The power to impose fines for zoning violations could persuade more people to follow the rules, Howard County zoning officials said Thursday.
“We hope just a threat of having a penalty imposed without having to go to [court] will get people to comply,” said Marsha McLaughlin, director of the county?s Department of Planning and Zoning.
County zoning inspectors can cite violations, but they have to go through the courts to impose the fines, which can be up to $250 a day, McLaughlin said.
The county is asking the state delegation to introduce a bill that would give the county authority to impose civil fines.
A hearing examiner could determine whether to impose civil penalties. Currently, the examiner hears appeals to zoning decisions and certain conditional uses.
County inspectors issue citations, often by sending letters, for violations such as having unregistered vehicles on property, contractors working at odd hours or certain home-based businesses.
However, the courts are busy with many different issues, and it often leads to a “long, dragged out process” leading up to and in court.
“If you?re clever, you can avoid complying,” she said at a meeting this week with the county?s state delegation.
County officials don?t want to have to fine all violators, and the fines aren?t intended as a moneymaker for the county, McLaughlin said.
Howard has three inspectors ? not enough to drive around looking for violators so enforcement is complaint-driven, she said.
In Baltimore County, code enforcers can issue fines, and a recent change allows them to cite first-time violators. This gives the officers more leverage for violators who abuse the system, officials said.
McLaughlin said Baltimore county officials can close out more zoning violation complaints, quickly taking care of more minor offenses.
Howard County Council Member Calvin Ball, D-District 2, said, “I think it?s important to have as many tools in our arsenal as possible to make sure we have respectful process that follows the rules in the process.”
Examiner Staff Writer Jaime Malarkey contributed to this report.
