How are penalties typically enforced in code violations?

Penalties for code violations are typically enforced by issuing fines or liens. This approach serves both as a deterrent to future violations and a means of addressing the costs associated with non-compliance. Fines are often imposed as a direct financial penalty for violating specific codes, incentivizing property owners to adhere to regulations to avoid incurring additional costs.

Liens, on the other hand, are legal claims against a property that can be placed when fines remain unpaid. This method ensures that the municipality or governing authority has a means to recover costs associated with code enforcement and remediation efforts. By placing a lien, local governments can potentially recover the owed amounts when the property is sold or refinanced.

The other options—no penalties, warnings only, or community service requirements—do not adequately capture the typical enforcement methods used for code violations. While warnings might be part of an initial approach to encourage compliance, they do not constitute a formal enforcement mechanism. Similarly, requiring community service is not a standard consequence of code violations and does not align with how penalties are typically structured in this arena.