Fundamentals of Florida Code
Enforcement Exam Questions And
Answers
Earliest and most rudimentary building codes of which we have knowledge are attributed to -
ANS King Hammurabi (Babylonian Empire) 2000BC
Rome enacted regulations for the safety of public buildings in - ANS 27 A.D.
One of the earliest building codes was promulgated by the Mayor of London in 1189, known as
the - ANS Assize of Buildings
In 1666, a great fire in London burned out of control for 5 days, prompting Legislation of the -
ANS London Building Act
In 1871 the Chicago Fire that killed 250 people and 100,000 homes prompted the city to - ANS
enact a building and fire prevention ordinance
The three model building codes currently in use in this country were all developed - ANS in
the 20th Century
Uniform Building Code - ANS was published in 1927, (replacing the 1905 National Building
Code). It is used extensively in the western U.S
Southern Standard Building Code - ANS (now Standard Building Code), published in 1945
is used predominantly in the southeast
The Basic /National Building Code - ANS published in 1950, is widely used in the northeast
and midwest
BOCA, SBCCI, and ICBO - ANS The three code organizations active throughout the
United States are
In an effort to consolidate codes and produce one standard that can be used, BOCA, ICBO, and
SBCC] united and formed the International Code Council and the International Building Codes.
Florida elected not to adopt the International Code instead - ANS adopting the State of
Florida Building Code in March of 2002.
,The history of housing codes in the United States began during the colonial period. As
settlement of the colonies spread settlers discovered that certain conditions were not conducive
- ANS to the general health and safety of the people.
Authorities have refined housing codes through the years and now enforce them in many areas
of this and other countries. These codes establish minimum standards for health, safety, and
welfare and are targeted at preventing - ANS the creation of substandard dwellings and
slums
Local governments face a whole new problem when lack of maintenance on buildings causes
deterioration. This "blight" can spread rapidly through residential and business districts alike.
This occurs unless there are restrictions or enforcement of - ANS community standards.
The term "inspection" - ANS is usually understood to mean a close observation of actual
conditions existing on properties' structures and their approved uses.
Code officers/inspectors must be - ANS trained, qualified, and competent to determine
whether conditions that they observe meet the minimum requirements specified in the locally
adopted codes.
Code officer/inspectors should be familiar - ANS with the court or code enforcement
punitive process and appellate procedures. In addition, code officer/inspectors should know
process is necessary to appeal code requirements.
The administrative elements deal with the procedures to ensure the observation of the
constitutional doctrines of reasonableness, equal protection under the law, and due process.
The procedures - ANS must also guard against unlawful search and seizure.
Code officers/inspectors must know - ANS the departmental mission and be able to take
whatever action is necessary to best meet that goal.
Code enforcement today addresses a wide range of issues that affect - ANS the
environment, health, safety, property values, and general well - being of the general public
Code enforcement programs not only achieve their primary health, safety and welfare goals but
also - ANS enhance other programs and efforts such as historic preservation, rehabilitation
assistance, and revitalization.
The goal of code enforcement is to - ANS gain "voluntary compliance."
Educating the public is one of the quickest and most - ANS inexpensive methods of
enforcement.
,Education of the public - ANS can be one of the most effective tools that code enforcement
officials have at their disposal.
Frequently violations occur when - ANS property owners do not realize that they have
violated local codes or Ordinances.
Enforcement through informal methods such as education - ANS can help reduce tension
and prevent adversarial relationships between the public and regulatory agencies.
Perhaps the best way to reach the greatest number of people: - ANS is to publish and
distribute pamphlets or brochures which briefly describe available services, general code
requirements, and information about the department's function, and its telephone numbers.
Code enforcement agencies have also become involved in a variety of programs and
partnerships - ANS with other departments, agencies, community organizations, and local
businesses.
Members of these teams can come from a combination of - ANS code enforcement, law
enforcement, public works, fire, health, legal (such as city or county attorneys), and building and
zoning departments.
Other partnerships include - ANS involving citizens from community organizations and local
businesses. These could include homeowner associations, neighborhood associations, property
managers, and property owners.
-If the citizens provide information, and receive none in return, - ANS they feel as if the
government sees their role as unimportant and they soon develop a sense of disassociation
Restrictive Covenants - ANS those property restrictions legally agreed upon, recorded, and
legally binding on the property owner. They are sometimes called deed restrictions and can vary
as to the content, purpose, and length of time the restriction app lies.
It is important to remember that government entities - ANS do not enforce restrictive
covenants or deed restrictions.
Homeowner Association By-Laws - ANS By-laws are another example of restrictions
employed by homeowners' associations to create, preserve, or develop quality-of-life standards
for their communities.
-Many homeowner associations will attempt government intervention for enforcement of their
rules. Rules adopted by the homeowner's association - ANS are not enforceable by
government agencies.
, CHAIN OF COMMAND - ANS Its purpose is to: channel effectively and uniformly
information, authority, responsibility, and accountability throughout the organizational structure.
Chain of Command - ANS Provide a structural relationship between the code enforcement
officer/inspector and the supervisor/director; limit and control the number of people who report to
the city or county administrator; and achieve the goals and objectives of the code enforcement
unit.
The code enforcement officer/inspector plays a crucial role on the team by - ANS fulfilling
objectives, coordinating activities, ensuring proper function of sub- units, understanding the
extent of individual duties, and being accountable for individual and team actions.
AGENCY OR DEPARTMENTAL POLICY - ANS Depending upon a jurisdictions and local
governing body's enforcement philosophy, code enforcement may be either reactive (complaint
driven) or proactive (needs driven as determined by staff observation or other methods)
-Response time means the period in which a code enforcement officer/inspector must respond
(investigate) to an alleged violation or complaint. - ANS A good rule of thumb is to act on
the issue within 24 hours of receiving the complaint
Departments must maintain all records in compliance with - ANS F.S.112 the Public
Records Law
Ill. COMPLAINT PROCESS - ANS Process to receive complaints, for example, by mail,
telephone, inter-office, inter-departmental, inter-agency
-Some jurisdictions will take anonymous complaints. F.S. 162 requires - ANS that the code
enforcement code officer/inspector have personal knowledge of the violation. The statute does
not require identity of the complainant and that information is inconsequential
-The most important piece of information to obtain is - ANS the location of the violation or
alleged activity.
-Concise questions - ANS will allow the most productive use of the only encounter the
officer/inspector may have with the complainant.
-The obvious questions to ask during a telephone complaint or during a personal contact
complaint taken in the field regarding a possible code violation should answer the questions -
ANS of Who? What? Where? How?, and possibly Why?
-code enforcement officers/inspectors - need to know the location, zoning, property ownership,
and - ANS any other pending status of the property that may have a bearing on how they
handle the violation and what they do with the complaint.
