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Highlands County commissioners hear code enforcement workshop; staff asked to draft foreclosure criteria
Summary
Code enforcement presented inspection, lien and abatement statistics and asked the Board for direction on a potential foreclosure policy. Commissioners generally supported pursuing foreclosure on non‑homestead, repeat offenders and directed staff to return with a list and an agenda item.
Highlands County code enforcement staff reviewed the office’s procedures, caseload and lien activity and asked the Board of County Commissioners for direction on a possible foreclosure policy for properties with unresolved liens.
The workshop opened with Beverly Sinkley, code enforcement administrative supervisor, introducing the team and the presentation. Staff described case workflow from complaint intake through inspection, warning, citation or notice of violation, and the special magistrate process for abatement or daily fines. "Good afternoon, commissioners. Code enforcement team is here to present our workshop," Sinkley said.
Why it matters: staff reported thousands of inspections and hundreds of liens that can affect neighbors, property values and county finances if properties with violations remain unresolved. Commissioners said they wanted tools to accelerate compliance for repeat offenders and nuisance properties while preserving protections for vulnerable residents.
Staff overview and statistics Code enforcement staff said the department conducted 5,535 inspections from July 2024 to July 2025, issued 612 civil citations and 192 notices of violation,…
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