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Bluffdale adopts administrative code-enforcement program and daily penalties
Summary
The Bluffdale City Council approved a new administrative code-enforcement ordinance and consolidated fee schedule establishing civil procedures and daily penalties (e.g., $100/day for notices of violation) as an alternative to criminal prosecution.
Bluffdale’s City Council voted to adopt a new administrative code-enforcement ordinance and a consolidated fee schedule that create a civil enforcement path for most local code violations, officials said.
The council approved Ordinance 2024-14 establishing the administrative enforcement framework and Ordinance 2024-16 updating the city’s consolidated fee schedule. The program lets staff issue notices of violation and impose civil fines and daily penalties instead of pursuing criminal prosecution in most cases, with the criminal process retained as an escalation option.
City presenter Fred described the approach as “administrative and civil as opposed to in the criminal justice system,” saying the aim is to obtain compliance without imposing criminal records for relatively minor violations. He explained typical mechanics: an initial notice and correction period, then continuing penalties (the ordinance sets a $100 per day civil penalty for unresolved notices) and a citation schedule ($50 first citation, $100 second, $200 third and subsequent citations). The first inspection is currently set at no charge; subsequent inspections would be $100.
Council members asked about due process protections and practical questions such as how fees accrue if a resident requests an inspection that cannot be scheduled quickly. Fred and staff said accumulated fees could be reviewed and negotiated by the administrative law judge and emphasized the city will document requests for inspections so residents can challenge accumulated fees when scheduling delays were the city’s responsibility.
Mayor Hall and the city prosecutor praised the work to craft the ordinance. Council passed the ordinance and fee schedule by roll call vote. The ordinance also includes a requirement that the city pursue an administrative law judge who is independent of the city to avoid conflicts of interest.
Next steps: The ordinance is effective as adopted; the consolidated fee schedule’s details will be used by staff for enforcement and will be publicly posted as required.
