lien or to be recovered in a civil suit against the owner. (Ord. No. 2846-2024, § 1, 11-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 1307.05 Procedures for Finding a Public Nuisance.

1307.05 - Procedures for Finding a Public Nuisance. Upon inspection, whenever the director determines there is a violation of this title resulting in the existence of an actual or imminent threat of a public nuisance, or when notices issued pursuant to this title or other notice sections of city codes do not alleviate such an actual or imminent threat of a public nuisance or condition, the director may do any or all of the following: A. Cause the acceptable or unacceptable waste to be removed from any premises and may employ the necessary labor to perform the task; B. Cause the correction or abatement of any condition which violates any section of this title in regards to the sanitary maintenance of premises and the control and abatement of public nuisances and may employ the necessary labor to perform the task; C. Cause appropriate legal action to recover costs against the owner and/or premises where the work pursuant to division (A) and (B) was required. Costs incurred in the performance of work may be charged as a municipal lien, or recovered in a civil suit against the owner; D. Cause to be filed a civil complaint for injunctive relief seeking abatement of the public nuisance in a court of competent jurisdiction; E. Cause to be filed a criminal complaint in a court of competent jurisdiction. (Ord. No. 2846-2024, § 1, 11-18-2024)

Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT13RECOCO_CH1307ENFetched: 10/27/2026