Steps Involved
How to Request an Investigation
Common Code Violation
Who is Responsible
A Message from Your Code Enforcement Officer
The City of Canton Code Enforcement Office in conjunction with the City Council, Police and Fire Departments and of course, YOU, the Canton Community, are working together to keep our city safe and beautiful.
As Code Enforcement Officer, I am out in the Community as often as possible. Besides patrolling neighborhoods, I will be meeting with Home Owner Associations to hear concerns and create Neighborhood Watch programs; meeting with Volunteers to provide assistance to those either physically or economically incapable of correcting ordinance issues; and visiting schools to educate our children on the importance of Community Pride and what they can do to help.
I will address each and every concern brought to my attention with diligence and perseverance within 2 business days. Since I am out in the community and not sitting behind my desk, answering phone calls is difficult. I will be in the office most afternoons between 4 PM and 5 PM to answer and/or retrieve messages. I can however, check my e-mail any time and any where. This allows me to respond more quickly to your concerns and hopefully rectify violations in a more timely fashion.
We, the residents of Canton, need to work together. We need to instill in ourselves, our children and our neighbors the importance of our participation in an effort to maintain and improve life in the City of Canton.
Respectfully Yours,
Nancy E. Serrand
770.704.1549
nancy.serrand@canton-georgia.com
Purpose of the Code Compliance Program - back to top
This document provides information to the public regarding the Code Enforcement Program for the City of Canton. The Code Enforcement Officer enforces the City of Canton Municipal Code.
It is the goal of the City and its citizens that all property owners and tenants maintain their property’s appearance and value. Our City Code has been established to help maintain a standard in our community for all to enjoy. The observance of these codes by property owners and their tenants, in turn, motivates other property owners to maintain their properties to these standards.
The Code Enforcement Office inspects and investigates complaints from citizens of the City of Canton. Upon receipt of a complaint, the Code Enforcement Officer will conduct a site visit to investigate the reported violation. After confirmation of the violation, the Code Enforcement Officer will take necessary steps to gain compliance with City Codes. These steps are outlined in further detail below.
- A Complaint is received by the City and a site inspection has been performed.
- A Notice of Violation (written warning) is placed on the site. If property is occupied by tenants, the property owner will be also be contacted. The Notice of Violation will state that the City received a complaint related to a potential violation on the property or that violation was witnessed by a City of Canton official. The notice will state the nature of the complaint with a deadline within which the violation must be corrected. The complainant will be notified of action taken.
- On the date that corrective action was to be completed, the City will make another site visit to verify compliance or violation. If the violation was corrected, the case will be recorded in the Code Compliance database and closed. If the violation has not been corrected, either a 2nd Warning with an extended date for compliance will be issued or an Administrative Citation to appear in court will be imposed. Violation of City Code carries a fine up to $1,000.
Code Compliance investigations are initiated on both a complaint and inspection basis. It is City of Canton’s policy to make every effort to keep the complainants information anonymous. However, the party must provide their name, address, and phone before action will be taken.
- Complete a request for investigation form and submit it to the Code Enforcement Office. This form is available at the Code Enforcement Office located in the Building Department at 151 Elizabeth Street. You may also use our online request for investigation . Completed requests may be submitted via email, hand delivery, or mail service.
- Call the Code Compliance Hotline at (770) 704-1549 and leave a detailed message including the address of the property, a detailed description of the code violation, and the name, address and phone number of the reporting party. These messages are retrieved by the Code Enforcement Officer daily.
- E-mail your request including the address of the property, property owner information (if known), a detailed description of the code violation, along with your name, address and telephone number.
The most common code violations in the City of Canton are those that are in public view. While there are many possible code violations, there are some that occur more commonly than others. Below is a list of the most common code violations in the City of Canton.
- Uncontrolled grass or weeds which exceeds 8”
- Parking in the street, yard, sidewalk or other unimproved surface
- Dry grass and weeds that present a fire hazard
- Construction materials and basketball hoops places on the street or sidewalk
- Garbage/trash scattered around the property
- Overflowing trash cans
- Improper storage which includes furniture, appliances and other personal property
- Indoor furniture in the front of the property in public view (indoor couches in front yard)
- Dilapidated or inoperative vehicles parked on private property and in public view
- Construction activity without required zoning approvals and/or building permits
- Loud noise from parties
- Graffiti
- Chickens, goats or pigs as “pets” in city limits
Who is Responsible for Property Maintenance & Correcting Code Violations? - back to top
Ultimately, the Property Owner is responsible for ensuring that code violations are corrected. However, the property tenants may also have an obligation (through the rental agreement) to keep the property in good condition and free from code violations. Under the Municipal Code of the City of Canton, tenants are required to take reasonable care of the rented property. The tenant is responsible for damages caused by him/her or anyone else for which he/she is responsible for (e.g. children and guests) that result from neglect or abuse. The landlord is responsible for repairing conditions that seriously affect the rental unit’s habitability. For less serious repairs, responsibility to make repairs is often determined by the rental agreement.
Request For Investigation
