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Code Enforcement
Reminder from the Code Enforcement Department:
The Code Enforcement Department reminds all property (residential, non-residential, and vacant) owners and occupants that the Douglas County Litter Ordinance requires all areas of the properties to be kept free of litter and debris. In the instances of commercial and non-residential properties, this includes parking lot areas with discarded bottles, cans, cigarette butts, cups and other instances and forms of litter. The Code Enforcement does recommend a daily inspection of the property by all responsible parties in the clearing and removing of litter to possibly avoid the issuance of citations by the Code Enforcement Department.
Responsibilities
All properties located in Unincorporated Douglas County are required to be in compliance with the codes contained in the Douglas County Unified Development Code, the Douglas County Code of Ordinances, and the International Property Maintenance Code. The Code Enforcement Department ensures properties are in compliance with these codes, and is responsible for issuing citations and court summonses for violations.
The Code Enforcement Department also removes illegal signage in unincorporated Douglas County rights-of-way, and the Chief Code Enforcement Officer also issues all required sign permits for signs in unincorporated Douglas County.
Sign Permits
April 2023 Statement Regarding Sign Permit Applications:
The Code Enforcement Department continues to receive a large number of incomplete and incorrect sign permit applications, with applicants also not making the required changes for the applications to reviewed further. Due to this issue, the Code Enforcement Department will be investigating all properties with denied sign permit applications throughout unincorporated Douglas County and issuing citations for signs found to be installed or displayed without Douglas County issued sign permits. As the Code Enforcement department continues to monitor the outstanding permit applications while processing the new and incoming sign permit applications, we will process the new applications as quickly and efficiently as possible. Reviewing the ‘application instruction guide’, ‘sign permit requirements’, and applicable overlay district code sections prior to submittal will result in easier and quicker approval times for your customers. Code review and due diligence is the responsibility of the applicant.
If you currently have a denied sign permit application on file through ePlan Solutions, the County recommends: 1) logging into the application project, 2) reviewing the County’s comments needed to correct the errors, 3) correcting the errors, and 4) updating the project. The Code Enforcement Department is working diligently to get through the large number of resubmittals as quickly as possible.
Application Process
Electronic Files for Sign Permits
Douglas County will accept electronic files for review for the purpose of obtaining a sign permit. ePlan Solutions is providing the digital platform for the exchange of information. For information on how to electronically file, please see the ePlan Solution - Douglas County Sign Review. A short step-by-step guide (Application Instruction Guide (PDF)) is also available. Should you have any questions, email ePlan Solutions or call 678-898-0610.
Applicant Responsibility
Applicants should review the Douglas County Sign Ordinance, any zoning overlay districts for additional signage requirements as well as the Sign Permit Requirements document (DOCX). The sign permit applicant is solely responsible for the due diligence for code review prior to submitting a sign permit application.
Douglas County Code Enforcement Responsibility
The Code Enforcement Department is responsible for application review, application approval or denial, and, if denied, for providing necessary information for changes required to obtain approval. The Douglas County Code Enforcement Department may not make any changes to the sign permit application on behalf of the applicant.
Applications submitted incompletely or with incorrect information shall be denied and will need to be re-submitted correctly. Sign permit application denials will create additional time for review by the County, and all correspondence between Douglas County Code Enforcement and the applicant shall be conducted through the ePlan Solutions communication environment. Contacting the Code Enforcement Department outside the ePlan Solutions environment does not quicken the application process.