Ordinance Violations
This Court is empowered by the state law to try County ordinance offenses. This Court may by state law impose fines of up to $1000 for each offense, or sentence to serve time in jail for up to 60 days for each offense or both.
The Court may also suspend the imposition of either the fine or the jail time for a period up to a year, conditioned on the Defendant fulfilling other conditions related to the offense. This does not mean that sentences would be imposed in each case but only that those are the highest sentences which may be imposed by this Court in ordinance offenses.
Below is a list of Ordinance Violations and the fines. The fines are per count. If you are charged with two counts of any violations, you would need to multiply the fine times two (x 2) adding a court cost of $36 to know your total fine amount. If there are multiple counts, there will also be multiple fines. Each count carries it=s separate fine.
Some fines may be paid before the court date unless otherwise stated by the county officer that issued the citation.
| Animal Control Violations: | Fine Amount |
| * No Kennel Permit | $252.00 (plus $36) |
| * Failure to Restrain | $105.00 |
| * No Proof of Rabies Vaccination | $105.00 |
| * Vicious Animal | $350.00 |
| * Cruelty to Animals | $490.00 |
| * Loose Livestock | $105.00 |
| * Unsanitary Conditions | $250.00 |
| * Nuisance (Barking) | $250.00 |
| * Nuisance Animal Attack (animal/animal) | $250.00 |
| * Nuisance Animal Attack (animal/human) | $420.00 |
| * Abandonment | $250.00 |
| * No Vet Care | $250.00 |
| * Interference | $250.00 |
| * Failure to Comply | $250.00 |
| * Failure to Dispose of Dead Animal | $250.00 |
| * Livestock Residential | $130.00 |
| County Codes Violations: | Fine Amount |
| * Disorderly Conduct | $252.00(plus $36) |
| * Underage Consumption | $170.00 |
| * Uncovered Loads | $210.00 |
| * Scavenging (rummaging through dumpsters) | $250.00 |
| * Tampering with Utilities | $560.00 |
| * Theft of Services | $560.00 |
| * Illegal Hook Up | $560.00 |
| * Building Code | $210.00 |
| * Moving Mobile Home | $210.00 |
| * Certificate of Occupancy | $210.00 |
| * Care of Premises | $245.00 |
| * No Mobile Home Decal | $56.00 (per year) |
| * Load Limits (roads/bridges) | $382.50 |
| * Unsecured Loads | $280.00 |
| * Environmental Health | $350.00 |
| * Adult Entertainment | $700.00 |
| * Soil Erosion | $700.00 |
| * Sediment | $252.00 |
| * Household Waste | $210.00 |
| * Road Damage | $490.00 |
| * Drainage | $210.00 |
| * Harvesting | $210.00 |
| * No Business License | $140.00 |
| * Peddlers/Direct Sellers | $210.00 |
| * No Permit | $210.00 |
| * Violation Comprehensive Development Plan | $350.00 |
| * Failure to Meet Minimum Requirements | $350.00 |
| * Subdivisions | $500.00 |
| * Burning Prohibited (unattended burn, no burn permit, illegal burn) |
$210.00 |
| * Littering | $140.00 |
| * Interference | $140.00 |
| * Zoning Ordinance | $245.50 |
| * Stop Work Order | $325.00 |
| * Violation/Sign Order | $350.00 |
| * Failure To Prevent Encroachment | $1000.00 |
| * Abatement | $230.00 |
| * County Junkyard Ordinance | $230.00 |
| * Swimming Pool Code | $227.50 |
| * Land Disturbance | $250.00 |
| * Disturbing Soil | $250.00 |
| * Excavation | $250.00 |
| * Failure to Comply | $250.00 |
| * Natural Vegetation (temporary vegetation, mulching, permanent vegetation) |
$250.00 |
Ordinance Violation Arraignments:
(Animal Control/Codes Violations Hearing)
When you are served with a citation from either county agency, the citation will list your charge (s) as well as a court date.
All Magistrate Court hearings are held at 9:00 am unless it is a special set case or another time is given to you to appear.
**Note that immediately following the date of the hearing, the citation reads AFAILURE TO APPEAR AND ANSWER THIS CHARGE WILL RESULT IN THE ISSUANCE OF A WARRANT FOR YOUR ARREST.
If you fail to appear for your arraignment, a bench warrant will be issued for your arrest. Bench Warrants carry a fine of $180.00.
**On your court date, when your case is called, you will have an opportunity to plead guilty or not guilty. If you are guilty, you will more than likely have a fine. The fine is due on the morning of court. If you do not have the money, you will be placed on probation 60 days per count, to pay the fines in full. Some incidences, the judge may issue an order that you would have to comply with such as have a fence put up to ensure animals are restrained, or have the property cleaned if there are unsanitary conditions. If you have such an order, you will have a second court date given to you in court where you case will be reviewed to see if you are in compliance.
If you plead not guilty, but want your case to be resolved in the Magistrate Court, you will be given a second court date called a Bench Trial. On this date, further evidence will be taken from the prosecuting witness (animal control or codes or witnesses that has been subpoenaed).
If you plead not guilty, but want your case transferred to State Court. You will need to leave a mailing address and phone number so that you may be notified. Your case will be sent to State Court and they will contact concerning the hearing.
