A. Whenever any work or development is being done or use is being conducted contrary to the provisions of the regulations, ordinances, or state laws listed in RMC 1.14.030, Applicability, the Code Compliance Officer, or any person designated by the Code Compliance Officer to issue stop work orders, may issue a stop work order requiring that all or part of the work on the project be stopped or that the use be discontinued. All persons shall cease the work or use that is the subject of the stop work order until authorized by the person who issued the order or the Code Compliance Officer to proceed with the work or use. The determination of the scope of the work covered by the stop work order shall be discretionary with the Code Compliance Officer, or any person designated by the Code Compliance Officer to issue stop work orders, based upon the seriousness of the violation, its relationship to the remainder of the project, and the degree to which the responsible party has demonstrated the ability and willingness to remedy any prior violations or comply with the applicable governmental procedures and regulations.

B. The stop work order shall be in writing unless the Code Compliance Officer, or other designated person, determines that an emergency requires that the order be given orally. When given orally, the stop work order shall be re-issued in writing by 5:00 p.m. of the next day that general city offices are open. Service of the stop work order may be in person, by conspicuously posting the stop work order on the property or a public right-of-way adjacent to the property, by giving a copy of the stop work order to the person on the property who is who appears to be in charge or by certified mail return receipt requested. The Code Compliance Officer, or other designated person who issued the stop work order, may modify or supplement the stop work order.

C. A stop work order is an enforcement mechanism and is not a penalty. Issuance of a stop work order shall not bar the imposition of a civil or criminal penalty under this chapter or the use of any other provision of this chapter. (Ord. 1935 § 11, 1997).