Homestead, FL Code Violation Reporting: Common Violations (2026)

Chapter 7 of the City Code lists dozens of specific violations on a fixed penalty schedule rather than leaving fines to officer discretion. Under Sec. 7-29, a first violation of items like erecting a fence without a permit, letting a fence fall into disrepair, unpermitted painting, an unabated public nuisance, or failing to fix a Minimum Housing notice each carries a $500 civil penalty, rising to $1,000 for a repeat and $5,000 for a second or further repeat. Sec. ' A 'repeat violation' means the same Code section was violated, or admitted, within the prior five years, regardless of address.

Many violations, including fence disrepair and painting without a permit, carry a mandatory courtesy notice giving the violator up to 30 days to correct before a formal notice issues; others, like an unpermitted fence or an unabated nuisance, do not require one. Uncorrected violations go to a special master hearing, where the violator can be assessed an $80 administrative hearing cost under Sec. 7-25(l) in addition to the civil penalty. Once ordered, penalties accrue daily until compliance, and a certified copy of the order becomes a lien on the property under Sec. 7-27, enforceable by foreclosure after three months unpaid.