Code enforcement beefed up to improve South Lake Tahoe appearance

As a result of a citizen survey in which 74 percent of South Lake Tahoe residents responded that the city's overall appearance is “poor or fair” local leaders have recognized a compelling need to restore and improve the visual quality of the community and will step up code enforcement.

In an effort to respond to residents’ concerns the city will embark on an aggressive code enforcement effort which will improve the overall appearance of South Lake Tahoe and quality of life for our residents and visitors. This code enforcement effort will focus on all aspects of the city code, i.e. unpermitted structures, illegal signage, lack of adequate trash containers, to name just a few.

Violators will be liable for citations and fines for noncompliance with the city code. The purpose of the citation program is to “encourage” violators to comply with the city code without delay. The primary impetus behind this enhanced code enforcement program is to improve the overall appearance of South Lake Tahoe creating a desirable community in which to live and visit.

South Lake Tahoe has been looking for ways to make the community more competitive in the market place as well as more attractive. This summer, we are planning to start paving major arteries in our community, not only for safety but to improve the look of our community. The city is actively engaged in every aspect affecting our community including the important reforms in the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency's regional plan update.

As a first step in this endeavor to improve the visual aesthetics of our community over 300 letters were delivered to businesses reminding them of updates to the sign program recently adopted by the City. The new sign ordinance is seeking to upgrade the condition of signs, bring forth modernization and eliminate extraneous signs and banners and posters that clutter our community and degrade its general appearance.

Seeking reform with our business signs has been an objective of the South Lake Tahoe City Council for many years. In October of 2012, revisions to the sign ordinance were adopted by the City Council. The letter recently distributed informed business and property owners that the city is taking steps to implement the current sign ordinance. While there are many measures to be taken, one of the steps is to eliminate banners and sandwich boards which degrade the atheistic appearance of our community. Another approach is to provide incentives to replace signs in the community.

A second initial step in this effort to improve the appearance and appeal of our community will be to focus on the maintenance of refuse receptacles which prevent trash from overflowing on to the ground and surrounding areas and prevent animals from entering. There is no excuse for the amount of trash present on the streets and properties in our neighborhoods.

Clearly, the responsibility for code compliance falls on our business owners and residents. The City staff recognizes this burden and is prepared to work in developing preventive programs to ensure compliance with the City Code. However, incidents of code violations will be liable to citation and fines.

The City Code can be viewed on the City’s web page at www.cityofslt.us.