29.70.020 Costs and Penalties for Abatement of Nuisances, Disable Vehicles, and Re-occupancy in Violation.

City Code Section

(Replaced by Ordinance 176528; amended by Ordinances 176955, 183793, 189413 and 191736, effective July 1, 2024.)

  1. A.  Nuisances.
    1. 1.  Whenever a nuisance is abated by the City, the Director shall keep an accurate account of all expenses incurred for each nuisance abated including but not limited to abatement costs, civil penalties, fees, administrative costs, recorders fees and title report charges as set forth in the Enforcement Fee and Penalty Schedule as approved by City Council.
    2. 2.  When the City has abated a nuisance maintained by any owner of real property, for each subsequent nuisance which is abated by the City within 2 consecutive calendar years concerning real property, owned by the same person, an additional civil penalty as set forth in the Enforcement Fee and Penalty Schedule shall be added to the costs, charges and civil penalties.  The additional civil penalty shall be imposed without regard to whether the nuisance abated by the City involved the same real property or are of the same character.
    3. 3.  Costs and penalties resulting from nuisance abatement shall be assessed as a lien upon the real property as provided in Subsection D.
  2. B.  Disabled Vehicles.
    1. 1.  Whenever a vehicle is removed from real property by the City, the Director shall keep an accurate account of all expenses incurred for each disabled vehicle removed including but not limited to abatement costs, civil penalties, administrative costs, inspection fees, recording fees, and title report charges as set forth in the Enforcement Fee and Penalty Schedule as approved by City Council.
    2. 2.  Whenever a vehicle, which has been tagged by the City, is removed from real property and placed on the public right-of-way, the owner of the real property shall be responsible for that vehicle. The Director shall remove the vehicle from the right-of-way and keep an accurate account of all expenses incurred for each disabled vehicle removed including but not limited to abatement costs, civil penalties, administrative costs, fees, recording fees and title report charges as set forth in the Enforcement Fee and Penalty Schedule as approved by City Council.
    3. 3.  Costs and penalties resulting from the abatement of disabled vehicles shall be assessed as a lien upon the real property as provided in Subsection D.
  3. C.  Occupancy of Property After Notice of Violation.
    1. 1.  Whenever a property owner causes or permits a vacant structure or portion thereof to be occupied in violation of this Title, a penalty as set forth in the Enforcement Fee and Penalty Schedule as approved by City Council shall be imposed per structure or portion thereof.
    2. 2.  Costs and penalties resulting from the occupancy of property after notice of violation shall be assessed as a lien upon the real property as provided in Subsection D.
  4. D.  When a property meets the conditions for assessment of fees or penalties as described in Subsections A., B. or C. above, the Portland Permitting & Development shall file a statement of such fees or penalties with the Revenue Division.  Upon receipt of the statement, the Revenue Division shall mail an assessment notice to the property owner.  The notice shall include the amount due plus 10 percent charges to cover the administrative costs of the Revenue Division.  At the same time the notice is mailed by the Revenue Division, the Revenue Division shall enter the amount due or the amount of the unpaid balance, plus charges to cover the administrative cost of the Revenue Division, in the Docket of City Liens which shall thereafter constitute a lien against the property.  The property owner is responsible for paying all liens assessed against the property.
  5. E.  When a property meets the conditions for assessment of fees or penalties as described in this Title, the Director may also cause appropriate collection measures, including the legal action in a court of competent jurisdiction, to be instituted against the property owner in order to collect the assessed fees or penalties.