Code Violations · Fines · Liens

Code violations piling up? You can still sell.

Overgrown yard notices, unpermitted work, an unsafe-structure order, or a fine that grows every day — a code case doesn’t stop you from selling. It does mean the numbers need to be checked before anyone signs.

The short answer

Yes, you can sell a Florida house with open code violations or recorded code liens. Recorded fines and liens show up in the title search and are paid, released or resolved at closing from the sale proceeds. We buy as-is, so you don’t have to fix the violation first.

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How code fines turn into a lien in Florida

Florida’s code enforcement law is Chapter 162 of the Florida Statutes. Under section 162.09:

What a code lien means when you sell

  1. It shows up in the title search. The title company finds recorded code liens and asks the city or county for a payoff figure.
  2. It is paid or released at closing. Like taxes and mortgages, a recorded lien is settled from the sale proceeds on the settlement statement, so it doesn’t follow you after the sale.
  3. The violation itself may need a plan. Some violations (an unsafe structure, unpermitted additions) will be the buyer’s job to cure after closing. A cash buyer who buys as-is takes that on; a retail buyer’s lender often won’t.
  4. The fine total matters for timing. Because fines run daily, every week of delay can change the payoff. Get the current number early.

What we buy

You get a written cash offer, usually within 24 hours of the walkthrough, with the lien payoffs we know about shown in the math. AL calls you himself — usually the same day.

Your options — not just the one where you call us

  1. Fix it and ask for a reduction. If the repair is small, curing the violation stops the daily fines and puts you in a better position to ask the board to reduce what has already accrued.
  2. Sell and let closing settle it. If the repair is big, the fines are large, or you simply don’t want the house, a sale pays the recorded liens from the proceeds and hands the cure to the buyer.
  3. Talk to a Florida attorney if a foreclosure on the lien has been filed or the fines are disputed.

Related: selling a house that needs major repairs and what as-is really means in Florida.

Sources

Straight Answers

Questions we hear a lot

Can I sell my house with an open code violation in Florida?

Yes. An open code case doesn’t take away your right to sell. Recorded fines and liens are paid or released from the sale proceeds at closing, and a buyer who buys as-is can take on the repair after closing.

How much can code enforcement fine me per day?

Under Florida Statutes 162.09 the standard caps are $250 a day for a first violation and $500 a day for a repeat violation. Counties and cities with 50,000 or more residents can adopt higher caps of up to $1,000 a day for a first violation and $5,000 a day for a repeat violation.

Can the city foreclose on my house for a code lien?

After a code lien has gone unpaid for 3 months the enforcement board can authorize a foreclosure or a lawsuit for a money judgment, but Florida law does not allow a code lien to be foreclosed on a homestead property.

Can code enforcement fines be reduced?

Yes, the statute allows the enforcement board to reduce a fine it imposed. Each city and county runs its own reduction process, so ask the code enforcement office that issued the order.

AL Cakici, owner of Tampete Homes LLC (HomeSellerCashOffer)

AL Cakici · Owner, HomeSellerCashOffer (Tampete Homes LLC)

AL buys houses in Pinellas and Hillsborough for his own account and has personally purchased and assisted with 100+ transactions over 10+ years across the country. He is not an attorney; this page is general information drawn from the sources linked below, not legal advice. Facts checked against those sources on October 8, 2026.

What sellers say

Posted on Google

“I was skeptical at first when these guys approached me about my home, but they were very knowledgeable and straightforward. They did all the work. These guys know what it means to do good business, which is unfortunately rare nowadays.”

A
Andrew Z.
Google review, 2026
Posted on Google

“Working with HomeSellerCashOffer has been nothing but a positive experience. Al is extremely professional, transparent, and always a pleasure to work with. He communicates clearly, keeps the process smooth, and goes above and beyond to make sure everything stays on track”

M
Matthew N.
Google review, 2025
Posted on Google

“As an investor myself, I get bombarded from people trying to buy my houses. AL and his team were miles above anybody else that’s approached me, super knowledgeable, professional and transparent. Recommend to anyone that wants top tier service.”

J
Joshua H.
Google review, January 2026

Talk to AL — not a call center.

Straight answers first. If selling isn’t your best move, he’ll say so.

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HomeSellerCashOffer is the registered trade name of Tampete Homes LLC. Got a letter from Tampete Homes? Same owner, same office, same phone.