Buying house unknowingly with violations

[Francis Rusnak]

Can you unknowingly buy a house with violations on it that stick with the house? 

Maybe we've just been lucky so far, but we never got a house with any violations on it. We've had unpaid utility bills with one of our houses, but those stick with the individual luckily. 

I was told by our lawyer that having clear title doesn't make it certain you won't get a house without any violations. Title insurance only protects against liens, but if it's violations before they've turned into liens that's where it could be an issue. He said that was our responsibility to find out if there are violations. 

How do you guys make sure the houses you buy don't have violations on them? Is it not the responsibility of the lawyer or agent to find this out; or I thought the city/village would have to disclose that when releasing over the transfer stamp.