§ 46-91. Unfinished, vacant, unoccupied or closed structures, construction sites or vacant lots; maintenance procedures required of owners.

(a)

All owners of unfinished, vacant, unoccupied, closed or unfinished structures or buildings, construction sites or any other vacant lots shall comply with rules and regulations relating to such structures or buildings, construction sites or vacant lots as promulgated by the building official. These rules and regulations shall specify those actions and time limits within which owners shall beautify, secure and/or patrol their structures or buildings.

(b)

Noncompliance with this section shall be punishable in a manner as provided in section 1-14. Noncompliance with this section may result in the city's taking such action as it deems appropriate under the circumstances, and a lien shall be imposed against the structure or building for recovery of all costs involved.

(c)

If the owners or occupants of such lands within the city shall fail to comply with the requirements of this section, the city manager shall cause such work to be done and keep an account of the cost thereof, whereupon such cost shall be a charge and lien against the property so cleaned. Such existing liens or liens imposed hereafter shall be treated as special assessment liens against the subject real property, and until fully paid and discharged, shall remain liens equal in rank and dignity with the lien of ad valorem taxes, and shall be superior in rank and dignity to all other liens, encumbrances, titles and claims in, to or against the real property involved; the maximum rate of interest allowable by law shall accrue to such delinquent accounts. Such liens shall be enforced by any of the methods provided in F.S. ch. 86; or, in the alternative, foreclosure proceedings may be instituted and prosecuted under the provisions applicable to practice, pleading and procedure for the foreclosure of mortgages on real estate set forth in state statutes, or may be foreclosed per F.S. ch. 173, or the collection and enforcement of payment thereof may be accomplished by any other method authorized by law. The owner and/or operator shall pay all costs of collection, including reasonable attorney fees, incurred in the collection of fees, service charges, penalties and liens imposed by virtue of this article.

(Code 1964, §§ 25-92, 25-93)