License & Inspection - Code Enforcement

Augusta
License & Inspection

Code Enforcement

Pam Costabile
Division Manager
(706) 312-5049

The goals of the Code Enforcement Division are to ensure a clean, safe, and healthy environment in order to provide a high quality of life for our residents and visitors, and to improve both the appearance and value of residential and business property. While these goals may sound simple, cooperation and support from businesses, property owners and citizens are necessary to make them attainable.

Boarding Specifications
Mothballing/Boarding of Buildings Registration Form (PDF)
Codes
Environmental Division
Fence requirements
Junk or Inoperative Vehicles

Boarding Specifications Document

These standards shall apply to windows, exterior doors and other openings in exterior walls vacant or partially vacant structures including but not limited to, dwelling units in which:

Windows sashes are not secured snugly and properly in closed position.
Windows panes are missing or broken
Interior doors, such as hollow core door, are being used as exterior doors.
Exterior doors are not locked snugly and properly in the closed position with a deadbolt lock set.
Crawl space/basement doors are not locked properly in the closed position utilizing a hasp and pad lock.
Gable vents have missing components that could permit entry into the house by animals and rain/snow.
Other large openings in exterior walls could permit entry into the house by animals and rain/snow

Minimum Window Board-up requirements

Remove windowpanes if broken. If window panes not broken, lower or raise window sash to permit installation of carriage bolts described below.
Neatly cut a single piece of ½" CD exterior grade plywood that is sized to fit snugly inside the window opening against the windows stop. Consider installing 2"X4" blocking within opening for back of plywood to rest against snugly.
Cut an opening centered and 6" below the top of the plywood and install a metal soffit vent that covers the opening but allows light to enter the structure once the plywood has been installed. Use screws to attach the vent to the plywood.
Cut at least two 2"X4" wood support members that are 16" wider than the window opening.
The support members are to be mounted horizontally and flush against the interior window casing with 8" extending left and right of the window opening. The top support should be located within ¼ and 1/3 of the window opening height from the top of the opening. The bottom support should be located within ½ to 1/3 of the window opening height from the bottom of the opening.
Drill at least two holes in each of the 2"X4" support members then drill holes in the plywood that line up with the holes drilled in the support members.
Insert a washer over the end of a 3/8" diameter round, smooth head, carriage bolt.
Line up each hole in the 2"X4" support member and the plywood.
At each hole, insert a 3/8" diameter carriage bolt – from exterior to interior – through the plywood, through the window opening and through the 2"X4" and plywood toward each other until there is no play.
Prime the exterior surface of the plywood.
On the exterior, caulk the perimeter edges of the plywood.
Paint the exterior surface of the plywood a neutral color or color similar to the window.

Minimum Exterior Door Board-up Requirements

Remove door
Neatly cut a single piece of ½" CD exterior grad plywood that is sized to fit snugly inside the door opening against the doorstop. Consider installing 2"X4" blocking within opening for back of plywood to rest against snugly.
Cut an opening centered and 6" below the top of the plywood and install a metal soffit vent that covers the opening but allow light to enter the structure once the plywood has been installed. Use screws to attach the vent to the plywood.
Cut a least two 2"X4" wood support members that are 16" wider than the door opening.
The support members are to be mounted horizontally and flush against the interior door casing with 8" extending left and right of the door opening. The top support should be located within ¼ and 1/3 of the door opening height from the top of the opening. The bottom support should be located within ¼ to 1/3 of the door opening height from the bottom of the opening.
Drill at least two holes in each of the 2"X4" support member and the plywood. At each hole, insert a 3/8" diameter carriage bolt—from exterior to interior—through the plywood, through the door opening and through the 2"X4".
Insert a washer over the end of a 3/8" diameter round, smooth head, carriage
Line up each hole in the 2"X4" support member and the plywood. At each hole, insert a 3/8" diameter carriage bolt—from exterior to interior—through the door opening and through the 2"X4".
Slip a 3/8" diameter nut and washer over the end of the carriage bolt inside the structure and securely tighten the nut—pulling the 2"X4" and plywood toward each other until there is no play.
Prime the exterior surface of the plywood.
On the exterior, caulk the perimeter edges of the plywood.
Paint the exterior surface of the plywood a neutral color or a color similar to door casing.

Crawlspace/basement door, Gable Vent or Other Opening

Remove door or vent and install when necessary 2"X4" blocking in the opening.
Cut a single piece of ½" CD exterior grade plywood that will fit snugly against the outside edge of the blocking.
Screw plywood snugly to blocking using at least 1" Screws.
Prime the exterior surface of the plywood and caulk the perimeter edges.
Paint exterior surface of plywood a neutral color or color similar to casing.

Minimum cleaning and Safety Requirements:

Removed to legal dumpsite all trash debris, garbage from inside and under house before boarding.
Correct health and structural hazards inside and under house before boarding

Board-up diagram for exterior doors (IMAGE)
Board-up diagram for windows (IMAGE)

Codes

Code Enforcement is responsible for administering and enforcing the Codes and Ordinances pertaining to the following:

Minimum Housing Code
Unsafe Building Abatement Code
Property Maintenance Code
Lot Ordinance (Overgrown weeds, grass and debris)
Zoning Ordinance
Public Nuisance Ordinance
Environmental Issues
Scrap Tires (Residential and commercial)
Illegal Dumping

Unsafe Building Abatement Code

This code is used for both residential and commercial properties. This code regulates buildings that are in a state of disrepair, open and vacant and which are dangerous to health, safety and general welfare of the public; to protect life and property from fire and other hazards. This code is a 60 day notice.

Standard Housing Code

This code establishes minimum standard for occupancy. It is construed to secure the beneficial interest and purposes thereof which are public safety, health and general welfare through structural strength, stability, sanitation, adequate light and ventilation, and safety to life and property from fire and other hazards. This code is used most often when a tenant or other person is occupying a residential structure. This Code is a 45-day notice.

Property Maintenance Code

All building or structures, both existing and new, and all parts thereof, shall be maintained in safe and sanitary condition. This code provides for the maintenance of buildings and its premises. This is a 30-day notice.

Lot Ordinance

No owner of any vacant lot or parcel of land within Augusta-Richmond County shall permit or allow debris to be dumped or old lumber and building material to be piled thereon, nor shall he permit or allow grass, weeds, vines underbrush or other growth to grow or accumulate thereon, or on the area between the lot or parcel of land and the street curb, so as to constitute an unclean, unhealthy, unsanitary, unsightly, filthy, dangerous, objectionable or offensive condition. This is a 10-day notice, which allow the inspector to use the court system or may choose to have city crews to clean property and attach a lien to the property.

Public Nuisance Ordinance

This ordinance deals with odor, decay refuse rubble, overgrown vegetation, fumes, gases, or any other threat or inconvenience to public. The time limit varies according to the situation

State Nuisance Abatement Code

This is a state code that is currently being used on open, vacant, and dilapidated structures instead of using the 60-day unsafe building abatement code. This system reduces the time and allows for a legal process to eliminate these structures in a timelier fashion.

Scrap Tires For Residential And Commercial

(Residential)

It shall be unlawful for any person in a residential zone to accumulate any amount of scrap tires on or around property, which they own or occupy. "

(Commercial)

It shall be unlawful for any commercial business other than those excepted in O.C.G.A 12-8-40.1 9g to accumulate more than one hundred scrap tires on the property which it owns or occupies at any given time.

It shall be unlawful for any person or entity authorized by this article and/or state law to handle, store and/or dispose of scrap tires, to It do so in any manner other than the following: Permitted quantities of scrap tires may be stored outside the property of an authorized business in a container enclosed on all four sides by a solid screen and having a secure top cover, which container is not visible from any public right of way or any adjoining property."

Other local codes, which are enforced, may include biological waste dumping, soil and erosion problems, inert landfills and illegal dumpsites.

Environmental Division

The Environmental Division is responsible for the investigation and resolution of environmental issues which includes, but not limited to, illegal dumpsites, burning of household trash, improper disposal of solid waste, tires, hazardous waste, oil, and other environmental hazards. If you see someone who is improperly disposing of these items please call our office at 312-5049 or call Shawn Hargis, Environmental Code Specialist at 312-4238.

The State of Georgia Environmental Protection Division has created a hotline for citizens in Georgia.
Call 1-800-CLEAN-UP and enter the zip code located in Georgia that you are interested in and it will provide you with the contact person and other information needed for that area.

Environmental Tips To Remember

It is against the law to burn household trash in yard.
Automobile batteries, under state law, may not be legally disposed of in landfills or incinerators. In Georgia, automobile batteries must be returned to retailer for recycling.
Motor oil should not be poured down drains, storm sewers or on the ground. This may cause ground water contamination. To recycle motor oil, place it in a clean, leak-proof container and contact a local recycling center.
Unused paint should be given away to someone else to use. Neighbor, schools, non-profit organizations, theater groups etc. Under state law, solidified paints can be legally disposed of in a permitted subtitle ‘D’ Landfill. To solidify, leave the cap off the container or slit the tube. When it has solidified, the dried paint can then be disposed of in a landfill. If the Paint cannot be solidified, then mix it with absorbent material, (sawdust, cat litter), to absorb the free liquid and allow to harden. Call the local landfill for disposal.
Freon is recyclable, contact a local automobile service business or a home cooling service business with certified technician for information.
Kerosene is distilled from petroleum or shale oil. Kerosene is flammable, poisonous and can be toxic if inhaled or absorbed through the skin. If kerosene cannot be used up or given away, then mix it with an absorbent material or allow evaporation in a well-ventilated area away from children and pets. The container and absorbent material can be disposed of in the landfill. Kerosene is very dangerous and should not be mixed with gasoline. Great care must be taken when handling kerosene. Kerosene may produce invisible explosive vapors that may ignite by a small spark.

Fence requirements for Residential Zones

Fence or wall: A fence, latticework screens, or wall, in a required side or rear yard shall not exceed six (6) feet in height. A fence, latticework screen, or wall located in a required front yard (this includes side yards that face a street) shall be limited to four (4) feet in height.

Corner Lot

If your property is on a corner lot it must meet the intersection visibility and corner setback as follows:

No construction, fence hedge bushes or other obstruction to a clear view which extends over three (3) feet in height shall be permitted at any corner of intersecting streets where either or both of the streets are less than sixty (60) feet in width within the area formed by the legs of a triangle whose apex is a point of intersection of the centerline of the traveled roadways and the legs of which are sixty (60) feet in length along the centerlines and the hypotenuse of which is the line connecting the end of said legs.

Junk / Inoperative Vehicles

An inoperative or junk condition shall include but shall not be limited to any automobile, vehicle, trailer or any kind or type or contrivance, or a part thereof, the condition of which is one or more of the following:

Wrecked
Dismantled
Partially dismantled
Inoperative
Abandoned
Discarded
Scrapped
Does not have a valid license plate attached thereto

All complaints on Junk/ inoperative Vehicles may be made by calling the

Richmond County Marshal's Department at: 821-2555