Fundamentals of Florida Code
Enforcement UPDATED Exam Questions
and CORRECT Answers
Earliest and most rudimentary building codes of which we have knowledge are attributed to -
CORRECT ANSWER- King Hammurabi (Babylonian Empire) 2000BC
Rome enacted regulations for the safety of public buildings in - CORRECT ANSWER- 27
A.D.
One of the earliest building codes was promulgated by the Mayor of London in 1189, known
as the - CORRECT ANSWER- Assize of Buildings
In 1666, a great fire in London burned out of control for 5 days, prompting Legislation of the
- CORRECT ANSWER- London Building Act
In 1871 the Chicago Fire that killed 250 people and 100,000 homes prompted the city to -
CORRECT ANSWER- enact a building and fire prevention ordinance
The three model building codes currently in use in this country were all developed -
CORRECT ANSWER- in the 20th Century
Uniform Building Code - CORRECT ANSWER- was published in 1927, (replacing the 1905
National Building Code). It is used extensively in the western U.S
Southern Standard Building Code - CORRECT ANSWER- (now Standard Building Code),
published in 1945 is used predominantly in the southeast
The Basic /National Building Code - CORRECT ANSWER- published in 1950, is widely
used in the northeast and midwest
BOCA, SBCCI, and ICBO - CORRECT ANSWER- 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 - CORRECT ANSWER-
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 - CORRECT ANSWER- 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 - CORRECT ANSWER- 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 - CORRECT ANSWER-
community standards.
The term "inspection" - CORRECT ANSWER- is usually understood to mean a close
observation of actual conditions existing on properties' structures and their approved uses.
Code officers/inspectors must be - CORRECT ANSWER- 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 - CORRECT ANSWER- 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 - CORRECT ANSWER- must also guard against unlawful search and
seizure.
,Code officers/inspectors must know - CORRECT ANSWER- 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 - CORRECT ANSWER-
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 - CORRECT ANSWER- enhance other programs and efforts such as historic
preservation, rehabilitation assistance, and revitalization.
The goal of code enforcement is to - CORRECT ANSWER- gain "voluntary compliance."
Educating the public is one of the quickest and most - CORRECT ANSWER- inexpensive
methods of enforcement.
Education of the public - CORRECT ANSWER- can be one of the most effective tools that
code enforcement officials have at their disposal.
Frequently violations occur when - CORRECT ANSWER- property owners do not realize
that they have violated local codes or Ordinances.
Enforcement through informal methods such as education - CORRECT ANSWER- 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: - CORRECT ANSWER- 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 - CORRECT ANSWER- with other departments, agencies, community
organizations, and local businesses.
, Members of these teams can come from a combination of - CORRECT ANSWER- code
enforcement, law enforcement, public works, fire, health, legal (such as city or county
attorneys), and building and zoning departments.
Other partnerships include - CORRECT ANSWER- 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, - CORRECT ANSWER- they
feel as if the government sees their role as unimportant and they soon develop a sense of
disassociation
Restrictive Covenants - CORRECT ANSWER- 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 - CORRECT ANSWER- do not enforce
restrictive covenants or deed restrictions.
Homeowner Association By-Laws - CORRECT ANSWER- 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 - CORRECT ANSWER- are not
enforceable by government agencies.
CHAIN OF COMMAND - CORRECT ANSWER- Its purpose is to: channel effectively and
uniformly information, authority, responsibility, and accountability throughout the
organizational structure.
Chain of Command - CORRECT ANSWER- 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.
