County consultant urges centralizing code enforcement; commissioners direct staff to develop implementation plan

Mike Rhodes, who led a consultant review of Seminole County's code enforcement program, told the Board of County Commissioners the system is decentralized across four departments and the sheriff’s office and that the current process often takes many months to reach a hearing. Rhodes said the county’s processes and penalties are inconsistent and recommended adopting a minimum property maintenance code, revising penalty guidance in chapter 53, rolling out new case-management software and consolidating enforcement under a single county office.