§ 15-29. Service of violation citations.

(a)

Except as provided for in subsection (f) of this section, a violation citation shall be served personally or by certified or registered mail upon the person, firm, corporation, or proprietary party deemed by the officer to be violating the provisions of this article; provided, however, that if such person, firm, or corporation is not the owner of the land or the structure in which violation is deemed to exist or to have occurred, a copy of the citation shall be sent by certified or registered mail to the owner of such land or structure with the owner to be determined from the tax roll for the preceding year in the office of the Tax Assessor of St. Mary Parish. The date of mailing shall be deemed the date of service of any citation or order served by certified or registered mail or personally upon the occupant of the property who is present at the time of service. If the occupant is not so served, or is not present, the violation citation shall be served upon the recorded owner of the property.

(b)

The original violation citation shall bear the name or initials, title and contact number of the issuing officer, who shall affirm the truth of the facts set forth therein.

(c)

In the event that the violation citation is refused by either occupant or owner of the property on which the violation is located, this fact shall be duly noted on the original and all copies of the citation.

(d)

The original and all copies of a citation shall constitute a business record of the parish, and shall constitute prima facie evidence that the citation was issued and that an attempt at service thereof was made in accordance with the provisions of this article.

(e)

Notice of one co-owner by any method shall be deemed to be notice to all other co-owners.

(f)

Absentee or unknown owners. If the owner of the property is unknown and cannot be ascertained, or if attempts to serve notice of violation and citation by certified or registered mail or personal service have been unsuccessful, notice of the nature and location of the violation shall be published once in the official journal of the parish or in a daily newspaper in general circulation in the geographical area of the parish of which the violation exists and such publication shall be deemed to be notice to the owner of the property upon which the violation is found to occur. Notice to one co-owner by any method shall be deemed to be notice to all other co-owners.

(Ord. No. 1759, § 4, 3-14-07)