Palm Coast, FL Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Who can condemn
- City Manager or designee, per § 15-105
- Occupation penalty
- Up to $500.00 fine and/or 60 days jail
- Appeal window
- 10 days to appeal the condemnation notice
- General violation class
- Class I civil infraction, $50.00, under § 2-227
- Unpaid abatement costs
- Become a special assessment lien on the property
Summary
Palm Coast condemns buildings and equipment the City Manager or designee finds unsafe, unfit for human occupancy, or unlawful under City Code § 15-105, part of the Property Maintenance Code. Occupying or operating condemned property after the posted deadline is punishable by a fine of up to $500.00 and up to 60 days in jail.
(a) General. When a structure or equipment is found by the City Manager or designee to be unsafe, or when a structure is found unfit for human occupancy, or is found unlawful, such structure shall be condemned pursuant to the provisions of this Maintenance Code. ... "CONDEMNED This Structure is Unsafe and Unfit for Human Habitation And Must Be Vacated And Secured By: [DATE]. Occupancy of This Structure After Such Date (or Operation of Condemned Equipment) is Unlawful. The Unlawful Occupation of this Structure (or Operation of the Condemned Equipment) and/or the Removal, Obstruction, or Defacement of this Placard is Punishable by a Fine of Up to $500.00 and/or 60 Days Imprisonment."
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 44 | Land Development Code: Supplement 18).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 15-105, part of the Property Maintenance Code adopted by Ordinance No. 2010-02, lets the City Manager or a designee condemn any structure or piece of equipment found to be unsafe, unfit for human occupancy, or unlawful. The section defines an "unsafe structure" as one that endangers life, health, property, or safety because it lacks fire safeguards or is so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, or of such faulty construction that partial or complete collapse is possible, and separately defines "unsafe equipment" to include boilers, heating equipment, elevators, and electrical wiring in a condition hazardous to occupants.
A structure is "unfit for human occupancy" when it is unsanitary, vermin- or rat-infested, or lacks required ventilation, sanitary, or heating facilities. Once the City Manager condemns a structure, the code walks through a specific process: a written condemnation notice is posted and served on the owner and occupants, describing the property, the defect, and any order to vacate; the owner then gets a reasonable time to repair, replace, or demolish, and can appeal the notice, but failing to appeal within ten days (excluding weekends and legal holidays) waives the right to a hearing.
00 and 60 days imprisonment. If an owner fails to secure a condemned structure in time, the City can close and secure it directly, or by contract, and charge the cost against the property as a special assessment lien.
Violations & Fines
Occupying, or permitting occupancy of, a placarded structure, or operating condemned equipment, is punishable by a fine of up to $500.00 and up to 60 days' imprisonment under § 15-105(7)d. Removing, obstructing, or defacing a condemnation placard carries the same penalty. Separately, general property-maintenance and nuisance violations are charged as Class I civil infractions under § 2-227, carrying a $50.00 civil penalty per citation, with unpaid City abatement costs becoming a special assessment lien on the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who decides a Palm Coast building is unsafe?
What happens after a Palm Coast property is condemned?
What's the penalty for living in a condemned building in Palm Coast?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palm Coast
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Palm Coast to another location·View the Florida property maintenance overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.