Sec. 1013. (a) When the legislative body provides penalties for failure to comply with any ordinance adopted under this chapter, the municipal attorney or an attorney representing the county, as the case may be, shall, on receipt of information of the violation of any ordinance, make an investigation of the alleged violation. If acts elicited by the investigation are sufficient to establish a reasonable belief that a violation has occurred on the part of the party investigated, the municipal attorney or an attorney representing the county may file a complaint against the person and prosecute the alleged violation under IC 36-1-6.

(b) The plan commission or a board of zoning appeals may request the prosecuting attorney of the county to take appropriate action in any case involving the violation of any ordinance or regulation adopted under this chapter.

(c) The plan commission may appoint one (1) or more attorneys to advise the planning staff and to assist in the enforcement of any ordinances and regulations adopted under this chapter. Subject to the 400 series of this chapter, an area plan commission may employ one (1) attorney on a full-time basis so that the attorney can become fully informed on the specialized law of planning, zoning, and subdivision control.

(d) The services of attorneys appointed by the plan commission under subsection (c) shall be made available without extra compensation to the prosecuting attorney in all cases involving ordinances or regulations adopted under this chapter. The attorneys may be deputized to act for and under the direction of the prosecuting attorney.

(e) In civil actions for the enforcement of ordinances or regulations adopted under this chapter, an attorney appointed by the plan commission may bring an action in the name of the plan commission.

[Pre-Local Government Recodification Citations: 18-7-2-83 part; 18-7-4-1013; 18-7-4-90 part; 18-7-5-94 part.]

As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.23. Amended by P.L.137-1989, SEC.16; P.L.126-2011, SEC.34.