CODE OF VIRGINIA

CIVIL PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF ZONING ORDINANCE (§ 15.2-730)

Notwithstanding subdivision A 5 of § 15.2-2286, a county may adopt an ordinance
which establishes a uniform schedule of civil penalties for violations of
specified provisions of the zoning ordinances regulating the storage of junk and
the repair of motor vehicles. Such schedule of offenses shall not include any
zoning violation resulting in injury to any person, and the existence of a civil
penalty shall not preclude action by the zoning administrator under subdivision
A 4 of § 15.2-2286 or action by the governing body under § 15.2-2208.This
schedule of civil penalties may allow for progressively higher penalties for
subsequent offenses whether or not the subsequent offenses arise from the same
set of operative facts; however, the penalty for any one violation shall be a
fine of not more than fifty dollars. Each day during which the violation is
found to have existed shall constitute a separate offense. However, in no event
shall specified violations arising from the same operative set of facts be
charged more frequently than once in any ten-day period, and in no event shall a
series of specified violations arising from the same operative set of facts
result in civil penalties which exceed a total of $ 250. Designation of a
particular zoning ordinance violation for a civil penalty pursuant to this
section shall be in lieu of criminal sanctions, and except for any violation
resulting in injury to any person, such designation shall preclude the
prosecution of a violation as a criminal misdemeanor.Any person summoned for a
scheduled violation may make an appearance in person or in writing by mail to
the treasurer of the county prior to the date fixed for trial in court. Any
person so appearing may enter a waiver of trial, admit liability, and pay the
civil penalty established for the offense charged. Such persons shall be
informed of their right to stand trial and that a signature to an admission of
liability will have the same force and effect as a judgment of court.If a person
charged with a scheduled violation does not elect to enter a waiver of trial and
admit liability, the violation shall be tried in the general district court in
the same manner and with the same right of appeal as provided for in Title 8.01.
In any trial for a scheduled violation authorized by this section, it shall be
the burden of the county to show the liability of the violator by a
preponderance of the evidence. An admission of liability or finding of liability
shall not be a criminal conviction for any purpose.No provision herein shall be
construed to allow the imposition of civil penalties: (i) for enforcement of the
Uniform Statewide Building Code; (ii) for activities related to land development
or activities related to the construction or repair of buildings and other
structures; or (iii) for violation of any provision of a local zoning ordinance
relating to the posting of signs on public property or public rights-of-way.

HISTORY: 1985, c. 415, § 15.1-687.8; 1992, c. 298; 1997, c. 587.