Daytona Beach redevelopment staff explains paint‑color approval process, enforcement options

Angela Armstrong, the city's development project manager for the Beachside redevelopment area, told the advisory board on Oct. 5 that any building in the redevelopment zone must have paint colors approved by redevelopment staff before painting begins. Armstrong said the Land Development Code (LDC) requires prior approval and that staff generally looks for "coastal colors," earth tones and hues that "match surrounding areas." "It's not that we dictate the colors. Not at all," Armstrong said. "The colors cannot be bright or fluorescent or too dark for the area."

Why it matters: The policy affects homeowners and businesses in the redevelopment area and interfaces with permitting, code enforcement and a residential façade grant that staff promotes to applicants. Board members and residents said they see dark, non‑pastel colors on several buildings and expressed concern about how property owners and incoming buyers learn about the rule.

The review and timing: Armstrong said redevelopment staff typically advises applicants by phone before an application is filed, reviews submitted color samples, and then issues an approval. She estimated routine reviews take "approximately a week or two depending on my workload" and told the board she encourages applicants to use a palette of traditional Florida or Art Deco hues appropriate to the building's architecture. The staff presentation noted that the LDC language encourages contrasting trim and discourages painting adjacent buildings the same color.

Funding and voluntary programs: Armstrong told the board there is a residential façade grant available to help homeowners pay for painting; staff members routinely inform callers about that grant when address queries come in from permitting and licensing. "If they want to apply, they apply. If not, then it's just a paint color application," she said. She added that staff routinely flags properties being repaired or cited for code violations so owners are advised to secure redevelopment approval to cure violations.

Enforcement: When asked how the city deals with unapproved painting, Armstrong said redevelopment staff works with code enforcement. "If someone paints a building in the redevelopment area and it's not an appropriate paint color according to that sheet," she said, "then we can send code enforcement out there, and code enforcement could issue a letter documenting that you haven't gotten an approved application." She said code enforcement would give property owners the opportunity to file an application and follow the LDC; if compliance does not follow the letter, code enforcement may proceed with an enforcement action.

Board concerns and next steps: Board members and public commenters pushed staff to make the rules more visible and easier to follow for new owners and out‑of‑town buyers. Suggestions included providing a simple, approved color palette for the public, adding notice to utility turn‑on packets or water bills, and ensuring realtors and permitting staff flag properties in the redevelopment area. Armstrong said a formal color chart is not in current LDC text, though a previous redevelopment director had used an approved palette and that staff still uses guidance encouraging "traditional" colors.

Ending: Armstrong told the board she typically approves trim, accent and base color combinations and that property owners who paint without approval risk receiving a code enforcement letter and being asked to file an application. The board discussed whether to draft a recommendation asking planning staff to present options for a readily usable color palette and a notification strategy for new property owners.