PENALTIES FOR WORK PERFORMED WITHOUT REQUIRED PERMITS/APPROVALS

The City has recently experienced a growing number of instances where developers, contractors and/or property owners have undertaken grading, construction and related work without first obtaining the necessary City permits or approvals.

The number and extent of these problems have made it necessary to discuss the penalties for work occurring without City permits/approvals. At its February 20, 2001 meeting, the Paso Robles City Council reviewed a report on the problem of work occurring without permits/approvals and directed City staff and the City Attorney to take steps to address these code violations through the use of criminal prosecution, as authorized by the City's Municipal Code.

Please note that under criminal prosecution, the maximum penalties for work being done without the required permits/approvals are fines of $1,000 per day and/or 6 months imprisonment. These penalties have long been a part of the City's Municipal Code, and the purpose of this notice is to advise you that the City will be actively enforcing its provisions.

The City wishes to avoid criminally prosecuting any person doing work occurring without a required permit or approval. Therefore, your cooperation and understanding would be sincerely appreciated. In that context, you are encouraged to contact this office any time you have a question regarding whether or not a particular project or activity would require a City permit or City approval.

Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions or other information needs.

Ronald Whisenand
Community Development Director

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