Code Enforcement

The Ephrata City Council has established codes and ordinances to ensure that our city is kept beautiful. These codes and ordinances protect the health, safety, and quality of life for Ephrata residents, businesses, and visitors.

The Community Development Department and the Ephrata Police Department share the enforcement of municipal codes. 

All Municipal Codes are available here on the city's website. 


Complaints

If citizens feel these municipal codes are being violated they should contact appropriate department to advise of a possible code violation. Examples of the violations are overgrown lots, abandoned vehicles on private property, accumulation of junk, and any other nuisances that make the City look shoddy or unkempt. Violations of this type and Civil Code Violations such as business license violations, building code violations, and zoning violations are enforced through the Community Development Department. Please complete the Code Violation Complaint form.

Once reported, the matter will be investigated. If it is found to be a valid violation, the Code Enforcement Officer will begin the process of getting the violation corrected. The amount of time it takes for a violation to be corrected varies with each situation.

If you would like an update on the progress of the case, please contact the Code Enforcement Officer. If the problem reoccurs after having been corrected, please report the problem again.

Some code violations should be reported directly to the Police Department through MACC at 509-762-1160. These violations are noise and animal complaints, such as barking dogs and dog running at large,  as well as abandoned or junk vehicles parked on city streets or blocking the right of way.