Lauderhill, FL Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Registration fee
- $150.00 annual, non-refundable
- Failure-to-register penalty
- $500 civil penalty
- Governing sections
- City Code §§ 10-32 to 10-38
- Responsible party
- Lender/mortgagee, not tenant
- Inspection frequency
- No more than once a month
Summary
In the City of Lauderhill, a lender whose mortgaged property is registered as abandoned under the city's foreclosure-registry ordinance must keep it free of weeds, overgrown grass, brush, trash and abandoned-looking clutter, and must maintain its landscaping, pools, fences and building openings for as long as it stays abandoned.
The lender must comply with any and all applicable laws relative to the abandoned property including, but not limited to, state statutes, federal codes, county codes, building codes, and city codes in order to properly maintain the abandoned property in a secure manner, which shall include but not be limited to, the following requirements for so long as the building remains abandoned. ... (1)Properties subject to this article shall be kept free of weeds, overgrown grass, brush, dead vegetation, trash, junk, debris, building materials, any accumulation of newspapers, circulars, flyers, notices, except those required by federal, state, or local law, discarded personal items included, but not limited to, furniture, clothing, large and small appliances, printed material or any other items that give the appearance that the property is abandoned.
Full Breakdown
City Code Section 10-32 defines 'abandoned property' as real property that is vacant of lawful occupants, or not properly maintained, and subject to a lis pendens, an ongoing foreclosure, a mortgagee's sale notice, a pending tax lien sale, or a completed foreclosure or deed-in-lieu transfer. Once a lender registers such a property under Section 10-34, paying a $150 non-refundable annual registration fee, Section 10-36 sets the maintenance floor for as long as the property remains abandoned: the property must be kept free of weeds, overgrown grass, brush, dead vegetation, trash, junk, debris, building materials, accumulated newspapers and flyers, and discarded furniture, clothing or appliances that make the property look abandoned.
The lender must also remove or paint over graffiti, maintain front, side and rear yard landscaping to the standard in effect when registration was required, keep pools and spas sanitary and enclosed per city, county and Florida Building Code rules, reasonably maintain structural integrity, stairs, fences and gates, and keep doors and windows secured and weather-tight. A failure to timely register or renew draws a citation and a $500 civil penalty under Section 10-34(d), and the city may notify the lender's maintenance agent of a Section 10-36 violation and initiate repairs itself, recovering the cost as a lien superior to other mortgage liens under Section 10-37.
Violations & Fines
Failing to register an abandoned property, letting registration lapse, or failing to meet the Section 10-36 maintenance standards (weeds, landscaping, pools, structural upkeep, secured openings) draws a citation and a $500 civil penalty under Section 10-34(d); an uncorrected maintenance failure lets the city initiate repairs and recover the full cost from the lender as a special assessment lien under Section 10-37.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for maintaining a vacant, foreclosed property in Lauderhill?
What must a Lauderhill abandoned property registration include?
What happens if a lender does not maintain a registered abandoned property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lauderhill
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Vacant Lot Maintenance in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Broward County handle vacant lot maintenance.