Denton City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XVIII
Enforcement
§ 128-217 Duties of Director of Planning and Codes, officers, and employees.
It shall be the duty of the Director of Planning to enforce the provisions of this chapter and to refuse to issue any permit for any building or for the use of any premises which would violate any of the provisions of this chapter. It shall also be the duty of all officers and employees of the Town to assist the enforcing officer by reporting to him or her any seeming violation in new construction, reconstruction, or land use.
§ 128-218 Instituting action to end violation.
In case any building is erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, repaired, demolished, or converted or any building or land used in violation of this chapter, the Director of Planning is authorized and directed to institute any appropriate action to put an end to such violation.
§ 128-219 Violations and penalties.
A.
It shall be considered a municipal infraction for any person or corporation to violate any provision of this chapter or to erect, construct, alter or repair, convert, or maintain any building or structure, sign, or land in violation of any written statement or plan submitted and approved hereunder.
B.
It shall be considered a municipal infraction for any owner, tenant, or occupant of a building, structure, sign or land, or part thereof, which violates this chapter, or any architect, builder, contractor, subcontractor, agent, servant, person or corporation, knowingly to assist or further the commission of any violation of this chapter. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that the defendant was violating this chapter knowingly.
C.
In the event that any person is found to have committed a municipal infraction hereunder, notice shall be given in the same manner as for property maintenance violations that incorporate requirements stated in Chapter 94 of the Town Code.
D.
In the event that any person is found to have committed a municipal infraction hereunder, each infraction shall be punishable by a fine of up to the maximum municipal infraction fine permitted by state law for each single violation. Each day such violation continues shall be a separate offense. In addition to said fine, the Town may request during the adjudication of the infraction that the defendant abate the violation or, in the alternative, to permit the Town to abate the violation at the defendant's expense, with the costs to be assessed against the property as a lien collectible in the same manner as real estate taxes. Nothing herein shall prevent the Town from taking such other lawful action as is necessary to prevent or remedy any violation.
§ 128-220 Banner enforcement.
Should there be a violation of any provisions of § 128-142, the Town shall provide immediate notice of the violation to the lessee and/or the owner of the property on which the banner is located and shall require said persons to correct the violation within 24 hours of notice of the violation, which may include removal of the banner. In the event that this violation continues after the twenty-four-hour period referenced herein, the violation shall be a municipal infraction, and this chapter will be enforced in accordance with Chapter 20, Infractions; General Penalty, of the Code of the Town of Denton.