Code Enforcement-Steps For Non-compliance

       Code Enforcement Steps for Non-Compliance

• Step One- Identify the Nuisance - It shall be unlawful and considered a nuisance for the owner or occupant of a residential building, structure, or property to utilize the premises of such residential property for the open storage of any inoperable or unlicensed vehicle including boat or trailer, appliances, glass, building material or rubbish, trash, garbage, etc. It shall be the duty and responsibility of every such owner or occupant to keep the premises of such residential property clean and to remove from the premises and alleyway any such abandoned or stored items as listed above, including but not limited to weeds and or high grass exceeding 12 inches in height, dead trees, limbs, wood, etc. upon notice of Code Enforcement.
• Step Two- Issue the Notice - It shall be the duty of the code enforcement officer or his designee to serve or cause to be served a notice upon the owner or occupant of any premise on which a nuisance of the nature described in section 1 exists and to demand the abatement of the nuisance within 10 days. Written notice posted on the premises shall be sufficient notice to the owner if the address of the owner is unknown.
• Step Three- Issue Citation- The city reserves the right to issue citations due to non-compliance of the notice of violation issued from the finding of the code enforcement officer.
• Step Four- Abatement to be performed by the City - If the person so served, does not abate "cleanup" such nuisance within the 10 days allotted the City may proceed to remove such nuisance, keeping an account of the expense of the cleanup, and such expense shall be charged and paid by such owner or occupant. The city may perform the cleanup itself or hire a contractor to perform the cleanup. The City Of Zephyrhills will assess an additional $100 to the actual cost of the cleanup for administrative process. The city reserves the right to issue citations in addition or in lieu of abatement.
• Step Five- File Lien - Charges for such abatement may be a lien upon the premises. Whenever a bill for such charges remains unpaid for up to 30 days after it has been received; The City Manager or designee may file with the records of deeds of Pasco County, a statement of lien claim. This statement shall contain a legal description of the property, the expenses and costs incurred the date the nuisance was abated and a notice that the city claims a lien for this amount. 

For all ordinances please refer to the American Legal Publishing.