<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 1-6. - General penalty; continuing violations; ordinance enforcement.</div>
<div class="chunk-content">
            <p class="incr0">
               (a)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               Unless otherwise specifically provided, violation of any provision of this Code or
               any other county ordinance shall subject the offender to the remedies hereinafter
               provided; except, that where the General Statutes of North Carolina provide specific
               civil remedies for violations of provisions of this Code adopted pursuant to such
               statutes, such remedies available to the county for enforcement of this Code shall
               be in addition to the remedies hereinafter stated; provided that no criminal penalties
               shall be applicable unless hereinafter stated in this section as being applicable
               to specific chapters or provisions of this Code.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (b)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               Violations of any provision of the chapters and sections of this Code shall be a misdemeanor
               and punishable as provided by G.S. 14-4.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (c)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               In addition to any civil or criminal penalties set out in this section, any provision
               of this Code or any other county ordinance may be enforced by an appropriate equitable
               remedy issuing from a court of competent jurisdiction. In such case, the general court
               of justice shall have jurisdiction to issue such orders as may be appropriate, and
               it shall not be a defense to the application of the county for equitable relief that
               there is an adequate remedy at law.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (d)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               In addition to any civil or criminal penalties set out in this section, any provision
               of this Code or any other county ordinance that makes unlawful a condition existing
               upon or use made of real property may be enforced by injunction and order of abatement,
               and the general court of justice shall have jurisdiction to issue such orders. When
               a violation of such a provision occurs, the county may apply to the appropriate division
               of the general court of justice for a mandatory or prohibitory injunction and order
               of abatement commanding the defendant to correct the unlawful condition upon or cease
               the unlawful use of the property. The action shall be governed in all respects by
               the laws and rules governing civil proceedings, including the Rules of Civil Procedure
               in general and Rule 65 in particular.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (e)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               In addition to an injunction, the court may enter an order of abatement as a part
               of the judgment in the cause. An order of abatement may direct that:
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (1)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               Buildings or other structures on the property be closed, demolished or removed;
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (2)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               Fixtures, furniture or other movable property be removed from buildings on the property;
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (3)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               Grass and weeds be cut;
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (4)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               Improvements or repairs be made; or
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (5)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               Any other action is taken that is necessary to bring the property into compliance
               with this Code or such ordinance.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="b0">
               If the defendant fails or refuses to comply with an injunction or with an order of
               abatement within the time allowed by the court, he may be cited for contempt, and
               the county may execute the order of abatement. The county shall have a lien on the
               property for the cost of executing an order of abatement in the nature of a mechanic's
               and materialman's lien. The defendant may secure cancellation of an order of abatement
               by paying all costs of the proceedings and posting a bond for compliance with the
               order. The bond shall be given with sureties approved by the clerk of superior court
               in an amount approved by the judge before whom the matter is heard and shall be conditioned
               on the defendant's full compliance with the terms of the order of abatement within
               a time fixed by the judge. Cancellation of an order of abatement shall not suspend
               or cancel an injunction issued in conjunction therewith.
               </p>
            <p class="incr0">
               (f)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               The provisions of this Code and any other county ordinances may be enforced by one,
               all or a combination of the remedies authorized and prescribed by this section, except
               that any provision the violation of which incurs a civil penalty shall not be enforced
               by criminal penalties.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (g)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               Except as otherwise specifically provided, each day's continuing violation of any
               provision of this Code or any other county ordinance shall be a separate and distinct
               offense.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (h)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               Any ordinances hereafter adopted by the board of commissioners, the violation of which
               shall incur a penalty, shall specify whether the enforcement shall be pursuant to
               the civil penalty or criminal penal provisions of this section.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (i)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               Upon determination of a violation of any section of this Code, the penalty for which
               is a civil penalty, the county shall cause a warning citation to be issued to the
               violator, setting out the nature of the violation, the section violated, the date
               of the violation and an order to immediately cease the violation or, if the violation
               is in the nature of an infraction for which an order of abatement would be appropriate
               in a civil proceeding, stating a reasonable period of time in which the violation
               must be abated. The warning citation shall specify that a second citation shall incur
               a civil penalty.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (j)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               Upon failure of the violator to obey the warning citation, a civil citation shall
               be issued by the appropriate county official and either served directly on the violator
               or his duly designated agent, or registered agent if a corporation, in person or posted
               in the United States mail service by first class mail addressed to the last known
               address of the violator as contained in the records of the county, or obtained from
               the violator at the time of issuance of the warning citation. The violator shall be
               deemed to have been served upon the mailing of such citation. The citation shall direct
               the violator to appear before the county treasurer, located in the county hall, within
               15 days of the date of the citation or alternatively to pay the citation by mail.
               The violation for which the citation is issued must have been corrected by the time
               the citation is paid, otherwise, further citations shall be issued. Citations may
               be issued for each day the offense continues until the prohibited activity is ceased
               or abated. If the violator falls to respond to a citation within 15 days of its issuance
               and pay the penalty prescribed therein, the county may institute a civil action in
               the nature of debt in the appropriate division of the state general court of justice
               for the collection of the penalty.
               </p>
            		</div>