Code Compliance Procedures

Code Compliance Procedures

FILING A COMPLAINT: You can call the Code Compliance Division at 503-786-7409, email us at code@milwaukieoregon.gov , mail a handwritten letter to City Hall, ATTN: Code Compliance, 3200 SE Harrison St, Milwaukie, OR 97222 or come by our office at the Public Safety Building and speak with us in person. You should know that we are out in the city often and we do not have designated office hours. You can also use our online form.

INVESTIGATING A COMPLAINT: Once a complaint is received, Code Compliance staff will make a site visit to determine if a violation exists. If there is a violation, Code Compliance will determine who the responsible party/property owner is. Once that is established, the appropriate parties will be notified of the violation(s).

NOTIFICATIONS: Once it has been determined who the responsible party is, Code Compliance staff will notify them of the violation(s). This notification may take the form of personal contact, a warning left in the form of a Notice of Violation or by letter. All warnings contain a compliance date. If compliance is not met by the compliance date, staff may issue a second notice. In certain situations, such as health or safety matters, or repeat violations, there may be no notification and a citation may be issued.

CITATION: If a code violation is not remedied during the notification process, the responsible party/property owner may be issued an Oregon Uniform Citation and Complaint. Once this citation is issued, the person receiving the citation is required to appear in court on the date given on the citation. If after judicial proceedings a defendant is found to be guilty of violating the municipal code, the judge may impose a civil penalty, similar to a fine.

ABATEMENT: If after citation the situation is not corrected, the City may post the property with Notice to Abate. At the end of the ten (10) day period, the City may enter the property, with judicial approval, to remove, or abate, the violations. Once the abatement is completed, the property owner will be billed for the associated costs. If after 30 days of billing the abatement costs are not paid, the City may place a lien on the property to recover the cost of abatement.