Code Enforcement

Joe Petrick, Public Services Coordinator / Code Enforcement Officer

jpetrick@townofhaverhill-fl.gov

The Town Council adopts a Code of Ordinances to safeguard the community from blight and to maintain the safety and welfare of the residents. Together as a community, we can work to preserve the integrity of the neighborhoods of the Town of Haverhill.

Code Enforcement Procedure:

Code Enforcement is governed by Florida State Statute Chapter 162 and the Town's Code of Ordinances.

The Code Enforcement Officer either receives a complaint or initiates an investigation contingent upon a code violation. Anonymous complaints are no longer allowed per Florida State Statutes.

A Courtesy Letter is sent to the property where the violation was observed as a first step in the Code Enforcement process, unless there is a health/safety issue or an irreparable/irreversible violation. The Courtesy Letter allows a certain number of days to cure the violation. If the violation has not been cured at the time of re-inspection by the Code Enforcement Officer, a Notice of Violation is mailed, via certified mail, to the property owner registered at the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office. After reasonable time has been satisfied, another re-inspection occurs. If the violation has not yet been corrected, a Notice of Hearing is mailed, via certified mail, to the property owners. The case is heard by the Special Magistrate. After hearing testimony from the property owner and the Code Enforcement Officer, the Special Magistrate will determine if the property is in violation, how much time to allow the owner(s) to cure the violation, and the amount of the fine that will be imposed if the violation is not cured within the set date. If the property is found to be in violation by the set date, the case will be heard by the Special Magistrate at the Fine Assessment Hearing, where a Final Assessment Order imposing a fine will be recorded as a lien at the Palm Beach County Courthouse if the fine remains unpaid.

Common violations:

• Maintenance and Appearance Standards of all Real Property (Section 58-584)
• Lands to be kept free from trash or filth (Section 18-59)
• Structures to be kept free from graffiti (Section 18-117)
• Parking of vehicles and boats in residential districts (Section 38-9)
• Operating Without or Outside the Scope of a Business Tax Receipt (Section 34-26)
• Failure to obtain a permit for all work being done. Contact the Building Department if you are unsure (Section 14-6)