A citation is issued when an individual fails to comply with an ordinance. The individual may plead no contest or guilty and pay a pre-set fine, or the individual may plead not guilty and request a court date. A defendant may choose a trial by judge or by jury.

A code violation is a Class C Misdemeanor that can result in a fine. Defendants are not jailed for code violations. However, failure to make an appearance in court as instructed on the citation can result in a failure to appear charge and result in a warrant being issued for the defendant's arrest. An individual can be found guilty of failing to appear even if found innocent of the initial violation in which he or she was charged.