105 HOUSING AND CONSTRUCTION CODES VIOLATIONS

105.1 Whenever a duly designated agent of the District finds reasonable grounds to believe that there exists a violation of a provision of this subtitle or a provision of the International Property Maintenance Code, as amended by the District of Columbia Property Maintenance Code Supplement in title 12 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations, he or she may, either singularly or in combination:

(a) Issue a notice of violation, which may afford the person responsible for the correction of the violation an opportunity to abate the violation;

(b) Issue a notice of infraction, assessing a fine for the presence of the violation;

(c) Issue a combined notice of violation and notice of infraction;

(d) Issue any other order or notice authorized to be issued by the code official; or

(e) Effect summary correction of the violation, as authorized by law.

105.2 A notice of violation or order shall direct the discontinuance of the illegal action or condition or the abatement of the violation.

105.3 Issuance of a notice of violation, notice of infraction, or combined notice of violation and notice of infraction pursuant to this section, prior to taking other enforcement action, is at the discretion of the code official. Failure to issue a notice of violation, notice of infraction, or combined notice of violation and notice of infraction shall not be a bar or a prerequisite to criminal prosecution, civil action, corrective action, or civil infraction proceeding based upon a violation of the Housing Regulations.

105.4 Each notice of violation shall:

(a) Be in writing:

(b) State the nature of the violation;

(c) Indicate the section or sections of this subtitle or the International Property Maintenance Code, as amended by the District of Columbia Property Maintenance Code Supplement being violated;

(d) Allow a reasonable time for the performance of any act required by the notice; and

(e) Be signed by the Director or the Director's authorized agent.

105.5 Each notice shall be served upon the person or persons responsible for correcting the violation described in the notice.

105.6 Service of the notice may be effected upon the owner of the premises by those methods outlined in section 3 of An Act To provide for the abatement of nuisances in the District of Columbia by the Commissioners of said District (34 Stat. 114; D.C. Official Code § 42-3131.03 (2010 Repl. & 2011 Supp.)).

SOURCE: The Housing Regulations of the District of Columbia, 5G DCRR § 1301, Commissioners' Order 55-1503 (August 11, 1955); as amended by Notice of Emergency and Proposed Rulemaking published at 58 DCR 3075 (April 8, 2011)[EXPIRED]; as amended by Notice of Emergency published at 58 DCR 6449 (July 29, 2011)[EXPIRED]; as amended by Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 58 DCR 9817, 9819 (November 18, 2011).