50-66 ORDINAI~I~E NO. 50-66.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DELRAY BEACH, AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF CHAP-
TER 15A (HOUSING STANDARDS) OF THE CODE OF ORDI'- '
NANCES OF THE CITY OP DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, PER-
TAINING TO THE ASSESSMENT OF LIENS FOR THE COSTS
AND EXPENSES INCURRED IN ELIMINATING UNSAFE OR
UNSANITARY CONDITIONS OF BUILDINGS WITHIN TH~
CORPORATE LIMITS UPON THE FAILURE OF THE OWNERS
THEREOF TO DEMOLISH, REMOVE OR PUT IN A STATE OF
SOUND REPAIR FOLLOWING NOTICE.
WHEREAS, Subsection 19 of Section 7 of the City Charter of the
City of DelrayBeach authorizes the City to condemn and order to be
demolished and removed or to be put in a state of sound repair any
and all dilapidated, unsanitary or unsafe buildings or.structures
and to provide and enforce penalties for failure to do so and au-
thorizes the City to have and hold a lien thereon u~til the costs
and expenses thus incurred are discharged by payment~ and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Delray Beach, Florida,
deems it in the best interests of the citizens of this community to
amend certain sections of Chapter 1SA, modifying and adding various
provisions in regulations pertaining to housing standards~
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF DELRAY BEACH AS FOLLOWS=
Section 1. That Subsection (d) of Section 15A-38, Section
15A-39 and Section 15A-41, be, and the same are hereby amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 15A-38. SERVICE OF NOTICES AND ORDERS.
"(d) Be served upon the owner or the occupant,
as the case may requirer provided that such notice
shall be deemed to be properly served upon such
violator if a copy thereof is delivered to him
personally or by certified mail~ but, if the
whereabouts of such person is unknown and the
same cannot be ascertained by the building in-
spector in the exercise of reasonable diligence
and the building inspector shall make an affidavit
to that effect, then the serving of such notice or
order may be made by publishing the same once each
week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper print-
ed and published in the city. A copy of such com-
plaint or order shall be posted in a conspicuous
place on premises affecte~ by the notice or order.
Such notice may include an outline of remedial ac-
tion which, if taken, will effect compliance with
the provision of this chapter and with rules and
regulations adopted pursuant thereto, as well as
a reasonable time for such complaint according to
the size, condition and location of such building
or structure.
Sec. 15A-39. FINAL ORDER.
(a) Any notice of violation shall automatically
become a final order if written request for a hear-
ing is not filed in the office of the building in-
spector within twenty days after receipt of said
notice.
Page ~. 6RDINANeE NO. 50-66.
(b) "~ny'~welling structure, dwelling unit, rooming
house or rooming unit condemned as unfit for human
habitation, and so designated by the enforcing
officer shall vaCato within twenty days. ~owever,
th~ building inspector may declare that such con-
ditions exist that.warrant action under Section
15~-40 (Emergency powers), in which case a shorter
time period maybe designated.
Sec. 15A-41. AGENCY TO ABATE HAZARDS~ LIENS.
(a) Whenever any violation of this chapter, which
in the opinion of the building inspector causes a
direct hazard or immediate danger to the health,
safety, morals or welfare of the occupants of a
building or to the public, has not been corrected
in the time specified by the order issued under
Section 15A-38, the building inspector may take
such direct action as is necessary to abate the
hazard or danger. The expenses incurred by the
building inspector shall be paid by the owner or
occupant of the premises, or by the person who
caused or maintained such nuisance or other
matter to exist.
(b) Promptly after completion of any repairs,
alterations or demolition done by the City under
authority of this ordinance, the enforcing offi-
cial shall cause the owner to be billed for the
cost of such work including labor, materials and
title searches. The bill shall be served upon the
owner by delivery to him personally or by certified
mail, return receipt requested, at his last known
address as shown on the City tax rolls.
(c) If the bill is not paid within thirty days
following such services the owner shall be noti-
fied of the enforcing official's intention to ap-
ply for a special assessment against the property.
Such notice shall: (1) describe the premises in-
volved either by legal description or street address,
(2) describe the nature of the work done thereon and
state the amount for which a special assessment is
sought, (3} specify the date of which the City Coun-
cil will hold a public hearing for the purpose of
making a special assessment against the property
for the cost of the work done thereon, and advise
the owner of his right to be heard on any matter
pertaining to the proposed special assessment, and
(4) said notice shall be served on the owner not
less than five (5) days prior to the date set for
the hearing in the same manner as set forth above
in this section.
(d) At the hearing, the enforcing official shall
report to the City Council on the nature of the
work accomplished, the cost of the work, and the
service of the required notice. All interested
parties shall be given an opportunity to be heard
at such hearing with respect to the validity and
amount of the proposed special assessment.
(e) After such hearing, the City Council may levy
a special assessment against the property improved
for the cost of such work done on such property
in such amount as the Council may find to be prop-
er and reasonable. Such assessments shall be made
Page 3. ORDINANCE NO. 50-66.
by the adoption of a Resolution containing find-
ings of the City Council, including the finding
that (a] the procedures of this ordinance have
been followed, (b) that the work done was in con-
formity with the requirements of this ordinance
and (c) that the amount of assessment is just and
reasonable and based on the actual cost of such
work. The Resolution shall contain a legal de-
scription of the property, the names of the owners
of such property, and such other information as
may be deemed appropriate. The assessment shall
become effective immediately upon the adoption of
the Resolution and shall bear interest thereafter
at the rate of six per cent per annum. Upon the
adoption of the Resolution, the City shall have a
lien against the property on which the work was
done and on the real estate on which it is located,
as described in the Resolution, which lien shall
be of equal dignity with other municipal liens for
taxes, levies and assessments, and may be enforced
as other such municipal liens. The owner may pay
the amount of such lien, including interest, in
thirty equal, consecutive, monthly installments,
commencing on the first day of the month following
the adoption of such Resolution.
(f) A copy of such Resolution shall be served on
the owner by certified mail within ten (10) days
of the date of its adoption and a copy shall be
published once each week for four consecutive
weeks in a newspaper of general circulation with-
in the City."
Section 2. That if any word, phrase, clause, sentence or part
of this ordinance shall be declared illegal by a court of competent
jurisdiction, such record of illegality shall in no way affect the
remaining portion.
PASSED on second and final reading in regular session on this
the 22nd day of August , 1966.
MAYOR
Second Reading August 22, 1966
DELRAY BEACH NEWS-JOURNAL
Published Semi.Weekly
Delray Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida
PROOF OF PUBLICATION
~rATE OF FLORIDA
COUNTY OF PALM BEACHi /~ ~, ~ ~-
v~l~o om oath says that he/~l~ is ...... .( .~eY~~~k-:~. ................................. of The Delray l~ach
News-Journal, a semi-weekly newspaper publimhed at~pelray, Beach in Pal~.~Beacl~ County, Florida;
that ~e attached egpy of axlve ..r!:i~ment,.~ being
~n the ............................ .~ ......................... ~ ................... Courk waf publ~hed ~n m~dd new~paper
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Affiant further sa~s ~at the sa~d Delra¥ ~each Ne~s-~ournml ~ ~ nev~paper publ~hed a~ Delray
Beach, in sa~d Palm Beach Counbj, Florida, and that ~he sa~a nev~paper ha~ heretofore beem
continuously publ~hed ~n s~id Palm Beach Counbj, l~orida, each week ~nd has been entered
as second ~ marl matter at ~he post office ~n Delra¥ ~_.aeh, in sa~d Palm Beach
Florida, for a period ~ one ~ear next precedin~ the ~ publ~ca~on ~! ~he aCmehed cop~ ~! ad-
. vertisement; and affiant further sa~s that he has neither l~d nor promised any per. n, firm
corporation an.v discount, ~ebate, e~ion or refund for the purpose of ~ecuring th~s adver-
~emen~ for publ~caaon in the said new~paper.
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