For purpose of this chapter the following definitions shall apply:
ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION. A citation issued pursuant to this chapter, stating that one or more violations of this code has occurred and stating the amount of the administrative penalty to be paid by the responsible party.
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. All costs incurred by or on behalf of the county from the first discovery of the violation of this code through the appeal process and until compliance is achieved, including but not limited to, staff time in investigating the violation, inspecting the property where the violation occurred, preparing investigation reports, sending notices, preparing for and attending any appeal hearing, telephone contacts, and correspondence. ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS shall not include attorney’s fees.
DIRECTOR. The director of any county department or his or her designated representative responsible and authorized to enforce county codes and ordinances.
CLERK OF THE BOARD. The Clerk of the Board or designee.
CODE. The San Benito County Code, the Codified Ordinances of San Benito County, including all pertinent provisions of state codes as from time to time adopted and incorporated therein, enacted by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Benito.
COUNTY. The County of San Benito, a political subdivision of the State of California.
COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER. The County Administrative Officer or designee.
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. The director of a county department or any county employee or agent of the county with the authority granted by a resolution of the Board of Supervisors to enforce any provision of this code or county ordinance through the administrative citation process.
HEARING OFFICER. Any person designated to preside over an administrative hearing provided for in this chapter. The hearing officer shall not be the citing enforcement officer.
PERSON. Without limitation, any natural person, firm, association, club, organization, corporation, partnership, business, business trust, company or other entity, which is recognized by law as the subject of rights or duties. PERSON shall include any “responsible party” as defined below.
RESPONSIBLE PARTY. For the purpose of this chapter, RESPONSIBLE PARTY shall mean:
(1) Each person, other than a minor, who commits or causes a violation of this code to occur, exist, or continue;
(2) Each person who is the parent or legal guardian of the minor person who commits or causes a violation of this code to occur, exist, or continue;
(3) Each person who has a legal or equitable ownership interest in any parcel of real property located within the unincorporated area of the County of San Benito and who commits, causes, or otherwise allows the violation of any provision of this code to occur, exist, or continue on such parcel;
(4) Each person who, although not an owner, nevertheless has a legal right or legal obligation to exercise possession and control over any parcel of real property located within the unincorporated area of the County of San Benito and who commits, causes, or otherwise allows the violation of any provision of this code to occur, exist, or continue on such parcel; and
(5) In addition to the business entity itself, each person who is an owner of that business entity in those cases in which the commission, occurrence, existence, or continuation of the violation of any provision of this code is most reasonably attributable to that business entity and not to an employee of that business entity.
(Ord. 917, § 1(part), 2013)