City Getting Tough on Shabby Yards

In an effort to keep this small, high-profile community from looking shabby, city officials are cracking down on homes that lack landscaping in front or side yards.

City staff members identified 24 properties they say have landscaping problems, including yards that have been barren for some time.

The City Council recently decided to give 17 of the property owners until the end of June to comply with the city’s landscaping code. No action will be taken on the remaining seven properties, most of which are parts of old citrus groves.

City Manager Fred W. Maley said notices will be mailed in January to homeowners advising them to comply within six months. “What we’re seeking is compliance,” Maley said.

If property owners fail to respond, the city will issue formal notices of the code violation--a misdemeanor--and property owners could face penalties, including a fine and jail.