Palm Beach Gardens, FL Code Violation Reporting: How to Report (2026)

The Code Enforcement Division, operating under the city's Growth Management Department, handles complaints under Code of Ordinances Ch. 2, Div. 3. Section 2-231 lets citizens or city officials with enforcement duties file an alleged violation, but only the code inspector, not the special magistrate, may open a case. Once a violation is confirmed, § 2-232(a) requires the inspector to notify the violator and set a reasonable correction period, unless the matter is a repeat violation under § 2-232(c), or presents a serious threat to public health, safety or welfare, or is irreparable or irreversible under § 2-232(d), in which case a hearing can be requested immediately.

Uncorrected or repeat cases go before the city's special magistrate, an attorney with at least five years in the Florida Bar per § 2-212, who hears testimony under oath and issues written findings under § 2-236. The city bears the burden of proving a violation by a preponderance of the evidence per § 2-234, and the case may be presented by the city attorney, the operations director, or the code inspector under § 2-233(b). If the special magistrate's order is not obeyed by the compliance date, § 2-237(a) authorizes a fine of up to $1,000 per day for an ordinary violation, up to $5,000 per day for a repeat violation, or up to $15,000 for a single violation the magistrate finds irreparable or irreversible.

Fines become liens on real property, recorded in the county's public records under § 2-238, and can be foreclosed within 20 years under § 2-239. Any aggrieved party, including the city itself, may appeal a final order to the circuit court within 30 days of it being rendered, per § 2-240.