Civil Citation Program Launched to Expedite Code Compliance

The Town is pleased to announce a new code compliance program designed to expedite the process for rectifying code violations. The Town Council adopted Resolution 2025-42 in June which provides for civil code compliance citations. Much like a police officer, Code Compliance Officers will now be able to issue Civil Citations (tickets) to address code violations.

While Loxahatchee Groves proudly boasts a high voluntary compliance rate, there are instances where individuals and/or entities choose to continue unlawful action. The only process available to remedy such actions is a lengthy procedural legal process that is often frustrating to those that reside near the violation.

The newly adopted citation process will complement this current process while providing an expedited route to compliance. The citation process is aimed at addressing certain violations including but not limited to ignoring stop work orders, violation of the RV Ordinance, failure to comply with regulations related to conditional uses and other similar violations that are readily mitigated or are a serious life, health, and safety issue.

This new process does not replace the current Special Magistrate process but provides the Code Compliance Officers with an additional tool that is envisioned to assure compliance in an expedited manner. The Town Code Compliance Officer is now empowered to issue citations to a person when, based upon personal investigation, the Code Compliance Officer has reasonable cause to believe that a person has committed an act in violation of a duly enacted Town code or ordinance.

Prior to issuing a citation, a Code Compliance Officer shall inform the person of the Town code or ordinance violation and shall establish a reasonable time period within which the person must correct the violation. Such time period would not exceed thirty (30) days.

Upon personal investigation, if a Code Compliance Officer finds that the person has not corrected the violation within the time period provided, the Code Compliance Officer may issue a citation to the person who has committed the violation.

The Code Compliance Officer may immediately issue a citation if a repeat violation is found or if the Code Compliance Officer has reason to believe that the violation presents a serious threat to the public health, safety, or welfare, or that the violator is engaged in violations of an itinerant or transient nature, or if the violation is irreparable or irreversible.

A Code Compliance Officer may issue a separate citation to each alleged violator and violation for each calendar day the violation exists after the initial period to come into compliance.

This citation compliance process is proposed to be applicable to certain Town codes and ordinances except where otherwise prohibited by law or statute. The citation process offers:

  • A creative supplement to current violation process
  • Flexibility and discretion to the code compliance officer
  • Improved public response times (particularly to a complaining individual)
  • A rapid resolution process
  • A process that does not inhibit education as the preferred way to gain voluntary compliance

Any appeals to citations may be made through the Town appointed Magistrate.