HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-24-0403City of Miami
Ordinance 14307
Legislation
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 16379 Final Action Date: 9/26/2024
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING CHAPTER
10/ARTICLE VI OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS
AMENDED, TITLED "BUILDING/UNSAFE STRUCTURES," TO PROVIDE FOR
A FURTHER AMNESTY FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AS WELL AS A PILOT
PROGRAM FOR NEW COMMERCIAL PROPERTY PURCHASERS SUBJECT
TO UNSAFE STRUCTURE PANEL ORDERS REQUIRING DEMOLITION THAT
WERE ISSUED PRIOR TO PURCHASE; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
SPONSOR(S): Commissioner Manolo Reyes, Commissioner Christine King
WHEREAS, Section 10-101(m)(3) of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended
("City Code") provides for a limited amnesty program for homestead exempt or owner -occupied
properties to secure further hearings before the Unsafe Structure Panel ("Panel") if there is
currently an order in default which does not provide for a breach hearing; and
WHEREAS, this amnesty program only contemplates orders issued by the Panel prior to
the Spring of 2022 as after that time, the Panel orders did provide for "breach" hearings rather
than immediate demolition for failure to comply with the Panel order as issued; and
WHEREAS, the current amnesty has allowed for many residential property owners to
save and secure their homes and come into compliance with the City Code; and;
WHEREAS, there are many properties left abandoned by property owners for which
other parties wish to purchase and bring the properties and structures back into the City's
growing economy; and
WHEREAS, properties where old owners have failed to abide by Panel rulings to repair
the property structures causing them to now be now subject to demolition can leave many areas
with blighted structures and no meaningful economic activity; and
WHEREAS, providing a limited amnesty on such properties as well as extending the
single family residence amnesty is in the best interest of the residents and businesses of the
City of Miami; and
WHEREAS, a pilot program for new commercial property owners will provide a great
assistance to business persons seeking new and stable investments in the City;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Ordinance are
adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
City of Miami Page 1 of 4 File ID: 16379 (Revision: A) Printed On: 10/28/2024
File ID: 16379 Enactment Number: 14307
Section 2. Chapter 10, Article VI of the City Code is amended in the following
particulars:'
"CHAPTER 10
BUILDING
ARTICLE VI. UNSAFE STRUCTURES
Sec. 10-101. Unsafe structures and unsafe structures panel.
(m) Post -hearing extension of time; Amnesty Program.
(1) Requests for extensions of time from unsafe structure panel orders. Any owner or
interested party may seek an extension of the timeframes set forth in an order of the
unsafe structures panel. Such request for a hearing to seek such extension must be in
writing, directed to the unsafe structures panel clerk. The unsafe structures panel shall
not be authorized to extend any deadline for compliance, set forth in the order, unless
the unsafe structures division of the building department, unsafe structure panel clerk
receives the written request for extension prior to the deadline specified in the initial
order. For example, in the event the unsafe structures panel order states that a permit
must be obtained within a specified period, the request for extension of the deadline to
obtain the permit must be received prior to the expiration of that specified period. If the
same order provides a deadline for completion of the structure, the request for the
extension for the deadline of completion must be received prior to the deadline for
completion, provided that the applicant has complied with the permit deadline.
(2) To obtain an extension, the owner or interested party must demonstrate to the
reasonable satisfaction of the unsafe structures panel that the structure that is the
subject of the order is secure at the time the extension is sought and that the owner or
applicant has made a good faith attempt to comply with the order which has been
impeded by changed circumstances or other circumstances outside of the owner or
applicant's control. As a further condition of the extension, the owner or interested
party must submit in writing, together with the petition for an extension, a written
timetable for compliance with the substantive provisions of the order and for
completion of all necessary repairs. The unsafe structures panel shall not reconsider
the order, limiting its consideration of the petition to deciding whether the grounds for
an extension have been satisfied in the manner set forth in this subsection.
(3) Amnesty program for Single Family Residence or Duplex Properties and Pilot Program
for Commercial Properties.
1 Words and/or figures stricken through shall be deleted. Underscored words and/or figures shall be
added. The remaining provisions are now in effect and remain unchanged. Asterisks indicate omitted and
unchanged material.
City of Miami Page 2 of 4 File ID: 16379 (Revision: A) Printed on: 10/28/2024
File ID: 16379 Enactment Number: 14307
a. Any homestead exempt and/or owner occupied residential property Single
Family Residence or Duplex Properties currently in default of an order of the
unsafe structure panel that was issued prior to April 15, 2022, and who has
not already sought and obtained an extension of time or breach hearing
pursuant to Ordinance No. 1/1085, may request a one-time post -hearing
extension of time or breach hearing before the unsafe structure panel if the
following conditions are met:
a1. Owner has made a good faith attempt to comply with the order; and
142. Owner has been impeded by changed circumstances or other
circumstances outside of the owner's control; and
G3. Owner has been an active participant in the process of legalizing or
repairing the determined deficiencies; and
4. Owner provides, in writing, what has been done since the date of the
unsafe structure panel order, a4 a timetable for compliance of all
required repairs and a Florida licensed Architect or Engineer has
certified the safety of the structure with a letter provided to the City
under seal; and
5. The date to appear before the Unsafe Structure Panel does not insure
the Owner will be provided more time to repair the Property structure
and does not estop the City from recommending either repair or
demolition of the Property structure based on the facts and
circumstances of the case.
Failure to request the post hearing extension within one year of the effective date of this
amendment shall !cave the original order in full force and effect.
b. As part of a Pilot Program, any new purchaser of a commercial property, who
purchases a property that has an order of the Unsafe Structure Panel requiring
demolition of the property structure due to the prior owner's failure to comply
with the required repair timelines provided, may request a breach hearing under
the following circumstances:
1. The new purchaser shall have no familial, economic, business or other
related interests to any prior owner of the violating property. The sale
must be an arm's length transaction. An affidavit under oath attesting to
same must be provided along with the request for breach hearing; and
2. The new purchaser shall make the request for hearing, in writing, via
email to the Unsafe Structure Clerk; and
3. The new purchaser shall provide a full set of plans for the necessary
scope of repairs to be reviewed by the Unsafe Structures Section no
later than thirty (30) days before the hearing date; and
City of Miami Page 3 of 4 File ID: 16379 (Revision: A) Printed on: 10/28/2024
File ID: 16379 Enactment Number: 14307
4. If a full set of plans are not provided and all other conditions are not met,
the matter will be removed from the scheduled hearing agenda; and
5. This Subsection shall apply retroactively to new purchasers prior to the
passage of Ordinance No. 14307; and
6. The Commercial Property Amnesty Pilot Program shall expire on
September 25, 2024, but can be extended for one year by City
Commission Resolution.
*
*„
Section 3. If any section, part of section, paragraph, clause, phrase, or word of this
Ordinance is declared invalid, the remaining provisions of this Ordinance shall not be affected.
Section 4. This Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon adoption by the City
Commission.2
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
rge Wyy•ng IIV, C y ttor -y 9/27/2024
2 This Ordinance shall become effective as specified herein unless vetoed by the Mayor within ten (10)
days from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Ordinance, it shall become
effective immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission or upon the effective date stated
herein, whichever is later.
City of Miami Page 4 of 4 File ID: 16379 (Revision: A) Printed on: 10/28/2024