Aaaaaaand. This is why you don't live in a city! This is not a question of property rights. There is no property ownership any more that is respected. Only access rights (to physically be present on the location) but there are few rights to USE of that property that are not held by the government making governments the defacto owners. Even rural lands will have blanket zoning and state wide limits like building codes and water use laws. That city owns this man's land and home in fact and these fines are proof. He is a serf just like you and I. If you want to know more go read about Allodial Title land and land patents.