FERNDALE — The City Council was scheduled to consider second readings Oct. 21 of two ordinances that would expand the city’s enforcement tools: one establishing administrative citations for local ordinance violations and another replacing Ferndale’s 2005 animal-control rules.
Under proposed Ordinance 2026-04, administrative citations would be a discretionary, civil enforcement option available alongside warnings, correction orders, nuisance abatement, civil actions and criminal enforcement where authorized. The proposed default maximum fine would be $100 for a first violation, $200 for a second violation of the same ordinance within one year and $500 for each additional violation of the same ordinance within one year.
The proposal would require payment within 30 days unless the recipient requested a hearing within 14 days and deposited the fine or received a hardship waiver. A person unable to make the advance deposit could seek a waiver within 10 days. Hearings would be conducted by a hearing officer designated by the city manager, who could uphold, cancel or modify a citation, fine or correction order. The ordinance also provides for lawful collection of unpaid fines and judicial review.
For certain continuing building, plumbing, electrical, structural or zoning violations that do not pose an immediate health or safety danger, the proposed code would require a reasonable correction period before fines are imposed, generally no longer than 120 days unless a longer period is required by law.
The second proposal, Ordinance 2026-05, would repeal Ordinance 05-06, adopted in 2005, and replace it with updated animal-control regulations. The proposed code addresses dog licensing and rabies vaccination, animals at large, bites, barking and other nuisance animals, animal waste, cruelty and neglect, tethering, animals left in vehicles, impoundment, and dangerous and vicious dogs.
The proposal designates the chief of police as the city’s Animal Control Officer and generally routes animal-control complaints through the Police Department. Dogs older than 4 months would generally need a license and current rabies vaccination, and dogs off their owners’ premises would have to remain under effective control; the proposed maximum leash length is 6 feet. The ordinance would also allow administrative citations, infractions and, where authorized, misdemeanor prosecution, as well as recovery of qualifying animal-control and enforcement costs.
The council unanimously advanced both ordinances from first reading to second-reading consideration on Sept. 16, according to the packet. The available materials do not establish whether either ordinance passed Oct. 21, whether amendments were adopted or when any rules would take effect. The city also has not provided expected citation volume, implementation staffing or final fee schedules in the materials reviewed.
