Common Code Violations

Print
Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option

Below is a list of common code violations. To review the Collier County Code of Laws and Ordinances go to Municode, from there you can search for laws by key words or look up specific laws by chapter and section.

ANIMALS

Turkeys, chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, horses, cows, goats, hogs, and the like are prohibited in residential zoned district. In the Estates Zoned District, you can have a total of 25 fowl/ poultry; 2 hoofed animals allowed per acre (such as horses, goats, cows). NO pigs/hogs allowed.

Animal enclosures shall be a minimum of 30 feet from any lot line, and a minimum of 100 feet from any residence on an adjacent parcel.  Please confirm with the Building and Permitting Department if a permit is required before erecting the enclosure.

[Ordinance 04-41, Section 04.02.07, Section 02.03.01, and Section 02.03.02] 

BUSINESS TAX RECEIPTS AND HOME OCCUPATION

LOCAL BUSINESS TAX

No person shall engage in or manage any business, profession, or occupation anywhere in Collier County, including within municipalities, for which a local business tax is required by this article unless the required local business tax receipt shall have been issued by the Collier County Tax Collector or in some instances, the tax collector in another Florida County. A separate receipt shall be required for each geographic location (situs) of the respective business, profession, or occupation. The tax receipt shall be issued to each person upon the tax collector's receipt of the applicable local business tax and upon compliance with other applicable requirements.

[Code of Laws and Ordinances, Section 126-111]

HOME OCCUPATIONS

There shall be no retail sale of materials, goods, or products from the premises.

The home occupation shall be clearly incidental to the use of the dwelling for dwelling purposes. The existence of the home occupation shall not change the character of the dwelling.

A. An allowable home occupation shall be conducted by an occupant of the dwelling.

B. There shall be no on-site or off-site advertising signs.

C. The use shall not generate more traffic than would be associated with the allowable residential use. To that end, traveling to and from as well as meeting or parking at the residence by either employees of the business operated there from who are not residing at the subject address or by customers or clients of the home occupations is prohibited.

D. There shall be no receiving of goods or materials other than normal delivery by the U.S. Postal Service or similar carrier.

E. Parking or storage of commercial vehicles or equipment shall be allowable only in compliance with the requirements for commercial vehicles in the County Code. 

F. The on-site use of any equipment or materials shall not create or produce excessive noise, obnoxious fumes, dust, or smoke.      

G. The on-site use of any equipment or tools shall not create any amount of vibration or electrical disturbance.     

H. No on-site use or storage of any hazardous material shall be kept in such an amount as to be potentially dangerous to persons or property outside the confines of the home occupation.

I. There shall be no outside storage of goods or products, except plants. Where plants are stored, no more than fifty (50) percent of the total square footage of the lot may be used for plant storage.

J. A home occupation shall be subject to all applicable County occupational licenses and other business taxes.  

[Ordinance 04-41, Section 5.02.00]


GARAGE SALES

A permit is required for garage sales, and other similar temporary sales to be held at private homes, churches, community centers, or other non-profit institutions. The permit includes the use of a temporary sign   located on the property where the sale is being held, not in the County Right-of Way. Permits are limited to 1 (48 hour) permit every 6 months per residence or institution.

[Ordinance 04-41, Section 5.04.05 (C)]


PERMITS

ACCESSORY STRUCTURES

All vertical structures require a building permit and must meet setback requirements, structural codes and/or have tie downs. This includes the following structures:    

  • Pools and pool enclosures

  • Sheds and other storage structures    

  • Pergolas

  • Guest Houses

  • Detached Garages

[Ordinance 04-41, Section 10.02.06 (B)]

FENCE PERMIT AND MAINTENANCE

A building permit is required to erect a fence on any parcel of land and must meet the restrictions of each zoning district. The finished side of the fence or wall shall face the adjoining lot or any abutting right-of-way.  All fences and walls shall be maintained in a manner that will not detract from the neighborhood. [Ordinance 04-41, Section 5.03.02]


POOL MAINTENANCE

All swimming pools, spas, ponds, or other decorative bodies of water, not otherwise regulated by the Health Department, shall be properly maintained so as not to create a safety hazard or harbor insect infestation.

 Water shall not be allowed to stagnate or become polluted. All pools shall be free from unsightly   appearance, including but not limited to, free of mold, litter, and debris.

[Code of Laws and Ordinances, Section 22-231(15)] 


RIGHT-OF-WAY

A permit is required for any construction activities, digging, excavation, or obstruction on Collier County Rights-of-Way, except for mailboxes which must be mounted on a breakaway- type post. Parking in the right-of-way is prohibited.

[Code of Laws and Ordinances, Section 110-31]


SHORT TERM RENTAL

A business Tax Receipt is required for Short Term Rentals pursuant to Collier County Code of Laws and Ordinances, Chapter 126, Section 126-127.

  • Sec. 126-127. - Hotel, apartment hotel, motel, etc., as defined in Chapter 509, Florida Statutes.

(a) Every person engaged in Collier County in the business of renting accommodations, as defined in Chapter 509, Florida Statutes, shall pay for each respective place of business (situs) the amount of $1.50 for each such rental unit. No place of business shall pay less than $15.00 for such local business tax receipt. The maximum total tax for the rental units at one situs shall not exceed $1,000.00. The unit count to be used in this section shall be the same as used by the Florida Division of Hotels and Restaurants of the Department of Business Regulation under Chapter 509, Florida Statutes.

(b) The tax collector shall not issue a tax receipt to any business coming under the provisions of this section until a license has been procured for such place of business in Collier County from the Florida Division of Hotels and Restaurants of the Department of Business Regulation under Chapter 509, Florida Statutes.

Hotels, Motel, Apartments and other lodging

Collier County, Florida - Code of Ordinances Chapter 126 - TAXATION ARTICLE IV. - LOCAL BUSINESS TAX


SIGNS - PROHIBITED

Any sign not specifically permitted by the sign code is prohibited.

  • Portable signs

  • Roof signs

  • Animated or activated (movement) signs.

  • Un-permitted signs placed in any County right-of-way

  •  Clear or uncovered neon signs

[Ord. 04-41, Sec. 5.06.06]


VEHICLES - PARKING AND STORAGE

COMMERCIAL PARKING

It shall be unlawful to park a commercial vehicle or commercial equipment on any lot in a Residential District unless one of the following conditions exists:

(1) The vehicle and/or equipment is engaged in a construction or service operation on the site where it is parked. The vehicle or equipment must be removed as soon as the construction or service activity has been completed.

(2) The vehicle and/or equipment is parked in a garage or fully enclosed structure or carport which is structurally or vegetatively screened and cannot be seen from adjacent properties or the street serving the lot.

(3) The vehicle is parked in the rear of the main structure and is enclosed within a vegetative screening which conceals the vehicle from the view of neighbors.

(4) Automobiles, passenger type vans, and pickup trucks having a rated load capacity of one ton or less, all of which do not exceed 7.5 feet in height, nor 7.0 feet in width, nor 25 feet in length shall be exempted from this section unless otherwise prohibited by a special parking overlay district created pursuant to LDC Section 2.03.07M.

(5) Exempted from this section are small commercial equipment such as ladders and pipes that cannot be contained in the vehicle. Said equipment shall be limited to one ladder or one unit of pipe which does not exceed 12 inches in diameter per commercial vehicle. Said equipment shall be secured atop the vehicle and shall not extend beyond the length, height or width of the vehicle.

[Code of Laws and Ordinances, Section 130-97]

PARKING IN PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY

Parking or storing of vehicles on a public right-of-way or vacant property is prohibited. This also applies, but is not limited to, boat trailers, campers and utility trailers.

PARKING IN GRASS (Residential Zones, does not include Estates Zone)

Parking of cars is to be limited to a stabilized surface. Parking on the grass is prohibited.

[Ord. 04-41, Section 4.05.03]

RECREATIONAL VEHICLES

(a) No Recreational Vehicle shall be used for living, sleeping, or housekeeping purposes when parked or stored on a lot in a Residential District, or any location not approved for such use. In Residential Districts permitting single-family homes or mobile homes, a Recreational Vehicle may be parked or stored only in a rear yard, or in a completely enclosed building, or in a carport, or on davits or cradles adjacent to waterways on residentially zoned property; provided, however, that such Recreational Vehicle may be parked anywhere on residential premises, other than on county rights-of-way or right-of-way easements for a period not to exceed six hours within a time period of seven days for loading and unloading, and/or cleaning prior to or after a trip. For the purpose of this section, the rear yard for a corner lot shall be considered to be that portion of the lot opposite the street with the least frontage. For through lots, the rear yard shall be considered to be that portion of the lot lying between the rear elevation (by design) of the residence and the street.

(b) The following exceptions may be granted by the County Manager or his designee:

(1) Recreational Vehicles may be parked only on a driveway located within the front yard and/or on a driveway located within the side yard of a single-family or mobile home residence other than on County rights-of-way or right-of-way easements for a period not to exceed 48 hours within any given 7-day time period so long as a permit is obtained from the Collier County Code Enforcement Department. Said permit must be affixed to the Recreational Vehicle in such a way that the permit is visible from the street. Such permits shall be available on-line at the Collier County Code Enforcement Department website.

(2) Recreational Vehicles may be parked upon the premises of the resident for a period not exceeding seven days for the purpose of repairing and/or cleaning prior to or after a trip. A temporary use permit must be obtained from the Collier County Code Enforcement Department to authorize this activity. Said permit must be affixed to the Recreational Vehicle in such a way that the permit is visible from the street. No more than two consecutive permits may be issued, and the maximum number of permits issued during one calendar year shall be restricted to four.

(3) Nonresident: Such car, trailer, bus or motor-home, when used for transportation of visitors to this county to visit friends or members of the visitor's family residing in this county may be parked upon the premises of the visited family for a period not exceeding seven days. A temporary use permit must be obtained from the Collier County Code Enforcement Department to authorize this activity. Said permit must be affixed to the Recreational Vehicle in such a way that the permit is visible from the street. This does not allow for living, sleeping, or housekeeping purposes. No more than two consecutive permits may be issued, and the maximum number of permits issued during one calendar year shall be restricted to four.

 [Code of Laws and Ordinances, Section 130-96]

UNLICENSED AND NOT IMMEDIATELY OPERABLE VEHICLES

Vehicles or trailers of any type that are not immediately operable or used for the purpose for which they were manufactured without mechanical or electrical repairs or the replacement of parts; or do not meet the Florida Safety Code; or do not have current valid license plates; or do not meet the definition of Recreational Vehicle shall not be parked or stored in any Residential District, including the E estates district, other than in a completely enclosed building. For the purpose of this section, a license plate shall not be considered valid unless it is both affixed to a vehicle or trailer in a fashion authorized by Florida law and is registered to the vehicle or trailer upon which it is displayed.

 [Code of Laws and Ordinances, Section 130-95] 


WEEDS, GRASS AND OTHER NON-PROTECTED OVERGROWTH

The accumulation of weeds, grass, or similar overgrowth in excess of eighteen (18) inches in height on a mowable lot is a violation.

On an Estates zoned property it is a violation when the accumulation of weeds, grass or other similar overgrowth is more than eighteen (18) inches in height and located within 30 feet of a residential structure. 

[Code of Laws and Ordinances. Section 54-185]