The Ocoee City Commission supported updates to the city’s code enforcement and foreclosure policies for residential properties during the Tuesday, Feb. 3, meeting.
Ocoee Police Chief Vincent Ogburn presented a proposed framework that would strengthen enforcement, establish clearer timelines for foreclosure and reduce long-standing inconsistencies in how violations are handled.
Under the proposed policy, the city would follow Chapter 162 of the Florida Statutes, which allows the city to implement a fine of up to $250 per day per violation and increase the fines to a maximum of $500 per day per violation, Richard Geller, Ocoee city attorney, said. Implementing the fine threshold is to encourage early compliance and prevent excessive lien accumulation. Ogburn also recommended beginning a foreclosure review six months after a lien is recorded if fines exceed $15,000 and the owner has failed to respond to repeated notices. Any homestead property would not be targeted for foreclosure, he added, but rental and other non-homestead properties are subject to the process…