The Community Development Department is responsible for ensuring that the Town Codes, including the Municipal Code, Zoning Ordinance and Building Code, are implemented on private property within the Town of Windsor to address general health, life, fire and safety issues facing residences and businesses. This involves responding to complaints received regarding such things as, but not limited to:

• Health and safety issues
• Unsafe buildings and substandard housing
• Trash, debris and inoperable vehicle storage
• Un-permitted construction
• Marijuana cultivation

Submit a Complaint

To submit a complaint regarding vegetation management related to fire safety, complete an online complaint with the Sonoma County Fire District here.

To submit a complaint, complete the Violation Complaint Form. You will be asked to provide the address of the property where the suspected violation is located, the nature of the violation, and your contact information. Please note that anonymous complaints are not accepted; however, complainant information is kept confidential.

Complaint Process

Once your complaint is submitted, staff will review to determine priority level. Complaints involving immediate life-safety risk receive the highest priority. The issue will then be assigned to a Planner and/or Building Inspector for follow-up. The first inspection or letter (notification of receipt of complaint) is sent out within two weeks. 

Resolving Your Violation

If a violation is identified, the property owner will be contacted and required to remove the violation and/or obtain permits. Depending on the nature of the violation, property owners will be given a time frame in the Code Enforcement notification to correct the violation.

Compliance is Our Goal

Education.   Our primary option is education, since many individuals may not be aware that they have a violation. Our team will work with the responsible party to provide a time frame to resolve the issue(s) without a penalty.

Hearing Request and Procedure.  If a property owner does not respond or resolve the violation following the initial notice of violation letter, a notice of nuisance will be sent, which will include information on requesting an appeal.

Administrative Fines and Penalties.  In determining the amount of any fine or penalty the Town will take a number of factors into consideration including, but not limited to, the duration of the violation, the gravity of the violation, and good faith efforts of the violator to come into compliance.

Abatement. This remedy is used where the Town needs to abate a public nuisance when it poses an imminent or immediate danger of significant harm to persons or property, or to the health, welfare or safety of the general public. Unpaid costs can result in a property lien.