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