Pasco County, FL Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Code of Ordinances § 18-105
- Demolition deadline
- At least 30 calendar days from the order
- Max civil fine
- $500 per violation plus costs (§ 1-11)
- Appeal body
- Hearing officer, then circuit court review
- Cost recovery
- County demolition costs become a property lien
Summary
Structures in unincorporated Pasco County that meet the criteria for demolition as blighted, slum, or unsafe, or that sit open and unsecured to trespassers, violate the minimum building standards in Chapter 18. A certified building official can issue a written order to demolish with a deadline of at least 30 days, and owners face daily citations under section 1-11 until every violation is corrected.
Any slum or blighted structure as defined in Chapter 79 of this Code which (1) meets the criteria for demolition listed in section 79-2, or (2) is unsecured and the interior is accessible by persons other than the owner, is declared also to be in violation of the minimum standards of this article. In addition to the remedies provided in chapter 79, the person(s) responsible for the violation may be subject to the penalties allowed for violation of this article, including issuance of citations in accordance with section 1-11 for each day the violation(s) continue, and for each separate structural element or premises condition that does not meet the minimum standards provided in this article.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 94 Update 1 | Land Development Code: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
Section 18-105 declares that any slum or blighted structure, or any structure that is unsecured with an interior accessible to persons other than the owner, is also a violation of Chapter 18's minimum building standards, on top of the demolition process now codified as article XI of chapter 18. Article XI spells out the mechanics: a certified building official first must find that a structure meets one of four criteria for demolition, being a blighted structure or condition, a slum structure or condition, an unsafe or uninhabitable structure, or a structure "destroyed" or carrying "major damage" under FEMA's Damage Assessment Operations Manual (section 18-171).
Once that written determination is made, the county administrator or a designee can issue an order to demolish under section 18-172, giving owners, interested parties, and known occupants a deadline of not less than 30 calendar days, served by certified and regular mail, posted at the government centers in East and West Pasco, and recorded in the public records so it binds future purchasers. An owner may appeal to a hearing officer under section 18-174 by showing the structure does not meet the demolition criteria, cannot be demolished by the deadline, or can be repaired under a detailed, permitted restoration plan; the hearing officer can affirm, reverse, or modify the order, and either side may seek judicial review in circuit court.
If no timely appeal is filed, the order automatically becomes final and a posted notice under section 18-173 warns that the structure must be vacated within 48 hours. Section 18-176 lets the county recover its demolition and clearance costs as a lien against the property.
Violations & Fines
Each day a structural element or premises condition fails to meet the minimum standards is a separate offense, and code enforcement officers can issue citations under section 1-11 without a prior warning if the condition is a repeat violation or an immediate safety threat. Civil citations carry a maximum fine of $500.00 per violation plus costs, or up to 60 days in jail, or both. Obstructing a demolition, occupying a condemned structure, or removing a posted demolition notice are separate violations of chapter 18.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a structure 'blighted' under Pasco County's code?
How much notice does Pasco County give before demolishing a structure?
Can an owner stop the demolition by fixing up the building?
What happens if the owner ignores a final demolition order?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pasco County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Pasco County to another location·View the Florida property maintenance overview
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