Code Enforcement

The Code Enforcement Officer enforces the sections of the City Code addressing Property Maintenance and Housing, solid waste, sidewalks, and other issues regarding residential and commercial properties within the City.  The purpose of these codes is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens in relation to existing buildings and premises.  This enforcement also helps support high property values.

The Code Enforcement Inspector performs the following duties:

1. Enforces the City’s Property Maintenance Code;

2. Conducts field inspections for compliance;

3. Investigates complaints and possible code violations;

4. Identifies problems and recommends solutions to assist citizens to comply;

5. Develops schedules and time frames for citizens to take corrective action;

6. Corresponds with citizens outlining violations and schedules for corrective action;

7. Conducts follow-up investigation to monitor compliance; and

8. Issues citations and prepares cases for prosecution in court.

Scott Jeznach is the City’s Code Enforcement Officer and Inspector. He is a member of the Maryland Municipal League's (MML) Code Enforcement and Zoning Officials Association (CEZOA) and the American Association of Code Enforcement (AACE). Scott is also certified as a Property Maintenance and Housing Inspector by the International Code Council (ICC). His office is located at 56 West Main Street, Westminster, Maryland. He can be contacted at 410-848-1687 or send him an email.

A SEASONAL REMINDER FROM CODE ENFORCEMENT:

Section 139-4 B. of the City Code states owners and occupants of premises fronting any street with paved sidewalks shall remove snow and ice from the travelled portions of the sidewalk to a width of at least 30 inches within 24 hours after any snow or ice ceases to fall.  Section 139-4 C. of the City Code states it is unlawful to deposit snow or ice in a manner which will obstruct water flow through the street gutters or place snow or ice on the travelled portions of the public streets.  Section 139-30 of the City Code states any violation of this chapter of the Code is declared to be an infraction.  The penalty for violation of this chapter is declared to be an infraction.  The penalty for violation shall be $250 for each offense.

What all this means is that we are asking property owners and tenants to show your fellow citizens some courtesy after snow and ice storms.  Clearing the sidewalks shortly after the snow or ice falls makes it easier to shovel, and less likely the snow or ice will freeze on the sidewalk.  This will ensure safe passage to everyone needing to travel the sidewalks.  The City also asks that you be especially diligent to clear any disability ramps that adjoin your property so the disabled and elderly can travel the sidewalks and cross the streets safely. 

When shovelling or blowing snow off the sidewalks, do not throw the snow on the streets or into the gutters.  This causes the Street Department to plow the same streets repeatedly when they are working hard to clear all the streets.  It is also a driving hazard if that snow or ice freezes on the street.  If there is snow and ice blocking gutters, draining water from thawing snow and ice will not flow into the drains, and re-freeze on the streets.

The City tries to apply common sense and will allow more than 24 hours to clear your sidewalk in the event of extaordinary circumstances, such as last winter's ice storm.  This storm presented difficulties for everyone, even the City Street Department crews.  Ice is more difficult to plow and shovel, especially once it freezes to paved surfaces.  We ask everyone to please be patient and eventually all sidewalks, streets, and parking lots will be cleared.

If you know you have elderly or disabled neighbors, please offer to assist them in clearing their sidewalks, or contact a public service organization and ask them to assist those neighbors.

We enforce these codes to protect the safety of the community. These codes also help maintain high property values for you and the community.

If you have any questions, please contact me at 410-848-1687 or via email at sjeznach@westgov.com.

A NOTE TO OUR LANDLORDS:

Section 119-68 of the City Code requires owners of record of all rental residential properties to register their rental properties with the City of Westminster.  Part of the registration requires a rental property owner to designated an agent, who shall be an individual residing within the State of Maryland and no more than 25 miles from the Westminster City limits, and to certify and register the name, address and telephone number of the agent and to keep such information current with the City.

Presently, there is no fee for registering your rental property.  You can designate yourself as the local agent if you meet the requirements listed above.

This registration process is independent of any interaction you have with the City’s Housing and Community Development Office regarding HUD’s Section 8 certificates.

The purpose for having this registration process is so the City can contact a person who can respond in a timely manner to the property in the event of an emergency.  Prior to this requirement, the City experienced an emergency at a rental property.  It took almost five days for us to locate the property owner, who lives across the state.  In the mean time, the City had to secure and maintain the property at taxpayers’ expense.

The registration process is as easy as completing a form.  Code Enforcement can either mail or fax you a copy of the form, which you can complete and mail or fax back to Code Enforcement.  Please contact me at 410-848-1687 or sjeznach@westgov.com for more information.