HomeMy WebLinkAboutO-14461City of Miami
Ordinance 14461
Legislation
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 19076 Final Action Date: 5/14/2026
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING CHAPTER
10/ARTICLE VI OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS
AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), TITLED "BUILDINGS/UNSAFE STRUCTURES," TO
PROVIDE A WAIVER FOR QUALIFYING SENIOR CITIZENS AND LOW-
INCOME RESIDENTS TO THE COSTS OF RECOVERY IN UNSAFE
STRUCTURE VIOLATION CASES; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE
AND PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
SPONSOR(S): Commissioner Damian Pardo, Commissioner Christine King
WHEREAS, Section 10-101 of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended ("City
Code") sets forth the structure for enforcement in the City of Miami ("City") as it pertains to
unsafe structures; and
WHEREAS, Section 10-101(k) of the City Code provides the mechanism for the
recovery of fees and costs associated with each violation case; and
WHEREAS, Section 10-19 of the City Code provides certain permitting waivers for
qualifying senior citizens and low-income households to ensure that residents do not avoid the
required Permit process due to financial hardship; and
WHEREAS, the City seeks to promote the health, safety, and welfare of its residents by
ensuring that unsafe structures are identified and addressed in a timely and effective manner;
and
WHEREAS, the fees and costs associated with enforcement actions under Section 10-
101 of the City Code may impose a disproportionate financial burden on senior citizens and low-
income residents, potentially hindering their ability to maintain safe living conditions; and
WHEREAS, providing targeted waivers for qualifying senior citizens and low-income
residents will help alleviate financial hardship while encouraging compliance with applicable
building safety regulations; and
WHEREAS, such an amendment to the City Code is in the best interest of the City and
its residents;
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 and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
City of Miami Page 1 of 3 File ID: 19076 (Revision:) Printed On: 5/29/2026
File ID: 19076 Enactment Number: 14461
Section 2. Chapter 10 of the City Code is hereby amended in the follow particulars:1
"CHAPTER 10
BUILDINGS
ARTICLE VI. UNSAFE STRUCTURES
Sec. 10-101. Unsafe structures and unsafe structures panel.
(k) Recovery of cost; Waivers
(1) All costs incurred pursuant to any of the provisions of this section shall be paid by
the owner, interested party, or occupant of the premises on which the violation
occurred.
(2) The building official, or designee shall file among their records an affidavit stating
with fairness and accuracy the items of expense and the date of execution of
actions authorized by this section.
(3)
Any other employee, official or agency who incurs costs while executing any
provision within this article shall create an affidavit stating with fairness and
accuracy the items of expense and the date of execution of actions authorized by
this section. That affidavit shall be given to the building official, or designee,
responsible for the unsafe structure at issue and filed among his/her records for that
property.
(4) The enforcing agency may institute a suit to recover such expenses against any
liable person or may cause such expenses to be charged against the property on
which the violation occurred as a lien or as a special assessment lien collectible
according to established procedures.
(5)
Any lien imposed pursuant to this article shall be a lien greater in dignity to all liens,
excepting IRS tax liens.
(6) Liens created pursuant to this section may be discharged and satisfied by paying to
the city the amount specified in the notice of lien, together with interest thereon from
the date of the filing of the lien computed at the maximum statutory interest rate,
together with the administrative costs, filing and recording fees and fees paid to file
a satisfaction of the lien in the public records. When any such lien has been
discharged, the city shall promptly cause evidence of the satisfaction and discharge
of such lien to be recorded in the public records.
(7)
The remedies and procedures for recovery of costs provided in this article shall be
in addition to and not in derogation of other provided in the building code or
otherwise provided by law.
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 3 File ID: 19076 (Revision:) Printed on: 5/29/2026
File ID: 19076 Enactment Number: 14461
(8) The costs provided under this Section may be waived for senior citizens and low-
income property owners subject to the provisions of Section 10-19 of the City
Code, as amended.
*„
Section 3. If any section, part of a 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 after adoption and
signature of the Mayor.2
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
ge Wy j ng III, C1ty` ttor -y 3/31/2026
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 3 of 3 File ID: 19076 (Revision:) Printed on: 5/29/2026