Gainesville, FL Code Violation Reporting: How to Report (2026)

Section 2-337(a) defines a code enforcement officer broadly as any designated city employee or agent whose duty is enforcing city codes, including code inspectors, building inspectors, law enforcement officers, and municipal fire safety inspectors under Florida Statutes Chapter 633; each must complete at least a 40-hour minimum standards training course before being authorized to enforce. Under subsection (b)(1), an officer may issue a citation only after a personal investigation gives reasonable cause to believe a civil infraction occurred and that county court will hear the charge.

The standard track in (b)(2) requires the officer to notify the alleged violator first and set a correction period of no more than 30 days; only after that window passes without correction can a citation issue. That notice-and-cure step is skipped for repeat violations, or where the officer believes the violation is a serious threat to public health, safety, or welfare, or is irreparable or irreversible, in which case a citation can issue immediately. Every citation must state, per (b)(3), the date and time, the violator's name and address, the facts supporting reasonable cause, the code section violated, the officer's name and authority, the procedure for contesting it, and both the contested and uncontested penalty amounts.

The original and a copy are then deposited with the county court. 00 of every citation collected is earmarked for code enforcement officer training under subsection (f).