Code violators can get a break

The city of Plantation on Monday began offering people who have past-due code enforcement fines a break with its new “amnesty” program.

Under the program, property owners with pending fines can apply for as much as a 15 percent discount — on the condition that they fix their properties, too.

The city estimates it has 326 active, outstanding code liens on 216 properties. It’s worth $23.7 million in fines and liens.

For the city, it’s not about collecting the money, said Horace McHugh, the city’s chief administration officer.

“It is intended to deal with those properties that continue to negatively impact the appearance of our community and the safety of our citizens,” he wrote in a memo to the council.

“I think the city’s patience has been more than generous,” said Councilwoman Lynn Stoner.

And the city will let residents who qualify know their homes may go into foreclosure if they don’t eventually do something.

That’s because the city is legally entitled to take stronger enforcement action on non-homestead properties.

“We’re encouraging them … to comply ... because if they don’t participate the city can take additional enforcement action,” McHugh said Friday.

“It’s not a threat, it’s just a notification,” said Mayor Diane Veltri Bendekovic.

Some of the citations could include overgrown grass, fences in disarray, green pools or pools without fences.

Plantation last tackled an amnesty program in 2011.

At the time, there were 229 liens with $8.3 million in fines. Five liens were paid off and the city collected $21,590.27 — the city at the time offered a discount of 90 percent off the fines.

It’s a program not typically offered by cities. Hollywood offered an amnesty once, but only a few homeowners out of a “substantial” pool participated.

Coral Springs considered it in 2015, but realized a large majority of the properties with code liens and violations were in some stage of foreclosure anyway. Coral Springs now offers a popular “reduction” program where violators are granted a reduced fine depending on individual circumstances.

Others are interested: Lauderdale-by-the-Sea officials said this week they are considering a similar amnesty program to make a dent in $15 million worth of code violations.