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Charlotte to increase fines for property owners in violation of city code

By Mark Barber
By Mark Barber

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte has numerous areas that are dotted with garbage and grass that's growing out of control.

Channel 9 visited one of the properties that's been in violation of city code 22 times this year and found multiple tires -- and even a toilet -- were not cleared from it after a house fire.

Resident Louis Evanson lives about 20 minutes away and said he lived next to a house like that for months.

"I did call and complain about it," Evanson said. "I waited, I think it was about a month, six weeks to see if anyone would clean up, and they didn't."

Channel 9 discovered this is a major problem. More than 2,070 property owners have violated city rules multiple times in 2017.

"Maybe they have too many properties and maybe they don't realize what's going on on them," said Jane Taillon, with Charlotte Code Enforcement.

Channel 9 dug through the numbers and discovered the top five violators in Charlotte are companies that rent out local homes.

Eyewitness News reporter Mark Barber confronted one of those companies -- Individual Homes – about their 22 violations, but no one in their local office would answer his questions.

"With our current fines, we would be able to fine them $50," Taillon said.

For 22 violations, a company such as Individual Homes could face more than $1,000 in fines this year.

In January, Code Enforcement is putting teeth to the law, so they can charge up to $500. That means if Individual Homes gets another 22 violations next year, it would cost them more than $10,000.

"It will make a difference, definitely. No one wants to pay out money that they don't have to pay," neighbor Louis Evanson said.

Code Enforcement officials said all the extra money the agency will make off violators who don't clean up their properties will be funneled back into Charlotte’s public schools.

Taillon said many property owners don't do anything until their notices or fines start piling up. She hopes the increased penalties will make those owners proactive instead of reactive.

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