VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA CODE OF ORDINANCES CHARTER

The Village of Tequesta stop work order has been lifted beginning at 7:00 a.m. today. 

November 9th, 2022.

Chapter 14 – BUILDINGS AND BUILDING REGULATIONS

ARTICLE VIII. – CONSTRUCTION SITE MAINTENANCE

Sec. 14-182. – Removal and securing of construction materials during tropical storm or hurricane warning or watch.

(a) When the National Weather Service, National Hurricane Center or appropriate weather

agency shall declare a tropical storm watch or warning or a hurricane watch or warning for

any portion of the county, all construction materials, including roof tiles, and debris on all

building and construction sites within the village shall be secured, stored or removed so as

not to create a safety hazard because of hurricane or tropical storm force winds.

(b) Media broadcasts or notices issued by the National Weather Service or National Hurricane

Center of a tropical storm watch or warning or a hurricane watch or warning shall be deemed

sufficient notice to the owner of real property upon which construction is occurring or any

contractor responsible for the construction to secure, store or remove loose construction

debris and loose construction materials against the effects of high winds.

(c) Materials stockpiled on top of any structure under construction shall be permanently

installed by the property owner or contractor upon issuance of a tropical storm watch or

warning or a hurricane watch or warning; provided, however, if such installation cannot be

timely completed, then the property owner or contractor shall:

(1) Band together the construction materials and mechanically fasten them to the top of

the structure in such a manner so as not to present a threat of their becoming airborne

during a tropical storm or hurricane;

(2) Remove the construction materials from the top of the structure and mechanically tie

them down to the ground;

(3) Remove the construction materials from the job site; or

(4) Store the construction materials inside a protected structure.

(d) Such construction materials or debris shall remain secure, stored or removed from the

property until the National Weather Service, National Hurricane Center or other appropriate

weather agency has removed all portions of the county from those areas included in a

tropical storm watch or warning or a hurricane watch or warning.

(e) From June 1 to November 30 of each calendar year (the National Weather Service

designated hurricane season), construction or roofing materials which are loaded on a roof

shall immediately be tied down and shall remain tied down in such a manner as to prevent

such materials from being blown off the roof by heavy winds until the permanent installation

of the materials.

(f) It shall be the joint responsibility of the owner and general contractor to remove, secure, or

to see to the removal or securing of all construction materials and debris as set forth in this

section.

(g) In the event of a violation of this section, in addition to all other remedies provided in this

Code or otherwise by law, the village may take whatever emergency action it deems

necessary to secure, store or remove all loose construction materials and debris, including,

but not limited to, roof tiles and roofing materials. In such circumstances, the village shall

bill the property owner or his agent for all charges and expenses incurred, whether incurred

by the utilization of village personnel and materials or other outside contractors retained by

the village for these purposes. The securing of an outside contractor to perform these

services shall be deemed to be the securing of emergency services and shall not require the

village to utilize a competitive bid process to select a contractor. Should the bill for such

services remain unpaid for a period of 30 days or more, the village may record a claim of lien

encumbering the property and thereafter proceed according to law to enforce the lien.

(h) The enforcement procedures contained in this section are in addition to, and not in lieu of,

any other enforcement procedures or remedies available to the village for the enforcement

of this Code.

(Ord. No. 20-13, § 1, 8-8-2013)