§ 9-325. Issuance of citation.

(a)

A code enforcement officer may issue a citation to a person whenever the code enforcement officer has reasonable and probable grounds to believe, based upon the officer's personal investigation, that a violation of section 9-324 has occurred.

(b)

Citations shall be provided to the alleged violator by hand delivery by the code enforcement officer, by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by leaving the citation at the alleged violator's residence with any person residing thereon who is fifteen (15) years of age or older and informing the person of the contents of the citation. Issuance of a citation to a business may be accomplished by leaving a copy at the business, during regular business hours, with any employee and informing the employee of the contents or certified mail, return receipt requested. Each employee of the business shall be deemed to be an agent of the business for service of citations.

(c)

Violations of this article shall be deemed a civil infraction.

(d)

The citation shall be in such form prescribed by the county administrator or the county administrator's designee and consistent with the requirements of F.S. ch. 489.

(e)

Each violation and each separate day a violation of this article continues shall be a separate and distinct offense. However, a citation must be issued to the alleged violator for each day an alleged violation continues to exist in order for a separate fine to be imposed.

(f)

The maximum civil penalty for each violation shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00).

(Ord. No. 95-7, § 5, 4-25-95; Ord. No. 2001-26, § 1.RR., 12-18-01; Ord. No. 2005-13 , § 1(T), 10-4-05)