Property Maintenance in Hollywood, FL: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Hollywood or are thinking about moving there, property maintenance are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Hollywood has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of property maintenance, and some of them might surprise you.

Vacant Lot Maintenance

In Hollywood's Downtown and Beach redevelopment districts, a vacant commercial lot must be landscaped with grass or approved ground cover, kept free of overgrowth, weeds, trash and debris, and cleared of dead trees and limbs, under the zoning code's minimum maintenance standards.

Key details: Applies in: Downtown and Beach CRA districts. Vacant lot ground cover: grass, or City-approved alternative. Must remove: overgrowth, weeds, trash, dead trees. Enforcement: Special Magistrate, Chapter 36.

Failure to comply with § 157.78 is a violation subjecting the owner or other person in possession of the commercial property to the jurisdiction of the Special Magistrate under Chapter 36 of the Hollywood Code of Ordinances, which can impose fines and order compliance.

Property Blight

When Hollywood's Unsafe Structures and Housing Appeal Board orders repairs or demolition and the owner does not act, the city can secure or demolish the building itself, bill the owner, and place a lien on the property, and no one may occupy a posted unsafe structure until the Building Official clears it.

Key details: Demolition authority: § 151.200, city acts if owner fails. Lien filing trigger: 20 days unpaid (§ 151.201). Lien interest rate: Fla. Stat. § 55.03(1) judgment rate. Tax certificate interest: Up to 18% per year. Occupancy ban: Unlawful until notice removed, § 151.202.

Occupying a posted unsafe structure before the notice is removed is a violation of § 151.202, punishable under the Code's general penalty, § 10.99, a fine of up to $500, imprisonment up to 60 days, or both. Unpaid demolition or securing charges become a recorded lien that accrues statutory interest, can be assessed on the tax roll, and can lead to sale of a tax certificate at up to 18% annual interest or eventual loss of the property by tax deed if never redeemed.

This is one of the stricter rules in Hollywood's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Hollywood's property maintenance rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Hollywood is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Hollywood's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.