Initial Enforcement Action
Santa Clara City Code § 18.152.050
in effectA. Procedures for Initiating Enforcement. This Section describes the procedures for initiating enforcement action in cases where the Director has determined that real property within the City is being used, maintained, or allowed to exist in violation of the provisions of SCCC Title 18.
1. Notice to Responsible Parties. The Director shall provide the record owner of the subject site and any person in possession or control of the site with a written Notice of Violation, which shall include the following information:
a. A description of the violation(s) and citations of applicable SCCC Title 18 provisions being violated;
b. The time limit for correction of the violation, as specified below;
c. A statement that the City intends to charge the property owner for all administrative costs associated with the abatement of the violation(s); and
d. A statement that the property owner may request and be provided a meeting with the Director to discuss possible methods for the correction of the violation(s).
2. Time Limit for Correction.
a. The Notice of Violation shall state that the violation(s) shall be corrected within 30 days from the date of the notice to avoid further enforcement action by the City.
b. The 30-day time limit may be extended by the Director upon determining that the responsible party will likely correct the violations within a reasonable time period.
c. The Director may also require through the Notice of Violation that the correction occur within less than 30 days if the violation constitutes a public nuisance or is a hazard to public health or safety.
B. Encourage Voluntary Cooperation. It is the objective of these provisions to encourage the voluntary cooperation of responsible parties in the prompt correction of violations, so that the other enforcement measures provided by this Chapter may be avoided.
C. Other Steps. These provisions shall not limit or prevent the City from taking any other steps necessary to obtain compliance with SCCC Title 18.
D. Use of Other Enforcement Procedures. The enforcement procedures of Section 18.152.080 (Legal Remedies) may be employed by the City after or instead of the provisions of this Section where the Director determines that this Section may be ineffective in securing the correction of the violation(s) within a reasonable time.
Source: City of Santa Clara Zoning Code (santaclaraca.gov PDF)URL: https://www.santaclaraca.gov/our-city/departments-a-f/community-development/planning-division/zoningFetched: 10/24/2026