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1. Can I remain anonymous when reporting a code enforcement violations?

Yes. We do not require that you provide any personal information. Remember that all information you choose to provide to the City, including names, phone numbers, or email addresses, is subject to the Public Record Laws. In other words, we must provide this information to anyone who asks for it. If you wish to remain completely anonymous, do not provide your personal information.

2. What is an abandoned or unserviceable vehicle and why are they considered to be a violation of City Codes?

The Cleveland City Ordinance describes an unserviceable vehicle as any vehicle which is required to be licensed and registered by the State of Oklahoma and is not licensed and registered and is in such condition that it cannot be started or moved under its own power without repair. Derelict vehicles typically leak fluids such as anti-freeze, gasoline and other automotive fluids onto the ground, contaminating the local area.

These vehicles also create an attractive nuisance to children by presenting an enticing, but dangerous, plaything. There are several documented incidents of children becoming locked inside a vehicle and succumbing to the extreme temperatures produced within the vehicle. Inoperative vehicles also detract from a neighborhoods appearance and can invite an undesirable element into your community.

3. What do I do if I've received a notice of violation from Code Enforcement?

If you have any questions about what is required of you to achieve compliance with the Cleveland City Code Enforcement, please contact the investigator assigned to your case. The investigator’s name is listed at the bottom of the notice you received. You can also call our main number at (918)358-3112 and speak to the Code Enforcement Officer.

The goal of Code Enforcement is to preserve the quality and value of public and private property and maintain a high standard of living by eliminating conditions that threaten the life, health, safety, and general welfare of the public. The Department recognizes that this goal is most effectively achieved through the education of, and cooperation with, the citizens of the City of Cleveland.

4. What happens if I am found guilty?

When a property is found to be in violation at a code enforcement hearing, an Order Imposing Fine is issued, stating the case facts and giving the violator time to come into compliance with said ordinances. If the property is not brought into compliance within the time ordered, a fine per day may commence. The Order Imposing Fine may be recorded in the Public Record and will constitute a lien against the property in violation and against any other real or personal property owned by the violator.

The fine will continue to run daily until the property is brought into compliance. Once compliance is achieved, the fine will stop increasing, but the fine total, which is a lien, remains against the property until satisfied.

5. How much are Code Enforcement fines?

The amount of the fine is determined by the Code Enforcement Board and can range from $127 for the first violation to $569 for the third violation. In the case of repeat violators, or those who have been found guilty of the same violation by Code Enforcement in the last five years the fine can range up to $569 per day. A fine which has continued to accrue for 90 days is forwarded to the Cleveland City Attorney’s Office for possible legal action.