§ 47-4. Property owners or lessors prohibited from renting real property to certain residence restricted sexual offenders; penalties.

(a)

It is unlawful to let or rent any place, structure, or part thereof, modular home, mobile home, recreational vehicle, trailer or other conveyance, with knowledge that it will be used as a permanent or temporary residence by any person prohibited from establishing such permanent or temporary residence pursuant to this article of the Code, if such place, structure, or part thereof, modular home, mobile home, recreational vehicle, trailer or other conveyance, is located within 2,500 feet of a school, child care facility, or public park. Knowingly renting to a residence restricted sexual offender shall include, but shall not be limited to, renting or leasing a residence after being notified that the prospective renter, lessee or adult resident is a residence restricted sexual offender as defined in this article.

(b)

Prior to letting, renting or leasing any place, structure, or part thereof, modular home, mobile home, recreational vehicle, trailer or other conveyance for use as a permanent or temporary residence that is located within 2,500 feet of a school, child care facility, or public park, and annually thereafter if a rental agreement is entered into, the owner or lessor shall at a minimum conduct an internet search (for the state of Florida [www.fdle.state.fl.us] or National Sex Offender Registry [www.nsor.org] as the website addresses may change from time to time) that the prospective renter, lessee or adult resident is not a registered sexual offender as a result of a conviction of a sexual offense as defined in section 47-1 herein. The owner or lessor shall retain evidence of the completion of the state or nationwide search for a period of not less than one year from the effective date of the letting, renting or leasing.

(c)

Penalties.

(1)

A person who violates section 47-4(a) herein shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $250.00 or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 30 days, or both such fine and imprisonment. A person who is convicted of a second or subsequent violation of section 47-4(a) herein shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $500.00 or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 60 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(2)

A person who violates section 47-4(2) herein shall be punished by a civil penalty of $100.00 by civil citation as provided in F.S. Ch. 162, Pt. II. Each day of violation or noncompliance shall constitute a separate offense.

(Ord. No. 2006-08, § 1, 11-21-06)