A. Notices may be personally served on a Responsible Person. When an Enforcement Officer issues an Administrative Compliance Order or an Administrative Citation in the presence of a Responsible Person, that Responsible Person shall be asked to sign the order or citation to acknowledge receipt. A Responsible Person’s failure or refusal to sign an order or citation shall not affect its validity.

B. Notices may be mailed to the Responsible Person by certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested. Simultaneously, the same notice may be sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid. If a notice sent by certified mail is returned unclaimed, service by first-class mail shall nevertheless be effective if that mail is not returned. Notices may be sent via electronic mail, where the email address is known.

C. The Enforcement Officer may post notice on the property where the violation occurred in a conspicuous place, when the Responsible Person resides at an unknown address. A copy of the notice shall be also be sent to the owner of the property where the violation occurred, at the address shown on the County’s last property tax assessment rolls by certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested.

D. If an Administrative Compliance Order or Administrative Citation is issued for a Code violation by a business or other organization, and if the Responsible Person is not the sole owner of that business or other organization, a copy of the order or citation shall also be personally delivered or shall be sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the owner or director of that business or other organization, as may be revealed by the Enforcement Officer’s reasonable investigation.

E. If an Administrative Compliance Order or an Administrative Citation is issued for a Code violation existing on real property, and if the Responsible Person is not shown in the official records of the County of Marin as the sole owner in fee simple of the real property, a copy of the order or citation shall also be personally delivered or shall be sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to any owners of interests in that property that may be affected by the violation, at the address shown on the last equalized County assessment roll, and at such other address as may be revealed by the Enforcement Officer’s reasonable investigation.

F. If the Enforcement Officer does not succeed in serving the Responsible Person personally, and if the Enforcement Officer’s reasonable investigation reveals no home or business address for the Responsible Person, and if the violation does not consist of any condition of real property, the Enforcement Officer shall cause the notice to be published once a week for four (4) successive weeks in a local newspaper that is published at least once per week.

G. Service of any notice in accordance with these requirements may be proven by declaration or affidavit. Service is complete upon personal delivery, upon deposit with the United States Postal Service, or upon completion of publication pursuant to this Section. Failure of any person with an interest in the Administrative Compliance Order or Administrative Citation to receive a properly served notice shall not affect the validity of any proceedings under this Chapter.