Louisville code board upholds multiple property citations, sets April 11 total-compliance dates

The Louisville Metro Code Enforcement Board on March 14, 2025, heard a full docket of property-maintenance cases, upheld multiple citations and penalties, and set compliance or status dates for affected properties.

The board, presiding member David Pearl said, opened the session with staff introductions and remote-participation instructions before hearing evidence from code inspectors and testimony from property owners and appellants. Inspector Tammy Goatley presented photographs and inspection histories in case after case; assistant county attorney Jason Fowler and staff corroborated factual findings in several matters.

The most immediate scheduling outcome: the board set a total-compliance date of April 11, 2025, for multiple addresses, including 1319 Longfield Avenue and 2711 West Chestnut Street. Pearl said of the Longfield case, "I'm going to set for a total compliance on 04/11/2025," giving the owner time to finish cleanup and advising that an inspector’s notation of compliance could remove the need to appear at that hearing.

In a case at 3602 Wheeler Avenue, the board found that cited interior and roof defects existed and assessed a $700 penalty but conditionally discharged the entire amount on the board’s finding of substantial recent progress. Pearl explained the discharge carried a stipulation of no further violations for one year.

At 13900 Bergkamp Road, the board found the conditions presented by the inspector existed and upheld a $700 penalty. Appellant Angela K. Thompson told the board she was operating a rescue farm, was on disability and limited income, and had removed vehicles and repaired structures but lacked funds to haul a large scrap pile; staff said they would mail an assistance packet listing local agencies that might help.

Several homeowners described constrained finances or recent steps toward compliance. In the 655 Lewis Coleman Jr. Drive matter, the board postponed a final ruling and set a status date of May 9, 2025, to allow the appellant to pursue agency assistance; staff likewise pledged to mail informational packets to people who said they needed help removing debris.

The board also addressed several ‘‘failure to appear’’ cases. Where notice was confirmed sent, the board upheld fines for absent parties (examples noted on the record included a $600 penalty for 125 North 26 Street and $300 penalties for other listed addresses).

Throughout the session the board repeatedly advised owners that conditional discharges carry a one-year period during which any new violation may restore the original penalty, and that owners may avoid appearing at a compliance hearing if an inspector documents completion in advance. The board adjourned the hearing after completing the docket and answered procedural questions about remote participation for the following week.

Actions recorded at the hearing included setting total-compliance dates (commonly 04/11/2025), finding that cited conditions existed in multiple cases, upholding assessed penalties (including $700 penalties in two cases), and one conditional discharge with a one-year non-violation stipulation. Staff committed to mailing assistance packets to appellants who requested help and to providing inspector contact information to owners seeking to document compliance.

The board’s proceedings are a public record; affected property owners were advised to contact the listed inspectors if they believed compliance had already been achieved, and to follow up with the code office or the Jefferson County Property Value Administration to resolve outstanding administrative or mailing issues.