What kinds of problems does Code Enforcement work on?
The primary responsibility of this office is to enforce the Zoning and Public Nuisance Chapters of the City of San Bruno Municipal Code, and the Uniform Housing Code. We also serve as a reference center and resource to citizens when a particular problem does not create a legal violation, when the problem is outside the purview of the office, or when City action may prove less successful than community efforts.
Typical Zoning violations are excess housekeeping units (in-law units) beyond the number permitted in a particular residential district, for-profit or excessive auto repair in residential zones, parking outside permitted areas, and operating an unauthorized business in a residential district.
Public Nuisances are generally defined as any “annoyance, injury or danger to the safety, health, comfort or repose of any considerable number of persons.” Typically these include overgrown landscaping and other conditions that create a fire hazard, trash and debris (including inoperable vehicles) that create harborage for rats and other pests, and conditions that can detract from property values, such as having appliances or furniture in the front yard or leaving graffiti in place.
In addition, this office deals with substandard housing issues, particularly in rental properties, and/or when a resident is creating health and safety problems for the community at large or may be a danger to him/herself.
Finally, we serve as a central location where people can call to find out how best to resolve a problem. Many times, callers find that no City code is being violated or that a different agency, such as the County Environmental Health Department, can get quicker or more substantive results than the City is able to.
As part of our efforts to educate the community on various issues relating to the above concerns, we have prepared a series of handouts on subjects ranging from laws relating to vehicles, what to do if a raccoon invades your home, and how to deal with a neighbor's tree -- among others.
