Any person who shall violate or fail to comply with any of the provisions of this code, the 1968 building code, the zoning resolution or other laws or rules enforced by the department or with any order issued pursuant thereto shall be liable for a civil penalty that may be recovered in a proceeding before the environmental control board. Such proceeding shall be commenced by the service of a notice of violation returnable before the board. Such notice of violation may be issued by employees of the department or of other city agencies designated by the commissioner and may be served by such employees or by a licensed process server.