How to File a Complaint re. Land Use Code Compliance Issues
The following information was provided by Michael Grimmett, Code Compliance Specialist with the Multnomah County Land Use and Transportation Planning Program (503-988-5050 x29604).
1. How does someone issue a complaint?
A complaint can be submitted to the County in one of five ways:
• By sending a written complaint to the Multnomah County Code Compliance Program,
1600 SE 190th Ave., Portland, OR 97233;
• In person at the Land Use Planning office (same address as above);
• Through the online form available at the Land Use Planning website (www.co.multnomah.or.us/landuse;
• By voicemail to the Code Compliance office (503-988-5508);
• By email to the Code Compliance office ([email protected]).
2. How does the county respond to a complaint?
Due to limited resources available to the Code Compliance Program, typically the most serious complaints are addressed before less serious complaints, regardless of the order in which the complaints are received. All complaints are reviewed to determine if they meet the criteria of our three priority categories, which are:
• Violations affecting the environment or creating irreparable environmental damage;
• Violations that present an imminent threat to public health and safety, including Right-of-
Way related issues;
• Property owner request to resolve a complaint case or existing violation case.
If a violation meets one of the above categories, it becomes an active case and the Code Compliance office investigates and begins the process of working to resolve the violation. If the violation does not meet the priority criteria, it is placed on hold until such time as program resources are available to make it an active case.
3. When does any of this process include public disclosure?
The code compliance process is typically a private process between the County and a property owner. At any time, a member of the general public can make an official written public records request for specific information for a particular code compliance case.
4. What if someone wants to submit public comment about an activity?
A person can submit to the Code Compliance office any comment or information about an activity as described in the response to question number 1.
5. If there is decision that the property is not in compliance, who receives decision?
The Code Complanice office works directly with the property owner, or person responsible, if different, when a violation of the County land use or right-of-way regulations has occurred. The Code Compliance office provides the owner/person responsible with correspondence that details the violation determined, the corrective action required to resolve the violation, and a timeline to resovle the violation.
6. What recourse does the county take if someone is not in compliance with land use laws and does not comply? For example, not removing an unapproved building, continuing to have large gatherings not allowed under code, not meeting fire safety standards, etc.
The code compliance process emphasizes property owner education and voluntary compliance first and foremost. If a violation is not resolved through voluntary compliance, we enter the code enforcement process. A Notice of Violation is issued to a property owner, or person responsible, if different, when the County is unable to gain voluntary compliance to resolve a violation identified for a property.
7. Is any of this information ever made public?
Information regarding specific cases can be made public through an official public records request, or during a public hearing for the appeal of a Notice of Violation.
8. Do you seek county counsel's advise on matters or the planning directors? Who makes the decision?
We consult our County Counsel office as needed on code enforcement cases. The Planning Director has authority over all code compliance matters. The Land Use Planning office makes the determination of when a specific activity is in violation of County land use regulations and the corrective actions required to resolve the violation. The County Engineer makes the determination for any violation of County right-of-way regulations and corrective actions required.
The following information was provided by Michael Grimmett, Code Compliance Specialist with the Multnomah County Land Use and Transportation Planning Program (503-988-5050 x29604).
1. How does someone issue a complaint?
A complaint can be submitted to the County in one of five ways:
• By sending a written complaint to the Multnomah County Code Compliance Program,
1600 SE 190th Ave., Portland, OR 97233;
• In person at the Land Use Planning office (same address as above);
• Through the online form available at the Land Use Planning website (www.co.multnomah.or.us/landuse;
• By voicemail to the Code Compliance office (503-988-5508);
• By email to the Code Compliance office ([email protected]).
2. How does the county respond to a complaint?
Due to limited resources available to the Code Compliance Program, typically the most serious complaints are addressed before less serious complaints, regardless of the order in which the complaints are received. All complaints are reviewed to determine if they meet the criteria of our three priority categories, which are:
• Violations affecting the environment or creating irreparable environmental damage;
• Violations that present an imminent threat to public health and safety, including Right-of-
Way related issues;
• Property owner request to resolve a complaint case or existing violation case.
If a violation meets one of the above categories, it becomes an active case and the Code Compliance office investigates and begins the process of working to resolve the violation. If the violation does not meet the priority criteria, it is placed on hold until such time as program resources are available to make it an active case.
3. When does any of this process include public disclosure?
The code compliance process is typically a private process between the County and a property owner. At any time, a member of the general public can make an official written public records request for specific information for a particular code compliance case.
4. What if someone wants to submit public comment about an activity?
A person can submit to the Code Compliance office any comment or information about an activity as described in the response to question number 1.
5. If there is decision that the property is not in compliance, who receives decision?
The Code Complanice office works directly with the property owner, or person responsible, if different, when a violation of the County land use or right-of-way regulations has occurred. The Code Compliance office provides the owner/person responsible with correspondence that details the violation determined, the corrective action required to resolve the violation, and a timeline to resovle the violation.
6. What recourse does the county take if someone is not in compliance with land use laws and does not comply? For example, not removing an unapproved building, continuing to have large gatherings not allowed under code, not meeting fire safety standards, etc.
The code compliance process emphasizes property owner education and voluntary compliance first and foremost. If a violation is not resolved through voluntary compliance, we enter the code enforcement process. A Notice of Violation is issued to a property owner, or person responsible, if different, when the County is unable to gain voluntary compliance to resolve a violation identified for a property.
7. Is any of this information ever made public?
Information regarding specific cases can be made public through an official public records request, or during a public hearing for the appeal of a Notice of Violation.
8. Do you seek county counsel's advise on matters or the planning directors? Who makes the decision?
We consult our County Counsel office as needed on code enforcement cases. The Planning Director has authority over all code compliance matters. The Land Use Planning office makes the determination of when a specific activity is in violation of County land use regulations and the corrective actions required to resolve the violation. The County Engineer makes the determination for any violation of County right-of-way regulations and corrective actions required.
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