About Orange County Public Administrator
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office’s (OCDA) Special Prosecutions Unit handles high-profile, sensitive cases that require special attention. The unit upholds the professional integrity of licensed professionals, such as doctors and attorneys, in the course of performing their duties. The Special Prosecutions Unit is the primary advisor to the Orange County Grand Jury and reviews officer-involved shootings and custodial death investigations.
How the Special Prosecutions Unit works:
- Investigates and prosecutes individuals who violate public trust or commit criminal violations of state laws that regulate the conduct of elected or appointed public officials and employees, including law enforcement officers, whether on or off duty.
- Lifetime bans from holding public office have been imposed in cases involving corrupt public officials who abused their official positions and violated public trust for personal and/or financial gain.
- Conducts intensive investigations involving government oversight and involve examination of multiple witness interviews and voluminous documentary evidence to oversee local elected governmental bodies to protect, promote, and strengthen transparency and accountability in local, elected, or appointed governmental bodies
- Handles many different topics including hate crimes, perjury, election violations, parole hearings, and arson.
- Files and prosecutes individuals who commit crimes against police officers in its newly formed “Crimes Against Police Officers (CAPO) Unit.
- Works with the Orange County Registrar of Voters during elections and provides an on-call legal team to facilitate a fair election process.
- Handles more than 200 cases per year to prevent premature release of violent felons and committee to state mental institutions to extend the civil commitment of mentally ill individuals.
In order to ensure enforcement of criminal laws when a suspect flees the state, the Unit works with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and foreign governments to coordinate national and international extraditions.
Tips and Resources
Health Violations (All Areas & Municipalities Within Orange County):
Orange County Health Care Agency (714) 433-6000 https://www.ochealthinfo.com/
Unincorporated Areas & Communities of Orange County
(Including Atwood, Coto de Caza, Cowan Heights, Dove Canyon, East Irvine, El Modena, Foothill Ranch, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Canyon, Las Flores, Lemon Heights, Midway City, Modjeska Canyon, Monarch Beach, North Laguna Hills, North Tustin, Olinda, Olive, Orange Hills, Orange Park Acres, Portola Hills, Rossmoor, Santa Ana Heights, Santiago Canyon, Silverado Canyon, South Laguna, Sunset Beach, Trabuco Canyon, Trabuco Highlands, Tustin Foothills, and West Anaheim).
Orange County Code Enforcement (866) 552-8120 www.ocplanning.net/default.asp
Orange County Fire Authority (714) 573-6000 https://www.ocfa.org
Municipalities in Orange County (Listed Alphabetically):
Incorporated City |
Aliso Viejo |
Anaheim |
Brea |
Buena Park |
Costa Mesa |
Cypress |
Dana Point |
Fountain Valley |
Fullerton |
Garden Grove |
Huntington Beach |
Irvine |
Laguna Beach |
Laguna Hills |
Laguna Niguel |
Laguna Woods |
Lake Forest |
La Habra |
La Palma |
Los Alamitos |
Mission Viejo |
Newport Beach |
Orange |
Placentia |
Rancho Santa Margarita |
San Clemente |
San Juan Capistrano |
Santa Ana |
Seal Beach |
Stanton |
Tustin |
Villa Park |
Westminster |
Yorba Linda |
General Information |
949-425-2500 |
714-765-4311 |
714-990-7600 |
714-562-3500 |
714-754-5000 |
714-229-6700 |
949-248-3500 |
714-593-4400 |
714-738-5338 |
714-741-5000 |
714-536-5265 |
949-724-6000 |
949-497-3311 |
949-707-2600 |
949-362-4300 |
949-639-0500 |
949-461-3400 |
562-905-9700 |
714-690-3300 |
562-431-3538 |
949-470-3000 |
949-644-3309 |
714-744-5500 |
714-993-8117 |
949-635-1800 |
949-361-8200 |
949-493-1171 |
714-647-5400 |
562-431-2527 |
714-379-9222 |
714-573-3000 |
714-998-1500 |
714-898-3311 |
714-961-7100 |
Code Enforcement |
949-425-2543 |
714-765-5158 |
714-990-7139 |
714-562-3629 |
714-754-5625 |
714-229-6726 |
949-248-3564 |
714-593-4444 |
714-738-6553 |
714-741-5358 |
714-375-5155 |
949-724-6326 |
949-497-0301 |
949-707-2662 |
949-362-4360 |
949-639-0522 |
949-461-3474 |
562-905-9694 |
714-690-3342 |
562-431-3538 x304 |
949-470-3055 |
949-644-3213 |
714-744-7244 |
714-993-8124 |
949-635-1800 x6703 |
949-361-6100 |
949-443-6341 |
714-667-2780 |
562-431-2527 x1327 |
714-379-9222 x220 |
714-573-3134 |
714-998-1500 |
714-898-3311 x256 |
714-961-7138 |
Fire Prevention |
714-573-6000 |
714-765-4000 |
714-990-7655 |
714-573-6000 |
714-327-7400 |
714-573-6000 |
714-573-6000 |
714-593-4436 |
714-738-6500 |
714-741-5600 |
714-536-5411 |
714-573-6000 |
949-497-0700 |
714-573-6000 |
714-573-6000 |
714-573-6000 |
714-573-6000 |
562-691-4692 |
714-573-6000 |
714-573-6000 |
714-573-6000 |
949-644-3106 |
714-288-2541 |
714-573-6000 |
714-573-6000 |
714-573-6000 |
714-573-6000 |
714-647-5700 |
714-573-6000 |
714-573-6000 |
714-573-6000 |
714-573-6000 |
714-573-6000 |
714-573-6000 |
City Website |
Special Prosecutions
Consumer and Environmental Protection
Code Enforcement
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting public safety and preserving the quality of life in our community through civil abatement and criminal prosecution of state law and county ordinance violations related to substandard conditions, fire hazards, public health, and area nuisances.
The Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit's (EPU) Code Enforcement Division provides direct enforcement support for violations occurring in unincorporated areas of Orange County and assists local municipalities on complex code matters. The Code Enforcement Division resolves most violations by administrative action and/or through office conferences. Formal criminal actions are usually reserved for matters involving life safety or where timely regulatory compliance is not forthcoming.
How to Report
To report an emergency jeopardizing life or property anywhere in Orange County, call 9-1-1.
For all non-emergency code violations involving;
- Substandard conditions
- Unpermitted structures
- Public health concerns
- Property maintenance
- Ongoing nuisance
- You should contact the Code Enforcement Division for your respective area, depending upon whether the violation is occurring in a particular city or an unincorporated area of Orange County.
A reference list of most code enforcement resources throughout Orange County can be found on the Resources page of this website.
Common Violations
- Unpermitted construction
- Grading, and lack of property maintenance
- Unlicensed business and similar regulated activities
- Interference with utilities and public lands
- Substandard residential, commercial, or nuisance properties
More serious matters relate to;
- Fire concerns such as brush clearance, smoke detection and fire prevention
- Environmental issues such as water quality, streambed alteration, illegal dumping, substandard health conditions, and other hazardous circumstances that threaten life and/or property.
Parole Hearings
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) fights against the release of dangerous felons from prison into the community to protect victims’ rights and public safety. When the California Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections notifies the OCDA that an inmate is due to be paroled, an experienced prosecutor reviews the case, and when appropriate, drafts a Letter of Opposition, may conduct multiple hearings, and advocates for victims of crime, whether they are present or absent.
The OCDA participates in approximately 200 parole hearings each year.
- Prosecutors attend hearings in person to advocate for the Board of Parole Hearings to deny the release of dangerous inmates into the community, and 77 percent were denied in 2017.
- The rest are opposed through video conferencing.
Over 90 percent of these parole hearings are for inmates in prison for murder. Many of these dangerous inmates maintain that they were wrongfully convicted, fail to show remorse or accept the gravity of their crimes, commit new crimes, and fail to follow rules, even in a structured prison environment. If parole is denied, the inmate may renew a request for consideration in three to 15 years.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office remains committed to keeping violent, recidivist criminals behind bars to protect our communities. Despite the OCDA’s strenuous opposition in the appropriate cases, we are seeing an increase in the early release of murderers, rapists and other violent offenders. We will continue to advocate against their release and giving a voice to victims to protect them and the community at large.
Hate Crimes
Hate crime laws prohibit the use or threat of force or the destruction of property by any individual to intimidate, interfere with, oppress, or threaten any other person in exercising any right secured by the U.S. Constitution or state or federal laws based on “race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender or disability.” In addition, any felony or attempted felony that is “substantially motivated” by such factors is subject to a sentencing enhancement for up to four additional years in state prison. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office also works closely with anti-hate groups including the Anti-Defamation League and the Orange County Human Relations Commission to foster acceptance and understanding in order to ensure that all people are treated fairly, equally, and free from discrimination.
FAQ'S
Citizen code violation complaints are referred to the appropriate municipality, health department, fire authority, or County code enforcement officer who will confirm whether or not a violation exists, determine the severity of the condition, and initiate a case where appropriate. In most cases where a violation is confirmed, the owner, person in possession or control, or other responsible party is notified of the violation and asked to take immediate corrective action.
The goal in almost every code enforcement case is voluntary compliance in the most timely and efficient manner possible. After an initial violation notice is issued, code enforcement officers will re-inspect for compliance and, where violations remain uncorrected, may issue civil citations (fines), initiate abatement of the violation at the expense of the property owner, record liens and other documents against the property, refer the matter for civil litigation, and/or request the filing of criminal charges by the OCDA which could result in the imposition of fines and/or jail.
Code enforcement officials can explain the alleged violations, discuss resolution options, and work with you in obtaining necessary permits and scheduling compliance inspections. Likewise, the OCDA usually seeks voluntary resolution wherever possible and initiates court proceedings only in the most serious cases or where timely compliance is not forthcoming.
In most cases, all you have to do is obtain necessary permits and correct the illegal condition and/or contact your assigned code enforcement officer to discuss resolution of your case. Persons who do not respond to code enforcement notices may be subject to civil fines, legal actions, and/or referred to the District Attorney’s Office for prosecution. If the District Attorney’s Office is unable to resolve matters and decides to proceed with a criminal case, criminal charges may be filed on the property owner, manager, tenant, or other “responsible party.”