§ 9.03.00. Provide for removal or rehabilitation of substandard housing.

All dwelling units within the town shall be continuously kept in a safe and sanitary condition. Upon identification of any unsafe or unsanitary dwelling unit by the health department, Okaloosa County Building Department, the fire district (fire marshall) or other official with authority to determine whether a unit or structure is unsafe or unsanitary, the town, in cooperation and consultation with the determining authority, shall provide the owner of the property where the unit or structure is located with a notice of the condition of the unit or structure (notice of violation).

The notice shall state or briefly describe the condition and it shall prescribe a definite time period for corrective action by the owner. The time period for correction shall be based on the type and extent of repairs or other action necessary to correcting the condition.

Should the owner fail to correct the unsafe or unsanitary condition with the time period specified, the town may pursue any and all remedies available under local, sate or federal law, including, but not limited to, condemnation of the unit or structure and/or causing the removal of the structure or unit.

The owner of the property shall be responsible for all costs and expenses of the town and/or other authority incurred in the effort to correct the unsafe or unsanitary condition. If not timely compensated for such costs or expenses, the town and/or other authority may place a lien on the property, pursue action in a court of competent jurisdiction, or both.

Incorporated herein by reference are the Standard Unsafe Building Code, relevant health department codes, fire codes and related codes of Okaloosa County.

(LDC Ord. of 1-9-2014)