Hollywood, FL Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- 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
- General penalty
- $500 fine / 60 days (§ 10.99)
Summary
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.
§ 151.200 DEMOLITION. In the event any person required by the city or the Unsafe Structures and Housing Appeal Board to make repairs and to take necessary action to secure the building or to demolish the building or structure and to remove the salvage, contents, and debris and abandoned property from the premises shall fail to do the same, the city may take the necessary action to secure the building or demolition or may cause such demolition of the building or structure and remove the salvage, contents, debris and abandoned property and forthwith charge the cost to said person. ... § 151.202 OCCUPANCY OF POSTED UNSAFE STRUCTURE PROHIBITED. Whenever a notice is posted on an unsafe structure by the Building Official pursuant to Section 111.4 of the Florida Building Code in effect in Broward County, Florida, as revised from time to time, it shall be unlawful for any person to occupy the structure until the notice is removed by the Building Official.
Full Breakdown
200 lets the city step in when a person ordered by the city or the Unsafe Structures and Housing Appeal Board to repair, secure, or demolish a building and clear its salvage, contents, debris, and abandoned property fails to do so; the city can perform that work itself and charge the cost to the owner. 201 turns unpaid charges into a lien: if a bill for that work goes unpaid for 20 days, the Finance Director files a claim of lien with the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Broward County, and the unpaid balance draws interest at the statutory judgment rate under Fla.
03(1). The city can pursue a special assessment on the tax roll, and the owner receives certified-mail notice describing the violation, the abatement work performed, the total cost, and the consequences of nonpayment, including that the assessment goes on the tax roll as a non-ad valorem charge if unpaid by the following August 1, that unpaid balances can be sold as a tax certificate bearing interest up to 18% per year, and that the property can ultimately be sold and conveyed by tax deed if the certificate is never redeemed. 4 of the Florida Building Code, until that same official removes the posted notice.
Violations & Fines
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Hollywood, FL demolish an unsafe building without the owner's consent?
What happens if a Hollywood property owner does not pay the city's demolition bill?
Can someone live in a building the City of Hollywood has posted as unsafe?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hollywood
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Hollywood to another location·View the Florida property maintenance overview
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Property Blight in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Broward County handle property blight.