Whenever in this code or any ordinances of the city, an act is prohibited or made or declared to be unlawful or an offense or a misdemeanor, or whenever in such code or ordinance the doing of any act is required or the failure to do any act is declared to be unlawful, and no specific penalty is provided therefor, or the penalty is specified at an amount below the amount specified in this section, the violation of any provision of this code or any ordinance shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $2,000 in all cases arising under ordinances governing fire safety, zoning, and public health and sanitation, including the dumping of trash, refuse, waste or litter, and not exceeding $500 in all other cases; provided, however, that no penalty shall be greater or less than the penalty provided for the same or a similar offense under the laws of the state. Each day any violation of this code or any ordinance shall continue shall constitute a separate offense.