Things to know about City Codes.....By John Ferguson

Useful Links referencing Codes:

http://www.stpete.org/codes/
http://www.stpete.org/codes/information_sheets.asp
http://www.stpete.org/codes/docs/domesticequipment.pdf

As the Codes committee chairperson of the Broadwater Civic Association, my is to assist our neighborhood residents with questions pertaining to city codes, in determining if violations may exist and recommending ways in which to correct these issues in order to keep our neighborhood a safe and comfortable and a nice place for us all to live.  When contacted about a possible violation, we usually check the codes database to determine if the issue has already been reported.  If so, the situation is monitored and any follow up is conducted with the city as necessary.  If the issue appears to be a violation and has not been reported, then we report it and follow up on the progress with the inspector as required.  What we do not do, is actively search the neighborhood looking for suspected violations. 

Since we are not a neighborhood governed by a Home Owner’s Association that can enforce violations ourselves, we have to rely on the assistance and support of the City Codes Compliance Assistance Department (CCAD).  This department responds to phone and email requests for assistance in checking out situations of concern and determining the most effective response when property issues are in violation of the city’s municipal codes.  The department’s phone number is 727-893-7373.

The mission of the CCAD is to maintain the quality and extend the life of existing housing, to stabilize neighborhoods and to protect the public. They do this by educating property owners and enforcing the City codes, including zoning issues and housing and vegetation maintenance standards.

Some of the most common issues facing Broadwater, include:

Domestic equipment includes boats, utility trailers, camper trailers and recreational vehicles. Domestic equipment may only be parked in the prohibited areas on weekends from Thursday’s beginning at 4:00 pm until Mondays ending at 8:00 am. No more than two pieces of domestic equipment (not to exceed 35 feet in length, 8 feet in width, and 12 feet in height) may generally be parked on any one residential lot in the rear or interior side yard of a lot anytime, however depending on the arrangement of the lot or proximity to the street, required shielding or other rules may apply. Parking is not permitted in a waterfront yard. See the links below for additional useful information on parking domestic equipment.

Vegetation overgrowth becomes an unsightly problem during the summer months.  Grass must be mowed so that grass is ten (10) inches or less in overall height and maintain ground cover plants at an overall height of twenty-four (24) inches or less. Property owners are required to maintain vegetation on both the private property and the city right of way, including mowing grass, edging sidewalks and curbs, and trimming hedges and trees, according to specific criteria outlined in the City code.

The law requires that the property owner be notified of violation conditions and given a reasonable time to comply. If the owner fails to bring the property into compliance, the property is referred to the City's Sanitation Department whose crews mow, trim, edge and clear rubbish from the property.  The costs of these activities are charged as a special assessment to the property owner.  Some residents, including seniors, may be eligible for special assistance if they can no longer perform yard work.  More information about such programs can be obtained from the Pinellas County Assistance Program by calling 211 or by visiting http://www.211tampabay.org.

Inoperable vehicles can be any vehicle that:

Inoperative motor vehicles can only be stored inside a fully enclosed structure constructed with proper permits such as a garage.

Abandoned shopping carts have been congregating at the northern boundary of Broadwater along 38th Avenue South and 38th Street South.  On one occasion, one of our Broadwater neighbor Kelly Bradshaw actually picked up the carts in his truck and drove them back to the Wal-Mart and Kmart lots.  We contacted both city services and the manager at Wal-Mart about the problem.  Wal-Mart has responded very responsibly and considerately in increasing their cart retrieval operations from bi-weekly to weekly.

Abandoned houses have become a real problem in many neighborhoods throughout America.  Hopefully the real estate market is stabilizing, but as adjustable rate mortgages begin to escalate, job cuts occur in the economy, and house values continue to decline, the risk of abandoned and foreclosed homes sitting empty can cause a big problem.  Major issues include broken or unlocked fences or enclosures surrounding a pool area where children may be at risk of falling in, stagnate water in pools or the yard providing a great place for mosquitoes to breed, overgrown vegetation, and possibly people occupying the property without permission.  In most cases the foreclosing lender may take possession of an abandoned property to protect their interests.  This may include yard and property maintenance depending on the lender and the situation.

For more information about the CCAD and Saint Petersburg city codes can be found on the city website at http://www.stpete.org or call me, John Ferguson at 727-906-9303 or email me at john@justlistedstpete.com.