Code Enforcement            

Improving the quality of life for all of the citizens in our community.

City of Wauchula Code Enforcement is dedicated to preserving and improving the quality of life of the citizens of the City of Wauchula through conscientious, compassionate and fair enforcement of all applicable State Statutes, County and Municipal ordinances.

What Code Enforcement Is

The Code Enforcement process begins when ordinances are enacted by the City Council of the City of Wauchula as authorized by Florida State Statute 162. Those ordinances carry the force of law and are intended to provide a means whereby the quality of life and standards of living are protected and maintained at a level commensurate with the ideals of the community.
Once the ordinances are adopted, it is the duty of the Code Enforcement Officer, “CEO”, to ensure that residents and businesses comply with them. If the CEO finds that there is a violation of City Ordinances he/she will notify the person(s) responsible for the violation and inform them how to correct the violation. Those responsible are given a reasonable amount of time to correct the violation as determined by ordinance.
If a violation remains in excess of the time allotted to correct, the CEO will notify the person(s) responsible of the failure to comply with Ordinance and set an appointment for a hearing in front of the Code Enforcement Board. It is the responsibility of the Board to hear the evidence as provided by both the CEO and the violator.
Upon hearing the evidence, the Board will make a determination. If the Board finds that a violation does exist, the Board may then choose to impose a penalty or allow additional time to correct the violation depending upon the circumstances of each individual case. The Code Enforcement Board is comprised of citizens from the community and functions as a quasi-judicial body. The orders of the Board are legally binding.
The City of Wauchula Code Enforcement Board is comprised of the following:
 Richard Giroux, City Manager; William Beattie, Chief of Police; Clifford M. Ables, III, City Attorney; Cpl. Angie Hill, Code Enforcement Officer; Victoria Thompson, Code Enforcement Secretary; Gerald Waldron, Chairman; Dewey Cowart, Vice-Chairman; Members Sue Conner, Val Patarini, III and John Woodburn.

What Code Enforcement Is Not
Code enforcement is not designed to target any group based on race, religion, color, creed, national origin or socio-economic status.  City Ordinances are enforced equally and fairly without consideration to the above listed qualifiers.  Code Enforcement does not include the enforcement of deed-restrictions.
To contact Code Enforcement or to report a violation please call:
(863) 773-3265 
or to submit an e-mail comment or report of violation:
vthompson@cityofwauchula.com

Some Common Violations
Most violations encountered by the Code Enforcement Officer are one of the following types:
                Chapter 11, Article III “Nuisance Accumulations on Private Property”
                Chapter 11, Article II “Lot Maintenance
Chapter 5, Article IV “Minimum Exterior Property Maintenance Standards
                Chapter 9, “Garage (Yard) Sale Rules and Regulations”
                Unified Land Development Code Article 2, Section 2.05.00, “Fences”
               
Most citizens are simply not aware that a condition that exists on their property is a violation of City Ordinances. Most citizens are more than cooperative once they are made aware of the violation and no further enforcement activity is necessary beyond the initial notice of violation. For that reason the above ordinances will be explained in some detail.

Chapter 11, Article III, Nuisance Accumulations on Private Property.
Section A. Purpose, Intent and Scope.  The purpose of this article is to provide an effective procedure to promptly notify landowners of the existence of nuisance accumulations of abandoned or lost personal property, trash, rubbish, refuse, garbage or inoperative vehicles located on their personal property.  This article is intended to direct and provide for the removal of nuisance accumulations on private property in a timely manner to preserve the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City.

Chapter 11, Article II, Lot Maintenance
Section D. Declaration of nuisance. It is hereby declared and determined by the Commission that the following shall each individually or in any combination be considered a nuisance when they exist upon any lot, lots or adjacent lots, as the case may be, in the incorporated area of the City.  Violations are:

1. Nuisance weeds, excluding trees, plated ornamental shrubs and saw palmetto, where the greater portion of the weeds on the lot exceeds fourteen (14) inches in height (non-residential lots) or six (6) inches in height (residential lots) which impair the economic welfare of property, contribute to a fire hazard and/or create a health hazard when any part of said growths are located on any lot adjacent to the boundary of any developed lot.
2. Accumulations of waste, yard trash, or rubble and debris.
3. Accumulations of waste, yard trash, or rubble and debris that may harbor rats or snakes or that may contain pools of water that may serve as breeding grounds for insects or other disease vectors.

Chapter 5, Article IV, Minimum Exterior Property Maintenance Standards.
Section A. Purpose.  The purpose of this Minimum Exterior Property Maintenance Standards us to protect the public health, safety and general welfare as it pertains to premises and buildings used for residential, commercial and industrial purposes. This protection is provided by:

1. Establishing minimum standards for maintaining residential, commercial and industrial environmental quality to preserve and to achieve an acceptable appearance for existing structures and premises and its negative impact on the value of surrounding properties; and to eliminate hazardous conditions.
2. Fixing the responsibilities of owners and occupants of structures and their premises.
3. Providing for administrations, enforcement and penalties.

Garage (Yard) Sale Rules and Regulations
The following is a general overview of some of the rules and regulations for Garage/Yard/Rummage Sales, hereafter referred to as “yard sale”, held within the limits of the City of Wauchula.

1. Only personal property is authorized to be sold at a yard sale.
2. Before having a yard sale, a permit must be obtained from the City Clerk for a  $5.00 fee and can be purchased at the City Administrative Complex located at 126 South 7th Avenue.
3. Only 3 permits a year per residence is allowed.
4. The permit must be displayed at the site of the yard sale and the number must be on the signs that are advertising the sale.
5. Only 2 signs at the residence of the sale are permitted with no more that 4 square feet in size.
6. No signs may be attached to City utility poles or on any City owned property.
7. All signs must be removed at the close of the sale.
8. Yard sales must be limited to days in a row during daylight hours only.

Unified Land Development Code Article 2, Section 2.05.00, “Fences”
A. Walls or fences erected or placed in all districts shall be maintained in good repair and sound structural condition. 
Also, before any fence can be erected, authorization and a permit must be obtained from City’s Planning and Zoning Department in City Hall, which is located at 225 East Main Street.
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There are numerous other City and county ordinances.  This list is not meant to be all-inclusive and if you are in doubt, please feel free to contact the Code Enforcement Officer or stop by our office located at 128 South 7th Avenue between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Hopefully this information will clear up any misunderstanding and foster an appreciation for Code Enforcements place in the community. Code Enforcement is meant to improve life for all of the citizens in our community.
Working together we can accomplish this mutually beneficial goal.

Before and After Photos:
(before is on the left and after is on the right)