Whenever a public nuisance shall be ascertained to exist on any premises, or in any house or other place, the Health Officer shall notify in writing any person or persons owning or having control of, or acting as agent for, such premises, house or other place, to abate or remove such nuisance within a reasonable time, to be stated in such notice.
Upon the neglect or refusal of any owner, occupant, or agent, or other person having control of such house or other place, to comply with such notice, such owner, occupant or agent, or other person having control shall be guilty of an infraction and each day or portion thereof such violation is in existence shall be a new and separate offense. Upon conviction, the penalty for such offense shall be a fine not exceeding $50.00 for a first violation, a fine not exceeding $100.00 for a second violation within one year, and a fine not exceeding $250.00 for a third violation within one year. The fourth and additional violations within one year shall each constitute a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine of $500.00 or six months in jail, or both. Payment of any penalty herein provided shall not relieve the defendant from the responsibility of correcting the condition of the violation. The Health Officer or the Director of Environmental Health Services may abate the nuisance; and the owner, agent or occupant or other person having control of such house or place, in addition to the penalties provided by this Code, shall be liable to the County of San Bernardino for the cost of such abatement, to be recovered in a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction. If no person can be found upon whom to serve such notice, the Health Officer shall proceed to abate such nuisance at the expense of the County, at a cost of not to exceed $25.00 per day.
(Ord. 527, passed - -1958; Am. Ord. 2771, passed - -1983)