§ 5-23. Penalties.

(a)

Criminal penalties. Any person who shall violate or fail to comply with any provisions of this Code shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than fifty dollars ($50.00). Each 30-day that such violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct criminal offense.

(b)

Civil penalties. In addition to or in lieu of criminal penalties set forth in subsection (a), violation of or failure to comply with the provisions of this Code shall, at the election of the city, subject the offender to a civil penalty in the amount of five hundred dollars ($500.00) or as specified in the then-current fees, rates and charges schedule adopted as part of the city annual operating budget upon the issuance of a citation for such violation as provided in this article. Each day's continuing violation shall constitute a separate offense as provided by G.S. 160A-175(g).

(c)

Equitable relief. In addition to the criminal and civil penalties set out in subsections (a) and (b), any provision of this Code may be enforced by an appropriate equitable remedy, including but not limited to injunctive relief or order of abatement, issuing from a court of competent jurisdiction and with the provisions of the state general statutes.

(Ord. No. 2019-16 , § 3, 4-8-19)