CODES ENFORCEMENT

Dial 3-1-1 to Access City Services If your wireless or landline phone carrier cannot directly access the City's 3-1-1 Call Center, you can reach us by dialing 865-215-4311. Abandoned vehicles Dilapidated buildings Dirty or overgrown lots Illegal dumping The Codes Enforcement office investigates environmental codes violations regarding dilapidated buildings, dirty or overgrown lots, illegal dumping and abandoned vehicles. Violations that are not corrected can be referred to Municipal Court or the Better Building Board. How Do I Make a Complaint? You can call 3-1-1, write or visit the Codes Enforcement office to register a complaint. What Constitutes a "Dirty or Overgrown Lot?" Trash and debris which have accumulated on a piece of property, overgrown vines, underbrush or grass over 12 inches high are all violations of city codes. How Long Do I Have to Correct a Lot Problem? - What If I Miss the Deadline? The owner has 10 days after receipt of a certified letter outlining the code violations to correct them. If violations are not corrected, a city crew will correct the violations by cleaning or mowing the lot and bill the owner. The owner can be cited to Municipal Court, where substantial fines and penalties can be imposed. How Long Do I Have to Correct a Building Problem? - What If I Miss the Deadline? The owner has 45, 60 or 120 days after receipt of a certified letter outlining code violations to bring the structure up to code, depending on the seriousness of the violations. If the owner does not take care of the problem in that time, the case goes before the Better Building Board, which could order demolition, acquisition or mandatory repair of the structure. Any costs incurred by the city in correcting these violations are charged to the property owner. If not paid, the costs become a lien against the property. Municipal Court fines and penalties are also possible for Housing and Building Code violations. What Constitutes an "Abandoned Vehicle?" Illegally parked on public property for more than 48 hours Over 4 years old and left unattended on public property for more than 30 days. On private property without consent of the owner for more than 48 hours. What Constitutes an Inoperable Vehicle? Over 4 years old and has no engine or is otherwise totally inoperable. Without an engine in running condition, a transmission, four tires or a battery or for any reason is not operable. How Long Do I have to Move an Inoperable Vehicle? After an inspector has checked to see if the vehicle is inoperable and has placed a sticker on it, the owner has seven days to make it operable if it is on private property, or 24 hours, if it is on public property. If the vehicle is not made operable or towed away within the deadlines set on the sticker, the vehicle will be transported to an impoundment lot and the owner will be billed accordingly. Municipal Court fines and penalties may also be imposed. In a cooperative agreement with the National Kidney Foundation, the Codes Enforcement office will assist any vehicle owner with a clear title in donating any unwanted vehicles to the foundation, allowing them to be towed off at no charge and providing a tax deduction to the owner.