CHECK YOUR PROPERTY
STRUCTURES
Repair rotted wood, broken or missing boards, siding or shingles and make all exterior parts weather tight, rodent proof and sound. Exteriors must be resistant to water and be covered with paint, siding, or brick that is in good condition. Inspect:
. exterior walls
. roof parts including rafters, soffit, fascia, roof covering
. railings on stairs, elevated landings and porches
. fences (should be in good repair and legal height)
Keep housing safe, sanitary, in good repair and sound condition. Inspect both interior and exterior
. walls, ceilings, floors
. plumbing pipes and fixtures
. windows and screens
Make sure that:
. address numbers are permanently attached to the house and clearly visible from the street and alley.
. garbage is properly disposed of.
. there are no areas where stagnant water collects and breeds mosquitoes.
YARD MAINTENANCE
. Mow the lawn so that grass is six inches or less in height.
. Edge or remove growth from sidewalks, curb lines, gutters.
BULK TRASH
. Bulk trash in Sailboat Bend is the second Tuesday of each month
. The City has a Bulk Trash Program and Special Bulk pickup service for residential customers who pay for garbage service provided by the City. Bulk trash information is available by calling 771-0880.
. Place bulk trash on your curb or swale no more than 24 hours in advance of your regularly scheduled pickup day. Putting bulk trash out more than 24 hours in advance could result in receiving a citation from the City.
STORAGE
. Store furniture, building materials, junk, disabled or untagged automobiles, refrigerators, freezers and auto parts inside of a legally constructed, fully enclosed structure.
. No parking of commercial equipment (boat and trailer, utility trailer, camper, recreational vehicle) is permitted on the street or the City right-of-way. Some storage may be permitted in private yards under special conditions. Check with the Community Inspections Bureau for details.
PAVING/PARKING
. Driveways, steps, sidewalks and other paved areas must be in good repair and free of debris
. Vehicles and motorcycles in front yards must be parked on a legally recognized and approved parking surface
. Commercial vehicles and equipment may not be parked or stored in a residential zoned area between the hours of 9:00pm and 6:00am.
BUSINESS ACTIVITIES
Home occupations (any business conducted from your home) must be property licensed and must meet strict criteria. No traffic or outside display may occur and the occupation must be clearly secondary to the use of the property as a home.
RENTAL PROPERTY
. Rental property owners with three or more units must have:
. A Certificate of Occupancy and Occupational License.
. A Designated Legal Rental Agent form filed with the Community Inspections Bureau. A Property Manager must be designated.
TOP 10 CODE VIOLATIONS
1. YARD MAINTENANCE STANDARDS
Yard maintenance standards are the responsibility of every property owner and include the maintenance of plant material in any right-of-way abutting the property. On a corner lot, no fences, walls, hedges or planting shall be erected or maintained to a height exceeding thirty (30) inches above the crown of the roadway within twenty-five (25) feet of the intersection of the front and side street property lines. Vegetation and trees must be trimmed so as not to impair vision or obstruct the travel of motorists.
2. INOPERATIVE MOTOR VEHICLES
Inoperative motor vehicles cannot be stored except in a fully enclosed structure that was constructed with a permit. An inoperative vehicle is a vehicle that does not display a current license tag and/or is not equipped with all parts that are required to legally and safely operate on public streets and/or cannot be driven under its own power (whether or not designed for use on the public streets).
3. JUNK, TRASH AND DEBRIS
Junk, trash and debris cannot be left in the yard and must be properly disposed of. This includes junk, auto parts, appliances, furniture, building materials, tires, trash such as discarded paper, cardboard, plastics, etc; and debris such as tree trimmings and fallen limbs.
4. PARKING
Parking is permitted for passenger cars and motorcycles in residential lots only on a legal driveway or in a garage. A drive or parking area must be constructed with approved parking surfaces. There are limits to the amount of yard area that can be used for a driveway or parking. Check with the Planning and Zoning Division (761-5203) for more information about legally recognized parking areas.
5. COMMERCIAL EQUIPMENT
Generally, commercial equipment and commercial vehicles may not be parked or stored in a residential area unless they are within a fully enclosed structure that was constructed with a permit.
6. MAINTENANCE OF COMMERCIAL STRUCTURE
All exterior building structures and walls shall be maintained in a secure and attractive manner. All defective structural and decorative elements of such building facade(s) shall be repaired or replaced in a workmanlike manner, to match as closely as possible the original materials and construction of the building
7. CONDITION OF STRUCTURES
The maintenance of a structure is the responsibility of the property owner. Any wood, siding, shingles, roof covering, railings, fences, walls, ceilings, porches, doors, windows and screens, and other exterior parts of a structure must be maintained in weather tight, rodent proof, sound condition and good repair. The property owner is responsible for maintaining secure windows, doors or other openings that cannot be readily opened from the outside. An owner may need to board up a vacant structure if a break-in occurs. Security boards should be made of exterior grade plywood painted in a neutral color that blends inconspicuously with the exterior colors of the building.
8. OUTDOOR STORAGE
Outdoor storage is prohibited. Generally, any equipment, materials, or furnishings that would ordinarily not be used outdoors may not be stored outdoors. For example, you may not keep indoor furniture, household appliances, auto parts, or building materials outside.
9. ILLEGAL DWELLING UNITS
Dwelling units that have been added to the interior or the exterior of a structure without proper permits are illegal, regardless of how long the units have existed. The City will require closure of such illegal units
10. PROHIBITED BUSINESSES
Most businesses are not allowed to operate in residential areas as they disrupt residents and the community. This means that car and boat repairs, construction of cabinets and furniture, and other activities that are not normally carried on in a residential district are prohibited. Remember, engaging in a business requires an occupational license.
DID YOU KNOW?
. The most common violations are the illegal parking of inoperable vehicles and failure to clean up junk and rubbish.
. The Community Inspections Bureau offers a Pre-Sale Survey. - This survey is a service provided by the City of Fort Lauderdale consisting of an on-site inspection of a building and research of the Building Department's records. Visible code violations, alterations to the original floor plans, and structural work performed without permits are noted after a comparison with the property's permit and microfilm history. Prospective buyers and sellers should call 761-5207 for more information.
. Any structural repairs, new fences, most plumbing and electrical work, driveway installations, and even removal of certain trees can require a permit from the City. Please call 761-5191 for more information.
. The City can eliminate unsafe buildings or structures through demolition under the South Florida Building Code.
. The City can board up vacant buildings that are open at the doors and windows after the required legal notification is made to the owner.
. The City can clean and clear vacant lots after the required legal notification is made to the owner. (City Ordinance Section)
. The City performs routine fire inspections....(what to inspect, how often, why)
