When an administrative fine or penalty becomes a final order under this section or
Government Code Section 53069.4, the county may proceed to collect the fine or penalty
as follows:
(a)
In the event a civil action is commenced to collect the administrative penalty, the
county shall be entitled to recover all costs associated with the collection of the
penalty. Costs include, without limitation, staff time incurred in the collection
of the penalty and those costs set forth in Code of Civil Procedure Section 1033.5.
(b)
An administrative penalty shall accrue interest at the same annual rate as any civil
judgment. Interest shall accrue commencing on the twentieth day after the penalty
becomes a final decision or order.
(c)
The amount of any unpaid administrative fine, plus interest, plus any other costs
as provided in this chapter, may be declared a lien on any real property owned by
the owner within the county against whom an administrative penalty has been imposed,
as follows:
(1)
Notice shall be given to the owner before recordation of the lien, and shall be served
in the same manner as a summons in the civil action pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure
Section 415.10 et seq.;
(2)
The lien shall attach when the county records it with the county recorder's office.
The lien shall specify the amount of the lien, the date of the code violations, the
date of the final decision, the street address, legal description, and assessor's
parcel number of the parcel on which the lien is imposed, and the name and address
of the record owner of the parcel; and
(3)
In the event that the lien is discharged, released, or satisfied, either through payment
or foreclosure, the county shall record a notice of the discharge containing the information
specified in subsection (2) of this section.
(d)
The county may withhold issuance of licenses, permits and other entitlements to a
responsible party on any project, property, or application of any kind whenever an
administrative penalty remains unpaid.
(e)
County may take such other actions as are allowed for enforcement of a civil judgment
as provided for pursuant to the Enforcement of Judgment Law, California Code of Civil
Procedure Section 680.010 et seq.
