§ 34-744. Inspection of property.

(a)

Inspection of premises/right of entry. The director of the Fulton County Department of Public Works or any duly authorized agent of the department of public works, or any department of Fulton County as directed or authorized by the county manager, may enter on and inspect any and all public and private property in unincorporated Fulton County, at any reasonable time after the presentation of proper credentials, to determine by inspection that those properties are or are not free of any condition which may be in violation of this article. For the purpose of this duty, employees of the department of public works, the department of environment and community development, including, but not limited to code enforcement officers, or subsequent classification titles performing the same duties, or employees of any department as authorized by the county manager, or members of the public duly appointed by the governing authority of Fulton County to perform litter enforcement duties, are clothed with police powers and shall be designated as special officers of Fulton County. Any act of obstructing an inspection hereunder shall constitute a violation of this article and subject the interferer to penalties authorized by section 34-742 or section 34-746 depending on the nature of the property.

(b)

Notice of unsanitary conditions. Upon the determination—through inspection by the director of the Fulton County Department of Public Works or his agent or designee, or any duly authorized agent or department of Fulton County as directed or authorized by the county manager or the governing authority—that any property within unincorporated Fulton County is in violation of this article, the director of public works or his agent or designee, or any duly authorized agent or department of Fulton County as directed or authorized by the county manager or the governing authority, shall give written notice to the owner or agent of the owner of the property of the condition found. Such notice shall set forth the condition of the property, the specific violation of this article and the remedial action to be taken. The notice to the owner or agent shall include a time certain in which the violation is to be abated, but not more than ten days from date of receipt of the notice by the owner or agent. All notices shall be sent by personal service or sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the last known address as listed in the official tax register of the county or records of the secretary of state. Upon failure of the owner or agent to abate the violation cited within the time set forth in the notice, the property owner or agent shall be held accountable for violating this article.

(c)

Citations issued. Nothing in this section is intended to prevent the immediate issuance of a written citation pursuant to section 34-748 of this article for violation of this article.

(Ord. No. 98-0379, 3-4-98)

Cross reference

Nuisance abatement authorized, §§ 26-3, 34-363.