2d DCA - Code Enforcement Costs/Liens - Strictly Construed

In Stratton v. Sarasota County, (which is a partial end to a long sad story), the 2d DCA held that the costs that the County could recover pursuant to Code Enforcement proceedings under Chapter 162 were strictly limited to the costs described in the statute. Essentially, the County tried to collect for administrative management/overhead costs in excess of the actual costs involved and the Court said no.

But the important issue is that the Court upheld the meaning of Article I, Section 18 by limiting Sarasota County's ability to levy fines in the code enforcement process to those expressly permitted by the statute.