A complaint is a sworn allegation charging a person with the commission of an offense under either state law or a city’s ordinance. As a general rule, anyone who is acquainted with the facts of an alleged offense may file a complaint in municipal court alleging a violation of a state law or city ordinance. Accordingly, if a code enforcement official or code enforcement officer did not see or witness the alleged offense, a citizen must file a complaint. In order for the court to act upon a complaint, the complaint must be sworn to before any officer authorized to administer oaths, including the municipal judge, clerk or deputy clerk of the court, city secretary, city attorney or deputy city attorney.