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Code Enforcement
Building Maintenance Program
General Information about Code Enforcement
Roanoke's building maintenance ordinance (Chapter 7, Article II, of the Code of the City of Roanoke) requires that buildings be kept in good repair and adopts the International Property Maintenance Code as the minimum maintenance standards for existing structures. All buildings are required to meet certain standards relating to sanitation, safety, and security.
Building Maintenance Requirements booklet
THE PROCESS
- The city receives a referral or complaint from an individual about a violation.
- City staff verifies property ownership and inspects the property to determine if the property has violations of the USBC.
- If there is a violation, the inspector will issue:
- a Notice of Defective Maintenance (NDM) for a minor violation, or
- a Notice of Violation (NOV) for NDM that has not been complied with, or
- a Notice of Unsafe Structure (NUS) for major and/or hazardous violations.
- The inspector updates the city's citizen service database.
- City staff send the owner a certified letter, giving the property owner the following repair options:
- Emergency: 1-3 days
- Boarding: 10 days
- Demolition: 21 days
- Demolition/Repair: 2 months
- General Repairs: up to 4 months
- The owner may appeal the notice within 21 days.
- After the deadline has passed, inspector re-inspects the property to determine if the violation has been abated.
- If it has, the case is closed.
- If it has not, the owner is summoned to court for NOV or NUS if necessary.
- City staff updates the file and prepares contract for boarding, demolition, or repair of the structure when necessary.
- The inspector re-inspects the property for compliance.
- The case is closed and city staff begins the billing/lien process for demolition.
Note that it may take several months for the process to play out before the violation is actually abated. During this time, the city is actively pursuing abatement of the violation, and we appreciate your patience.
TO REPORT A VIOLATION
IF YOU WERE CITED...
If you were cited for a violation and would like to speak with an inspector, please call the Code Enforcement Office at 540-853-2344. Our goal is to obtain voluntary compliance. Most reasonable requests for extra time or for referrals for special assistance are granted, whenever possible.
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