Code Compliance

Responsibilities

The purpose of the Code Compliance Department is to promote, protect, and improve the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Monroe County and the environment by providing equitable, expeditious, and effective enforcement of all County Codes Opens a New Window.  Opens a New Window.  while establishing a working partnership with Monroe County neighborhoods.

Regulation

In order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the property owner, any future occupants or property owners, as well as the general public, Florida statutes and local ordinances require that permits be obtained prior to erecting, altering, constructing, or installing buildings, structures, or service systems. In addition, the law requires that the construction be inspected at specified phases by qualified personnel to assure compliance with the required building and zoning regulations.

Resources

The following resources are provided to help clarify the permit and inspection process required for improvements made to your property:

• Code Violation Permitting Process

Anonymous Complaints Cannot Be Accepted

The Monroe County Code Compliance Department can no longer investigate anonymous code compliance violation reports due to the passage of Senate Bill 60 by the Florida Legislature. The bill changed existing state law to prohibit the investigation of anonymous reports of potential violations of municipal property codes, effective July 1, 2021.

The person reporting the issue is now required to supply their full name and address, and this information will become part of the public record. This applies to submissions made by phone, email, online, or in-person to the Code Compliance Department. 

This does not apply if the person designated as a code inspector has reason to believe that the violation presents an imminent threat to public health, safety, or welfare or imminent destruction of habitat or sensitive resources.

Vacation Rental Program

Special vacation rental means a dwelling unit that is rented, leased, or assigned for tenancies of less than 28 days duration. Information on opening a legal vacation rental can be found here. 

To report an illegal vacation or rental property, call the Monroe County Tax Collector’s Transient Rental Fraud Hotline at 1-855-422-4540, and if in unincorporated Monroe County, file a complaint with Code Compliance below. 

File a Code Compliance Complaint

• Online: Code Compliance Complaint Form
• By phone:
  • Middle Keys: 305-289-2810
  • Lower Keys: 305-295-4343

Noise/Disturbance Issues 

Contact the Sheriff’s Office.

• Upper Keys 305-853-3211
• Middle Keys 305-289-2430
• Lower Keys 305-745-3184

Special Magistrate

All code cases in Monroe County are heard by a Special Magistrate. The Special Magistrate has the authority to subpoena witnesses and records, order rulings on violations, assess fines, and order liens to be placed upon the property. 

Property owners cited by code compliance are given a reasonable amount of time to bring their property into compliance before the case is referred to the Special Magistrate. 

• Special Magistrate