Overview

In 1980 the State of Florida created a law (Chapter 162 of the Florida Statutes), which outlines the Code Enforcement process. The idea was to take the enforcement of local ordinances out of the overloaded courts system, and have violations handled by local citizen boards. Obviously, education of the public can be the most effective tool that Code Enforcement officials have at their disposal.

The biggest problems for citizens, as well as code officers, are that code infractions often exist because people often do not realize what they are doing is against the law. A citizen may be unaware that parking a vehicle without a valid tag outside their garage violates an ordinance, as does placing a campaign sign on the right-of-way in front of the house. Most citizens are willing to play by the rules once they know the rules.

The best method of enforcement is to inform the public about the standards that govern our communities and neighborhoods. It is easy to understand the need for safety and health regulations. More difficult to understand are declines in property values, reducing visual clutter and preserving quality of life. So, the intent of this guide is to help educate the citizens of St. Johns County about the Code Enforcement process.

Most Common Neighborhood Code Violations

• Open storage of junk, garbage, trash and other debris.
• Major auto and/or boat repair in residential area
• • SJC Code Enforcement Section (904) 209-0734