Harlingen City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XVII
ENFORCEMENT
§ 111-472 Zoning enforcement.
(a)
The director of planning and development, or his designee, shall administer the provisions of this chapter.
(b)
The director of planning and development, or any duly authorized person, shall have the right to enter upon the premises at any reasonable time for the purpose of making inspection of buildings or premises necessary to carry out the duties in the enforcement of this chapter.
(c)
If the director of planning and development or the authorized representative shall find, or if any person advises the department of planning and development of a complaint alleging that any of the provisions of this chapter are being violated, he shall investigate such claims and when necessary give written notice to the person responsible to cease such violations. If such reasonable efforts are made to discontinue the actions violating a portion of the chapter and the property owner does not comply, the director of planning and development or authorized representative shall have the authority to cite the property owner to municipal court.
(Code 1997, § 159.160; Ordinance 97-35, adopted 7/2/1997)
§ 111-473 Preserving rights in pending litigation/violations under existing ordinances.
By passage of this chapter, no presently illegal use shall be deemed to have been legalized unless specifically such use falls within a use district where the actual use is a conforming use. Otherwise, such uses shall remain nonconforming uses where recognized, or an illegal use, as the case may be. It is further the intent and declared purpose of this chapter that no offense committed, and no liability, penalty or forfeitures, either civil or criminal, incurred prior to the time the existing zoning ordinance was repealed and this chapter adopted shall be discharged or affected by such repeal; but prosecutions and suits for such offenses, liabilities, penalties or forfeitures may be instituted for cause presently pending proceeded with in all respects as if such prior ordinance had not been repealed.
(Code 1997, § 159.161; Ordinance 74-36, adopted 11/20/1974; Ordinance of 10/20/1993; Ordinance 97-35, adopted 7/2/1997)
