Roseville introduces municipal code amendments to increase fines, create late fees and facilitate a city prosecutor

The Roseville City Council voted unanimously June 4 to introduce, for first reading, an ordinance amending Chapters 1.20 and 2.50 of the Roseville Municipal Code and to adopt a resolution establishing a revised fine schedule and bail schedule for municipal code enforcement.

Travis Cochran, Senior Deputy City Attorney, presented the proposal (item 20), describing two linked actions: amending the code to clarify enforcement authorities and adopting a consolidated fine and bail schedule. Cochran said the changes memorialize long-standing enforcement practices, create flexibility to classify code violations as misdemeanors by default (while retaining the ability to charge infractions or handle matters administratively), and pave the way for a potential city prosecutor's office to bring misdemeanor prosecutions of municipal-code violations.

Cochran outlined the rationale: Roseville’s existing fine and bail schedules are extensive and largely unchanged in many years, typically starting at $100 for first offenses with higher amounts for repeat violations within 12 months; they no longer reflect the city’s growth or the severity of some violations (for example, unpermitted construction, illegal dumping into sewers, illegal tapping of water). The proposed new schedules group violations into three categories (standard, specified 12‑month escalations, and specified 36‑month escalations for commercial/building matters) to improve leverage against repeat or serious noncompliance.

Key proposed changes Cochran described include raising fines for certain violations (examples cited: short-term rental operation without a permit from $100 to $500; unpermitted massage business from $100 to $500; water theft or tampering of meters from $100 to $500), extending the period for escalated penalties to 36 months for commercial and building code violations, and adding late-payment fees (10% for payments 1–60 days late and 25% thereafter). Cochran emphasized that prior to most citations the city issues warnings and that the amendments are not intended to criminalize minor violations but to provide leverage for significant or repeat offenders.

Council members asked clarifying questions about the difference between fines/infractions and misdemeanors and were told misdemeanor convictions can appear on criminal records but are infrequently pursued to conviction; Cochran said prosecutorial action would generally be reserved for serious public-health/safety matters or repeat, deliberate violators.

The council moved to introduce the ordinance for first reading and adopt the resolution (Resolution No. 25-190) establishing the new schedules; the motion carried on a unanimous roll-call vote. Staff noted a minor typographical correction would be made to the schedule before final adoption (removing a duplicate listing on the bail schedule and correcting a third-offense amount typo).

The action is procedural (introduction and resolution adoption contingent on final ordinance adoption) and will be implemented by the City Attorney’s office and applicable enforcement departments if and when the ordinance is finally adopted.