§ 12-4. Commencing work before permit issued.

(a)

Any person who commences any work before obtaining the required permits shall be subject to a penalty of 200 percent (two times) of the permit fee for the first offense, 300 percent (three times) of the permit fee for the second offense, and 400 percent (four times) of the permit fee for each subsequent offense. A residential property owner who commences work before obtaining the required permits is subject to a penalty of 100 percent of the permit fee. The penalty fees herein assessed are in addition to, and separate from all other required fees.

(b)

For the purpose of this section, all such penalty fees shall be assessed on offenses occurring within a 12-month period beginning with the first offense.

(c)

Any person who commences any work before obtaining the required permits may be subject to a formal complaint filed against them by the POD with the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board and the applicable State agency.

(Code 1973, § 34-8; Code 1992, § 12-8; Ord. No. 410-G, § 1, 12-16-1999; Ord. No. 453-G, § 1, 12-14-2000; Ord. No. 908-G, § 1(12-8), 1-8-2009)