It is the mission of the Code Enforcement office to assist in protecting the public health, safety, and welfare of our citizens through the enforcement of the City’s Property Maintenance Code. In addition to the enforcement of the City’s Property Maintenance Code, the Code Official also enforces the city’s business licensing and permitting codes to ensure compliance with all relevant rules and regulations passed by our elected City Council.
The City of Hartsville’s City Council approved amendments to the City’s codes in July of 2017 to align the regulations with those of the 2015 International Code Council 2015 IPMC Codes. Council’s amendment, Ordinance 4291.
Christopher Morgan
Codes & Licensing Officer
christopher.morgan@hartsvillesc.gov
Office 843.383.3025
Cell 843.624.1017
Enforcement Process
Confirm Violations
The code official investigates complaints filed with the City. Citizens may report concerns of violations by one of several means: by phone calls, email, or a simple visit to City Hall. The Code Official may also observe potential violations while out in the field. Investigations normally include contact with the property owner and a visit to the site in question of violation to confirm the validity of the complaint.
Contact Property Owner/Responsible Parties
The code official will contact the property owner/responsible parties after confirming the violation. He will inform the responsible persons of the violation, remedies to resolve it, and set a reasonable time frame for the violations to be rectified. This contact is made initially through preliminary methods such as a courtesy phone call, in-person visit, or preliminary notice of violation sent via mail. If through these methods contact and/or compliance isn’t achieved, then the formal method of noticing will be invoked. This method is a formal certified letter given to the responsible parties sent by mail or given in person, and through official posting of the formal letter at the property in violation.
The goal is to obtain compliance in the resolution of violations. Reasonable time limits and prescriptions for remedy will be given to the violators as set forth by the Code Official and in compliance with all local and state laws. If compliance isn’t achieved, then additional enforcement methods will be invoked.
Correction of Violation
In the event that compliance isn’t achieved in a reasonable time frame as prescribed by the Code Official, stronger actions will be taken by the Code Official to gain compliance with the City’s Property Maintenance Code as set forth in section 106.4 of the city ordinance.