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Oviedo adopts ordinance to collect delinquent fire inspection fees on utility bills
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Summary
On second reading the council approved Ordinance 17-64 allowing unpaid life-safety inspection invoices older than 30 days to be placed on a business's utility bill; the council clarified the fee schedule and that late fees double the inspection charge after 30 days.
The City Council on April 20 adopted Ordinance 17-64, which adds a code provision to allow the city to place delinquent fire prevention inspection fees on a business’s utility bill if an inspection invoice is more than 30 days past due.
Mister Cobb explained the ordinance formalizes a collections backup for life-safety inspections of businesses. Fire Chief Woodward confirmed the department’s existing fee schedule applies: an inspection fee ranges from about $50 for small businesses up to $200 for very large facilities, and the late-fee practice doubles the inspection fee if unpaid after 30 days ("once it goes 31 days, then that fee doubles"). Staff noted invoices are sent electronically and businesses can pay via an online payment portal to avoid the late fee.
Council members asked that the city be clear in warnings to businesses that unpaid inspection invoices will be placed on utility bills and that the late-fee structure is in the city’s existing fee schedule. With no public opposition, the council adopted the ordinance on second reading.
What’s next: staff will implement the collection process consistent with the fee schedule and the city’s online payment options and will notify business license holders of the billing and late-fee procedures.
