Residential Maintenance Standards

The inspections are being performed by going through small designated areas within each Compliance Officer’s zone. Each Officer is inspecting a new area every couple of weeks. The Officers are educating our residents of any potential issues observed, in order to obtain compliance and maintain a standard that all of those who take part in our community can appreciate. For any questions or concerns, please contact us at (954) 390-2151. Thank you for being a part of why Life’s Just Better Here!

The Code Unit has been placing an increased focus on property maintenance issues within our residential zones. Some of the violations we are looking for are as follows:

Landscape Overgrowth

City landscape regulations state that landscaping should be maintained on a regular basis to present a neat and well-kept appearance at all times. Trees, bushes, shrubs, hedges, vegetable matter and/or other landscape matter shall not encroach onto sidewalks, walkways, pathways, roadways, and neighboring residences.

Landscaping shall also not extend over the roadway at heights of less than fifteen (15) feet in order to maintain a safe and clear passageway for vehicular, pedestrian, or bicycle traffic, and not obstruct the view of any traffic control devices such as traffic signs.

A common violation throughout the City is the maintenance of driveways and swales, and it has led to a focus for the Code Compliance Unit. We have received many complaints from our residents, which inspections revealed to be valid. What these inspections revealed is that these areas which are used for parking, have become deteriorated over time, and have not been maintained in a timely manner. Though asphalt, concrete, and rock are the most commonly approved surfaces being used for parking, the City’s Code requires all properties to be kept in a neat and orderly appearance, and yet there are many paved driveways with cracks, potholes and faded striping. There are also many rock driveways and swales where neither can be clearly identified, as there is sand and grass where there was rock, or the grass has deteriorated completely. A common issue with rock parking areas is that they have merged with the rest of the property, and it is difficult to tell what was once an area designated for parking.

Since these quickly deteriorating parking areas are the result of the continued parking of vehicles, they require timely upkeep. This means maintenance that provides easily identified areas, as well as a neat appearance. An appropriately kept property should have very little to no vegetation on clearly outlined rock driveways and swales. Paved driveways should be smooth, without potholes and ruts, and the striping on multifamily properties should not be faded. These areas are next to our roads and make a big difference to the appearance of properties throughout the community. Therefore, it is important to keep the maintenance up. For the past year, we have been fielding inquiries and inspecting parking areas accordingly, and we will continue to do so, to keep beautifying our city.

Deterioration of Buildings and Structures

Broken windows, fences, sheds, walls, and paint are prohibited.

Derelict/Unlicensed Vehicles

All vehicles, trailers, and boat trailers cannot have flat tires and must have a current license plate.

Accumulation of Hard Junk

Hard junk includes appliances or parts, furniture, metals, building materials, machinery or parts, and other similar items.

Parking on the Grass

All vehicles, trailers, and boat trailers stored within the front yard setback must park within an approved driveway or upon an approved hardened surface such as concrete, asphalt, brick, paver or decorative stone. 

Pools

According to the Florida Department of Health statistics, 121 unintentional drowning deaths were reported in Broward County between 2011 and 2013; 24 of which were children aged 14 or younger. And did you know that for every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries. More than 50% of drowning victims treated in emergency rooms require hospitalization or transfer for further care. These nonfatal drowning injuries can cause severe brain damage that may result in long-term disabilities such as memory problems, learning disabilities, and permanent loss of basic functioning (e.g., permanent vegetative state).

As members of public safety, we often come in contact with public pool areas in the course of our daily activities. Therefore, in an effort to combat these preventable deaths, law enforcement and fire rescue personnel are being asked to take a moment when responding to routine calls at condos, hotels, and other public swimming pool areas, to look for visible signs of unsafe conditions, such as:

  1. Unsecured or broken drain grate
  2. Clarity of pool water is such that the main drain grate is not visible from the pool deck
  3. Safety equipment missing or broken, i.e., life hook, life ring, etc.
  4. Ladders & handrails to enter or exit a pool are missing or broken
  5. Fences, gates, or latches to enter or exit a pool are missing or broken
  6. The underwater light is not securely fastened to the pool wall

Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the aforementioned critical violations, which may cause a public pool to be CLOSED. If any of the above violations are observed, you should advise the manager or on-site supervisor of the violation and immediately report the violation to the Florida Department of Health in Broward via email at poolsafely@flhealth.gov. Your notifications should include the name and address of the public pool, the violation observed, the manager or on-site supervisor who was advised of the violation, and your contact name and phone number.

Click here for additional pool safety information on the Florida Department of Health Pool Information webpage.