City of Novato, CA

Municipal and State Code Complaints/Inquiries 

Code Enforcement staff investigates and enforces violations of the City of Novato Municipal Code on private property, some state building codes and state health and safety codes. 

Upon receipt of a complaint, staff will begin an investigation, reach out and inform property owner(s)/manager(s) if a violation does in fact exist.

Staff will educate both the complainant and property owner/manager at the property of relevant codes, best path to compliance if a violation does exist. If a permit is required to bring the property into compliance, Code Enforcement staff will assist the permit applicant from date of submission to final inspection.

Periodic Housing Inspection Program and Caretaker Requirements. 

The program has been in effect since 1973, originally administered by the County of Marin Environmental Health Department, under an agreement between the County and City.  

In 2007, the City of Novato took over the program under Municipal Code 4-14. On a periodic basis, Code Enforcement staff inspects hotels/motels, and multi-family communities consisting of three or more units.

The purpose is to ensure proper maintenance, compliance with Uniform Housing, Building, Municipal, Health and Safety Codes of rental housing. Identify and require correction of substandard housing conditions, and assist property owners to prevent conditions of deterioration and blight that could adversely affect economic conditions and the quality of life.

Education of both the property owner(s)/manager(s) and tenant(s) is a key component of this program, from changing state and municipal codes to basic house keeping standards and skills. 

There are many conditions on a property that may be in violation of the City of Novato Municipal Code or California Building Code, some conditions are more common than others. 

Please Note: Code Enforcement only investigates violations on private property.

Violations can be reported by completing the Code Enforcement Complaint Form or by clicking the REPORT A CONCERN button above. In order for a complaint to be investigated, the following information is required: 

• location of alleged violation
• property owner name and phone number (if known)
• description of alleged violation
• Your name, phone number, address and email address (this information is confidential)

Please submit your completed written form either as an attachment via email, by dropping it off at City Administrative Offices, OR mailing it to:

City of Novato
Attn: Code Enforcement
922 Machin Ave
Novato, CA 94945

Complaints are investigated in the order they are submitted. Any possible violations which are or may be safety issues do take priority over all other complaints. A Code Enforcement Officer may contact you if further information is required. Note: Anonymous and/or incomplete complaints are not investigated.   

Denunciar una infracción de código

Las infracciones se pueden reportar completando el Formulario de Quejas de Cumplimiento de Códigos. Para que una queja sea investigada, se requiere la siguiente información:

• ubicación de la posible violación
• nombre del propietario y número de teléfono del propietario (si se conoce)
• descripción de la posible violación
• Su nombre, número de teléfono, dirección y dirección de correo electrónico (esta información es confidencial)
• Por favor, imprima en inglés si es posible

Por favor envíe su formulario completo ya sea como un archivo adjunto por correo electrónico dejándolo en las oficinas administrativas de la ciudad, o enviándolo por correo a:

City of Novato
Attn: Code Enforcement
922 Machin Ave
Novato, CA 94945

Las quejas se investigan en el orden en que se presentan. Cualquier posible violación que sea o pueda ser problemas de seguridad tienen prioridad sobre todas las demás quejas. Un oficial de cumplimiento de código puede ponerse en contacto con usted si se requiere más información. Nota: Las quejas anónimas y/o incompletas no se investigan. 

What occurs when I submit a complaint? 

FIRST: Please verify the property is within the City limits. The residential portion of Bel Marin Keys is NOT within the City limits. Center Rd. from 2566 and up, Trish Dr. from 108 and up. Indian Valley Rd. from 1526 and up are areas not within the City limits. Other areas including Atherton Ave., some areas of Olive Ave., Ignacio, as well as some rural areas are not within the City limits. If you are unsure, please call the City Administrative Offices at 415.899.8989.

For all code complaints, staff will perform a site visit and attempt personal contact. If a violation is confirmed, City staff will request compliance. This may be verbally and/or by a written Administrative Order. If the individual responsible for the situation appears unwilling to voluntarily correct the code violation in a timely manner, an Administrative Citation may be issued. 

In extreme situations the City may take court action if the situation poses a significant, immediate or imminent health and safety risk to the community, or if the individual continues to ignore previous orders/citations.

What Penalties Result From Code Violations?

Voluntary compliance is our goal. However, in cases where the individual responsible for the code violation does not comply, the individual may be subject to fines (citation) and other penalties including cost recovery fees may be imposed.

If the individual continues to ignore previous orders/citations a NOTICE OF NONCOMPLIANCE is recorded on the property title and/or a pubic hearing will be scheduled in front of the Housing, Zoning and Building Codes Appeals Board where staff will ask the board to declare the property a PUBLIC NUISANCE under municipal code 1-6.2. A finding of a public nuisance carries a fee in excess of $1,500.00, plus any other fines/fees already imposed. Board will order the owner(s)/manager(s) to abate the violation within a specific time and pay all fees/fines.

What occurs if the person responsible does not abide by the boards order? 

Failure to abide by the board's order will result in staff bringing the matter to municipal  court, asking a judge to either order the owner(s)/manager(s) to comply or permit the City to enter the property to abate all violations.  All costs associated with any court action are billed to the owner(s)/manager(s) and a Special Assessment is placed on the property title. 

Code Enforcement does not investigate/enforce:

a. Vehicles parked on the street for more than 72 hours (Police Department Traffic Division nonemergency number, 415.897.1122)

b. Noise complaints which occur after normal office hours and weekends. (Police Department nonemergency number, 415.897.1122)

c. Loud parties/gatherings (Police Department nonemergency number 415.897.1122)

d. Excessive dog barking. (Marin Humane Society at 415.883.4621. After normal business hours and weekends Police Department, nonemergency number 415.897.1122.)

e. Sidewalk vendors. (Police Department nonemergency number, 415.897.1122, Public Works Department, 415.899.8246 and County of Marin Environmental Health Services 415.473.6907)

f. Tree branches or bushes hanging over property lines; tree leaves/needles from neighboring property(s). This is a civil issue.

g. Spare the Air Day Complaints: Bay Area Air Quality Management District, 1.800.334.6367 or https://www.baaqmd.gov/online-services/air-pollution-complaints

h. Business Licenses. City of Novato Finance Department 415.899.8900.

i. Covenants, Conditions, & Restrictions (CC&R) or HOA rules/bylaws

j. Property line disputes and trespassing

 PAY YOUR MULTI-FAMILY FEE OR CITATION ONLINE!!!

If you do not have an account, you will need to create one.

Click this link to begin the process  https://etrakit3.novato.org/etrakit3/

The log in type should be set to PUBLIC, not CONTRACTOR. Log in or create an account.  For new users, click the highlighted/underlined CLICK HERE. Complete all fields that have an * on the CREATE NEW PUBLIC USER ACCOUNT page.

Select the I AGREE option and click CONTINUE to go back to the main page. Next in the VIOLATIONS box, click PAY FEES.

A link will appear that says, “Enter Case Number” (CE-MF Number is considered a case.) Be sure you enter the correct full case number, CE-C or CE-P, located on the citation or the full CE-MF number on your invoice. 

Be sure this is the correct address and case number. Click ‘ADD TO CART’ next to the green dollar symbol. (If you do not see a link, no fee is due.)

On the SHOPPING CART page, check the box in the line with the CASE or MF number you wish to pay.  Verify information is correct. Click PAY NOW.

The screen connects to Authorize.Net, a secure payment site. After payment is approved and processed you will be returned to the eTrakit site. Please note only Visa or Mastercard are accepted. *Authorize.Net will send a receipt to the email address you provide.