The Commercial Response Team ("CRT") enforces zoning violations on commercial and industrial properties.  Inspectors investigate violations involving:

• Signage - permanent

  • Signs without permit
  • Maintenance of signs

• Signage - temporary

  • Illegal banners
  • Aerial & balloon signs
  • Freestanding & A-frame signs
  • Signage covering more than 25% of window area

• Property & landscape maintenance

• Parking requirements

• Inoperative vehicles

• Small recycling facilities

• Non-compliance with Conditional Use Permits and Variances
• Illegal land use
  • Outside storage not screened or in required parking
  • Uses not permitted in the zoning district
  • Payphones
  • Vending machines
  • Kiddie Rides
  Illegal vending outside of a structure

• Substandard building conditions
• Unpermitted work violations
• Improper and unapproved tenancy and occupancy issues in commercial and industrial properties
• Inoperative Vehicle violations on residential properties
• Graffiti not in view from public right-of-way remaining on commercial & industrial premises
• Liaison with business and neighborhood associations

The following are some of the common Commercial violations the Team investigates:

• Auto repairs (outside of a structure)
• Business license (operating w/o business license)
• Inoperative vehicle
• Lack of screening of trash receptacles (dumpsters)
• Landscape maintenance
• Occupancy of structure w/o "Certificate of Occupancy"
• Outdoor display of goods
• Outdoor storage of goods
• Property maintenance (accumulation of rubbish)
• Payphone (without permit)
• Substandard building (Uniform code violation
• Signs (see Sign Violations below)
• Outdoor sale (without "Land Use Certificate")
• Truck vendor (selling on premises)
• Unlicensed vendor selling on premises
• Unpermitted work (additions, remodeling, tenant improvements, etc.)
• Vehicle for sale
• Zoning (Activities not approved within designated zoning)

Inspectors patrol their assigned quadrant of the City to proactively address visible blight along the commercial corridors.  Complaints alleging code violations are assigned to the quadrant inspector for investigation.  Inspectors also liaison with individual business owners and with business groups in their area to educate owners and tenants and provide them with the Commercial Violations List.

The inspectors use a variety of the Methods of Enforcement to address violations.

When "CRT" investigates inoperative vehicles on a commercial, industrial or residential property, the California Vehicle Code establishes the process that must be followed.  The process can take a minimum of 30 days if a property owner or vehicle owner does not respond to the required notices and letters.  Currently, an inoperative vehicle can be removed at no charge to the property or vehicle owner if the removal is voluntary.

When substandard and unpermitted work is addressed by a Notice of Violation or Notice & Order, case research and investigation requires extensive follow-up.  Property and business owners are afforded time frames ranging from 30 to 60, or 90 days to comply.  When compliance is not achieved, cases may be referred to an administrative nuisance hearing or a criminal complaint.