Columbia County, FL Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Sec. 26-122 defines dangerous buildings to include structures with leaning or buckling walls, 30 percent or more damage to a supporting member (or 50 percent to a nonsupporting wall), overloaded floors or roofs, fire or wind damage making the structure dangerous, or conditions that make it unfit for human habitation and likely to cause sickness or disease. The land development regulation administrator, as enforcing official under Sec. 26-124, inspects, investigates complaints, and issues a written violation notice under Sec. 26-125 describing the defect, the code sections violated, and either the repairs needed or a demolition order.

If repairs, alterations or demolition are required, the notice must give the owner not less than 10 days nor more than 90 days to comply. An owner may appeal to the board of county commissioners, sitting as the appeals board, within 14 days of the notice under Sec. 26-128. If the owner fails to comply, the county may perform or contract for the repair or demolition and, under Sec. 26-129, bill the owner and place a special assessment lien on the property that bears 8 percent annual interest and can be paid in 30 monthly installments.

Failing to comply with a final order is a second-degree misdemeanor under Sec. 26-132, and removing the county's posted dangerous-building notice before compliance is a separate misdemeanor.