Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Building Code topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board to solicit county attorney review before public hearing on building‑code enforcement and religious exemptions
Summary
Staff proposed options to improve enforcement of building-code and certificate-of-occupancy requirements; supervisors expressed concern about possible religious-exemption claims (notably among Amish residents), asked for county attorney Russell Slayton's legal research on exemptions and liability, and agreed to wait for that analysis before scheduling a public hearing.
County staff briefed the Charlotte County Board of Supervisors on enforcement options for building-code violations, including situations where properties lack certificates of occupancy. Staff said the goal is fair and equal enforcement across the county for health and safety reasons and recommended presenting proposed enforcement measures at a public hearing.
Supervisors and members of the public raised concerns about perceived effects on specific communities, especially the Amish. Board members emphasized the need to avoid religious‑liberty conflicts and requested that County Attorney Russell Slayton research any legal precedents, potential exemptions, and liability risks before the board sets a public hearing. One supervisor warned that not enforcing the code could increase county liability if someone were injured.
Staff agreed to provide Slayton's findings and present them at the December meeting; the board expressed consensus to review counsel's research before advancing a public hearing.
Next steps: County Attorney to provide written analysis of authority, precedent and liability considerations; staff will incorporate counsel's findings into a revised enforcement proposal for board review in December.
