Civil Citation Program Launched to Expedite Code Compliance

Published on October 01, 2023

The City is pleased to announce a new code compliance program designed to expedite the process for rectifying code violations. The City Commission adopted Ordinance 21-21 last June providing for civil code compliance citations. Much like a police officer, Code Compliance Inspectors will now be able to issue Civil Citations (tickets) to address code violations.

While Dunedin proudly boasts a high voluntary compliance rate, there are instances where individuals and/or entities choose to continue unlawful action. The only process available to remedy such actions is a lengthy procedural legal process that is often frustrating to those that reside near the violation.

The newly adopted citation process will complement this current process while providing an expedited route to compliance. The citation process is aimed at addressing transient violations including but not limited to boats, trailers, snipe signs, flutter flags, short-term rentals and other similar violations that are readily mitigated.

This new process does not replace the current Code Enforcement Board (CEB) process but provides the Inspectors with an additional tool that is envisioned to assure compliance in an expedited manner. The City code compliance inspector  is now empowered to issue citations to a person when, based upon personal investigation, the code compliance inspector has reasonable cause to believe that a person has committed an act in violation of a duly enacted city code or ordinance.

Prior to issuing a citation, a code compliance inspector shall inform the person of the city code or ordinance violation and shall establish a reasonable time period within which the person must correct the violation. Such time period would not exceed 30 days.

Upon personal investigation, if a code compliance inspector finds that the person has not corrected the violation within the time period provided, the code compliance inspector may issue a citation to the person who has committed the violation.

The code compliance inspector may immediately issue a citation if a repeat violation is found or if the code compliance inspector has reason to believe that the violation presents a serious threat to the public health, safety, or welfare, or that the violator is engaged in violations of an itinerant or transient nature, or if the violation is irreparable or irreversible.

A code compliance inspector may issue a separate citation to each alleged violator and violation for each calendar day the violation exists after the initial period to come into compliance. The fine schedule adopted is graduated and noted in the following table:

 Civil Citation Graphic 

This citation compliance process is proposed to be applicable to all city codes and ordinances except where otherwise prohibited by law or statute. The citation process offers:

  • A creative supplement to current violation process
  • Flexibility and discretion to the code compliance inspector
  • Improved public response times (particularly to a complaining individual)
  • Minimized gamesmanship
  • A rapid resolution process
  • A process that does not inhibit education as the preferred way to gain voluntary compliance

Any appeals to citations may be made through the City appointed Magistrate. Please see our dedicated webpage for more information at: https://www.dunedingov.com/city-departments/community-development/code-compliance-division

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