What is the inspection process like?

Building Inspection mainly inspects areas due to complaints, referrals, and field observations. When we see a violation, we mail an Official Notice to the property owner. The Official Notice will list the violations. It will also give the owner a date by which they must remove the vehicle or restore it to working condition. The due date is usually between two to four weeks.

The inspector will try to identify the owner of the vehicle and copy them on the Official Notice. If the vehicle owner does not live at the property, the property owner must have the vehicle towed. The owner can contact a parking monitor at (608) 266-4275 to arrange for a tow. If the property owner does not take this step, our enforcement will focus on the property owner.

If the vehicle owner lives at the property, the property owner must tell them to remove or repair the vehicle. The vehicle owner must remove or repair the vehicle by the due date in the Official Notice. The property owner must make an effort to have the tenant repair or remove the vehicle from the property. If the property owner does make a substantial effort, our enforcement action will focus on the vehicle owner.

We will work with all parties if there is a good faith effort to follow the Official Notice. We may issue an extension if there is an active effort to repair or remove the vehicle.

What does enforcement look like?

We may issue a ticket to the property owner and/or vehicle owner if the issue is not resolved by the due date. The first ticket is $177.00. Then the inspector will set a new due date, usually in 10 days to two weeks. We may then issue a $303.00 ticket if the vehicle is not repaired or removed by the second due date. At that point, the inspector will set a new due date again, typically in 10 days to two weeks. If the vehicle is still not repaired or removed by the third due date, we may issue a $366.00 ticket. The vehicle is then tagged by the inspector and will be towed from the property in 72 hours.

Note for complainants:

If the vehicle is not visible from public property, we may need to access your property to see it. Please provide a valid telephone number or email address so that we may follow-up.

• Report an Inoperable Car on Street
• Report an Inoperable Car on Private Property
• Report an Abandoned Car on Street
• Report an Abandoned Vehicle on Private Property with Parking Enforcement at (608) 266-4275.