Zoning and Penalties: The LEGAL Verbiage that indicates Fines and Jail Time

12.6 Penalties

There are potential criminal penalties and civil penalties for a violation of any provision of this Zoning Resolution. The criminal penalties are set forth in § 30‐28‐ 124 of the Colorado Revised Statutes. The civil penalties are set forth in § 30‐28‐ 124.5 of the Colorado Revised Statutes. Both of these statutes are set forth verbatim below.

30‐28‐124. Penalties

(1) (a) It is unlawful to erect, construct, reconstruct, or alter any building or structure in violation of any regulation in, or of any provisions of, any zoning resolution, or any

amendment thereof, enacted or adopted by the board of county commissioners under the authority of this part 1. Any person, firm, or corporation violating any such regulation,

provision, or amendment thereof, or any provision of this part 1 is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than ten days, or by both such

fine and imprisonment. Each day during which such illegal erection, construction,

reconstruction, or alteration continues shall be deemed a separate offense.

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(b) (I) It is unlawful to use any building, structure, or land in violation of any regulation in, or of any provision of, any zoning resolution, or any amendment thereto, enacted or adopted

by any board of county commissioners under the authority of this part 1. Any person, firm, or corporation violating any such regulation, provision, or amendment thereof is guilty of a

misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than ten days, or by both

such fine and imprisonment. Each day during which such illegal use of any building,

structure, or land continues shall be deemed a separate offense.

(II) Whenever a county zoning official authorized pursuant to section 30‐28‐114 has

personal knowledge of any violation of this paragraph (b), he or she shall give written notice to the violator to correct the violation within ten days after the date of the notice. Should the

violator fail to correct the violation within the ten‐day period, the zoning official may request that the sheriff of the county issue a summons and complaint to the violator, stating the

nature of the violation with sufficient particularity to give notice of the charge to the violator. The summons and complaint shall require that the violator appear in county court at a

definite time and place stated therein to answer and defend the charge.

(III) One copy of said summons and complaint shall be served upon the violator by the sheriff of the county in the manner provided by law for the service of a criminal summons. One copy each shall be retained by the sheriff and the county zoning official, and one copy shall be

transmitted by the sheriff to the clerk of the county court.

(c) It is the responsibility of the county attorney to enforce the provisions of this subsection (1). In the event that there is no county attorney or in the event that the board of county

commissioners deems it appropriate, the board of county commissioners may appoint the district attorney of the judicial district to perform such enforcement duties in lieu of the

county attorney.

(2) In case any building or structure is or is proposed to be erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, or used, or any land is or is proposed to be used, in violation of any

regulation or provision of any zoning resolution, or amendment thereto, enacted or adopted by any board of county commissioners under the authority granted by this part 1, the county

attorney of the county in which such building, structure, or land is situated, in addition to other remedies provided by law, may institute an injunction, mandamus, abatement, or other

appropriate action or proceeding to prevent, enjoin, abate, or remove such unlawful erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, or use. In the event that there is no county attorney or in the event that the board of county commissioners deems it appropriate, the

board of county commissioners may appoint the district attorney of the judicial district to

perform such enforcement duties in lieu of the county attorney.

30‐28‐124.5. County court actions for civil penalties for zoning violations
(1) It is unlawful to erect, construct, reconstruct, alter, or use any building, structure, or land

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in violation of any regulation in, or of any provisions of, any zoning resolution or any amendment thereof, enacted or adopted by the board of county commissioners under the

authority of this part 1. In addition to any penalties imposed pursuant to section 30‐28‐124, any person, firm, or corporation violating any such regulation, provision, or amendment

thereof or any provision of this part 1 may be subject to the imposition, by order of the county court, of a civil penalty in an amount of not less than five hundred dollars nor more

than one thousand dollars. It is within the discretion of the county attorney to determine whether to pursue the civil penalties set forth in this section, the remedies set forth in section

30‐28‐124, or both. Each day after the issuance of the order of the county court during which such unlawful activity continues shall be deemed a separate violation and shall, in

accordance with the subsequent provisions of this section, be the subject of a continuing penalty in an amount not to exceed one hundred dollars for each such day. Until paid, any

civil penalty ordered by the county court and assessed under this subsection (1) shall, as of recording, be a lien against the property on which the violation has been found to exist. In

case the assessment is not paid within thirty days, it may be certified by the county attorney to the county treasurer, who shall collect the assessment, together with a ten percent penalty

for the cost of collection, in the same manner as other taxes are collected. The laws of this state for assessment and collection of general taxes, including the laws for the sale and

redemption of property for taxes, shall apply to the collection of assessments pursuant to this subsection (1). Any lien placed against the property pursuant to this subsection (1) shall

be recorded with the clerk and recorder of the county in which the property is located.

(2) (a) In the event any building or structure is erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered,

or used or any land is used in violation of any regulation or provision of any zoning resolution, or amendment thereto, enacted or adopted by any board of county

commissioners under the authority granted by this part 1, the county attorney of the county in which such building, structure, or land is situated, in addition to other remedies provided

by law, may commence a civil action in county court for the county in which such building, structure, or land is situated, seeking the imposition of a civil penalty in accordance with the

provisions of this section.

(b) A county zoning official designated by resolution of the board of county commissioners shall, upon personal information and belief that a violation of any regulation or provision of

any zoning resolution enacted under the authority of this part 1 has occurred, give written notice to the violator to correct the violation within ten days after the date of the notice. If

the violator fails to correct the violation within the ten‐day period or within any extension period granted by the zoning official, the zoning official, the sheriff of the county, or the county attorney may issue a summons and complaint to the violator, stating the nature of

the violation with sufficient particularity to give notice of the charge to the violator.

(c) One copy of the summons and complaint issued pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subsection (2) shall be served upon the violator in the manner provided by law for the

service of a county court civil summons and complaint in accordance with the Colorado rules of county court civil procedure. The summons and complaint shall also be filed with the clerk

of the county court and thereafter the action shall proceed in accordance with the Colorado

rules of county court civil procedure.

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(d) If the county court finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that a violation of any

regulation or provision of a zoning resolution, or amendment thereto, as enacted and adopted by the board of county commissioners, has occurred, the court shall order the

violator to pay a civil penalty in an amount allowed pursuant to subsection (1) of this section. The penalty shall be payable immediately by the violator to the county treasurer. In the event

that the alleged violation has been cured or otherwise removed and the violator has notified the county zoning official of the cure or removal at least five business days prior to the

appearance date in the summons, then the county attorney shall so inform the court and

request that the action be dismissed without fine or appearance of the defendant.

(3) Upon the filing with the court of a receipt issued by the county treasurer showing

payment in full of a civil penalty assessed pursuant to this section and upon the filing of an affidavit of the county zoning official that the violation has been cured, removed, or

corrected, the court shall dismiss the action and issue a satisfaction in full of the judgment so entered. The court may also dismiss the action upon a motion of the county attorney

indicating that the matter has been otherwise resolved.

(4) If a receipt showing full payment of the civil penalty or the affidavit or the motion by the county attorney required by subsection (3) of this section is not filed, the action shall continue and the court shall retain jurisdiction to impose an additional penalty against the

violator in the amount specified in subsection (1) of this section. The additional penalty shall be imposed by the court upon motion filed by the county and proof that the violation has not

been cured, removed, or corrected. Thereafter, the action shall continue until the filing with the court of a receipt issued by the county treasurer showing payment in full of the civil

penalty and any additional penalties so assessed and the filing of an affidavit of the county zoning official that the violation has been cured, removed, or corrected, or until a motion by

the county attorney to dismiss the action is granted by the court.