By Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce
At its session on Tuesday, January 11 at 2:00 p.m., Toledo City Council will review a proposal that would give the Toledo Plan Commission office zoning code enforcement responsibilities, and change current penalties for zoning code violations.
The Plan Commission office is proposing that it be granted the enforcement responsibilities. Currently only the Division of Building Inspection and the Division of Code Enforcement have the authority to enforce the zoning code. The Plan Commission office is currently responsible for reviewing zoning cases and making policy recommendations to City Council. This change could potentially blur the line between policy recommendation and enforcement.
Changes to the penalty code are also being considered. Currently non-criminal zoning code violations can result in fines of $300 with a late fee of $20 per day if issues are not addressed within 15 days. Citations can be elevated to criminal penalties involving maximum fines of $2,000 for businesses and up to 30 days in jail with higher penalties for subsequent violations within two years.
The proposed changes would make zoning code violation penalties match those for other nuisance-related violations. Non-criminal fines would be replaced with a tiered structure including $75 for a first offence, $150 for a second offence, $300 for a third offence, and $600 for offenses thereafter. Criminal penalties would increase to maximum fines of $5,000 for businesses and up to six months in jail.
The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce is continuing to review the proposal and its potential impact on the manner in which the city’s zoning code is enforced. Toledo City Council meetings are held in Council Chambers at One Government Center located in downtown Toledo, and can be attended in-person or viewed via video on the city's website.
Changes to the penalty code are also being considered. Currently non-criminal zoning code violations can result in fines of $300 with a late fee of $20 per day if issues are not addressed within 15 days. Citations can be elevated to criminal penalties involving maximum fines of $2,000 for businesses and up to 30 days in jail with higher penalties for subsequent violations within two years.
The proposed changes would make zoning code violation penalties match those for other nuisance-related violations. Non-criminal fines would be replaced with a tiered structure including $75 for a first offence, $150 for a second offence, $300 for a third offence, and $600 for offenses thereafter. Criminal penalties would increase to maximum fines of $5,000 for businesses and up to six months in jail.
The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce is continuing to review the proposal and its potential impact on the manner in which the city’s zoning code is enforced. Toledo City Council meetings are held in Council Chambers at One Government Center located in downtown Toledo, and can be attended in-person or viewed via video on the city's website.
 | Tim Schneider As Manager for Local Government Advocacy, Tim Schneider advocates for local policies and laws that safeguard and foster a pro-business environment in the Toledo Region. Tim has more than 10 years of legislative and public policy experience with the local, state and federal levels of government. |
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