The College Park City Council introduced an ordinance in October that would increase fines for city code violations, including construction, fire safety, housing, noise and unruly social gatherings.
The proposal would update the city’s fine structure to align with a Maryland law that took effect Oct. 1 and allows municipalities to fine up to $5,000 for municipal infractions. Previously, cities could fine up to $1,000.
Director of Public Services Jatinder Khokhar outlined the proposed increase in fines for the mayor and council, saying he and his staff considered fairness and consistency of enforcement when deciding on the changes.
City Attorney Stephanie Anderson, who also presented, said the city looked at fines in other Prince George’s County cities and the District while drafting the ordinance.
“We are not the highest but we want to make sure that the types of violations that are occurring are taken seriously,” Anderson said.
For individuals who fail to obtain building permits, fines will increase from $200 to $500 for a first-time offense and another $500 for each day they fail to apply for a permit, according to the proposed ordinance amendment. In addition, the fine for failing to abide by a stop-work order would increase from $200 to $500, with another $500 for each day the order is ignored.
Fines for violating the city’s fire safety code, now $100 to $200, would increase to $1,000 to $2,000.
Those found to have housing violations are fined $100, and then $200 for every repeated offense. They would be fined $500 and $2,000 under the proposed ordinance.
Other increases include fines for noise violations, from $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for repeaters to $1,000 for the first time and $2,500 after that. For holding unruly social gatherings, fines would increase from $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for subsequent violations to $1,000 for the first, $2,000 for the second and $5,000 for others.
Councilmember John Rigg (District 3) clarified that fines for noise violations should be lower than those for unruly social gatherings because unruliness is considered a threshold higher than noise.
“Noise should be bad, but unruly social gatherings almost always include noise and it includes a lot more,” Rigg said.
Fines for failing to obtain an occupancy permit and failure to prevent occupancy in the absence of a valid permit would increase from $1,000 to $2,500. Those who remove condemnation placards from their property would be fined $5,000 instead of $1,000.
The council will hold a public hearing on the changes on Nov. 12 before voting on whether to amend the law.