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Fresno board affirms code enforcement citation over unpermitted work

Fresno board affirms code enforcement citation over unpermitted work

Rule Changes Fresno, CA local

The board affirmed the August 21 citation on October 20 and set a December 15 progress hearing to check the repairs

October 20th, 2026: Citation appeal heard; staff urged confirmation

Overview

Updated Nov 1

Fresno's Building Standards Appeals Board affirmed the city's August 21 citation against four limited partnerships over unpermitted siding at 2220 N. Weber Ave. and 1827 W. Clinton Ave. At the October 20 hearing, the owners' representative told the board the permits had since been issued and the original violations corrected.

The city cited seven violations in an April 9 notice and the board confirmed them at a June 2 hearing. The board doubled fines and costs at an August progress hearing, then set a December 15 hearing to check the outstanding siding work.

Why it matters

City rules give Fresno property owners 30 days to fix confirmed violations; cases left unresolved can end in doubled fines and added costs.

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Key Indicators

1
Citation affirmed October 20
The board affirmed the August 21, 2026 First Administrative Citation over the unpermitted siding.
7
Violations cited in April order
The Notice and Order listed seven violations. The one still outstanding at the October 20 hearing was exterior siding replaced without permits.
2x
Fines doubled on August 4
The board found no substantial progress at the August 4 progress hearing and ordered fines and costs doubled.
30
Days to correct violations after board order
The option the board took orders the owners to repair the confirmed violation within 30 days of the October 20 vote. A December 15 progress hearing follows.

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People Involved

SP
Sarah A. Papazian
Senior deputy city attorney preparing staff reports for the Building Standards Appeals Board
Wrote the staff report for the October 20 hearing; the board confirmed the citation that day
IA
Inspector Amparo
Fresno community revitalization specialist who opened the case
Inspector whose records checks and photographs underlie the citation
 Bryce Hovannisian
Bryce Hovannisian
Appellant representative for the property-owning partnerships
Requested the appeal of the August 21, 2026 citation on behalf of BDHOV Limited Partnership and related partnerships

Organizations Involved

Fresno Building Standards Appeals Board
Fresno Building Standards Appeals Board
City administrative board
Confirmed the August 21, 2026 citation at its October 20, 2026 hearing

Appointed body that hears Fresno code enforcement appeals involving building standards.

Timeline

May 2025 October 2026

10 events Latest: October 20th, 2026 · 3 weeks ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Citation appeal heard; staff urged confirmation

    Latest Legal

    City staff recommended confirming the August 21 citation and ordering repairs within 30 days. The board confirmed the citation at the same hearing.

  2. Board affirms August 21 citation and sets December 15 progress hearing

    Legal

    The board affirmed the citation over the unpermitted siding and set a progress hearing for December 15, 2026. The owners' representative told the board the required permits had since been issued and the violations corrected.

  3. Permit activity begins, weeks after citation

    Enforcement

    City staff say the owners made a negligible effort to get permits and only started on September 9, more than two weeks after the citation.

  4. Owners appeal the citation

    Legal

    Property owners filed an appeal of the August 21 citation, arguing they were actively working on the permit.

  5. First Administrative Citation issued

    Enforcement

    City issues a citation for the same property, starting a new appeal round.

  6. Progress hearing: fines doubled

    Legal

    Board found the owners had made no substantial progress in two months and ordered fines and costs doubled.

  7. Board confirms violations

    Legal

    Board finds all seven violations present, one uncorrected; sets a progress hearing.

  8. Notice and Order issued

    Enforcement

    City cites seven violations, including exterior siding replaced without permits; cure deadline April 27.

  9. Case opened after inspector visit

    Investigation

    Inspector Amparo finds seven violations at the Weber and Clinton property during a visit for another complaint.

  10. Fresno creates Building Standards Appeals Board

    Institutional

    City establishes the board by Resolution 2025-149 to hear building-standard appeals.

Scenarios

1

Fresno board upholds citation, orders repairs

Deadline passed (Oct 28, 2026)

Discussed by: City staff report and prior board findings

The board has confirmed violations at every prior stage of the case. It likely confirms the August 21 citation and orders the appellant to fix the violations within 30 days, then sets a progress hearing to check completion.

2

Fresno board dismisses citation in procedural win for owner

Deadline passed (Oct 28, 2026)

Discussed by: Fresno Municipal Code appeal rules, which put the burden of proof on the city

The city must show each violation is more likely true than not, and the appeal is limited to the citation and the grounds raised. If the city's evidence is thin or the citation process had defects, the board could dismiss it.

3

Weber Avenue fines double after owner fails to correct

Possible Resolves by Dec 5, 2026

Discussed by: Fresno Municipal Code section 1-409(f)

If the board confirms the citation and the owner does not correct violations within the ordered 30 days, a later progress hearing can order payment of double the maximum fines plus allowable costs and fees.

4

Owners miss the 30-day repair deadline

Possible Resolves by Nov 19, 2026

Discussed by: Fresno's progress-hearing process in case E26-04602

The board ordered the siding violation corrected within 30 days of the October 20 affirmation and set a progress hearing for December 15, 2026. If the work stalls, that hearing is where the board would weigh penalties; it ordered doubled fines and costs at a progress hearing in August 2026.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1970s

New York City housing abandonment (1970s)

In the 1970s, thousands of New York City landlords walked away from buildings rather than pay rising costs and fix code violations. The city took title through tax foreclosure and became landlord to tens of thousands of units.

Then

The city seized, managed, or demolished abandoned buildings at large scale.

Now

New York City ended up owning a vast housing stock and later shifted many buildings to tenant cooperatives and community groups.

Why this matters now

Shows the end of the ladder Fresno is climbing: cities escalate from fines toward ownership when owners refuse to fix violations.

2005

Kelo v. City of New London (2005)

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that New London, Connecticut could seize homes for private economic development. The decision touched off a national backlash and state legislative limits on eminent domain.

Then

The planned development never happened; the seized land stayed vacant.

Now

Many states tightened eminent domain laws, and property-rights advocates gained lasting political momentum.

Why this matters now

Captures the same friction between municipal power and property owners that this Fresno case shows in administrative form and at a smaller scale.

Sources

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City of Fresno City of Fresno tldrgov CMAC Fresno/Clovis HeyFresno City of Fresno Govly City of Fresno City of Fresno