26-2288 Amend City Code Section 2-425 Special Service Fees ORDINANCE NO. 26-2288
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LONGWOOD, FLORIDA, AMENDING
LONGWOOD CITY CODE CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE VII, SECTION 2-425,
REGARDING SPECIAL SERVICE FEES; PROVIDING FOR AN INCREASE IN THE
SPECIAL SERVICE FEE FOR OUTSTANDING LIEN SEARCHES, SPECIAL
ASSESSMENTS, UTILITY BALANCES, FEES, AND FINES; PROVIDING FOR
CONFLICTS, CODIFICATION, SEVERABILITY, AND EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City Clerk's Office receives requests for outstanding lien searches
(property searches) on individual parcels within the City boundaries to determine if City liens,
special assessments, utility balances, code enforcement actions, permits, fees, fines, or other
matters exist on certain parcels of real property; and
WHEREAS, requires staff to research records maintained by multiple City departments,
compile and verify the information, prepare a written response, and provide the completed
report to the requestor; and
WHEREAS, the nature of these requests requires extensive clerical and supervisory
assistance and the use of City resources; and
WHEREAS, the current special service fee has remained unchanged since 2015 and no
longer adequately reflects the administrative costs associated with processing property search
requests; and
WHEREAS, staff conducted a survey of comparable municipalities within Seminole,
Orange, and Volusia Counties and determined that the proposed fee remains competitive with
surrounding jurisdictions while improving the City's recovery of administrative costs
WHEREAS, section 166.201, Florida Statutes, authorizes municipalities to raise fees and
amounts of money which are necessary for the conduct of municipal government; and
WHEREAS, section 119.07(4)(d), Florida Statutes, authorizes an agency to charge a
reasonable special service fee, in addition to the actual cost of duplication, when the nature or
volume of public records requested requires extensive clerical or supervisory assistance by
agency personnel; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission finds that the special service fee established herein is
reasonable and is based upon the costs actually incurred by the City for the staff time and
resources necessary to perform property searches.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
LONGWOOD, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1: Section 2-425, Special Service Fees, is hereby amended to read as follows (Words
that are Gtrickcn out are deletions; words that are underlined are additions):
Ordinance No.26-2288
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Sec. 2-425. -- Special Service Fees for Indebtedness Searches.
A fee of $2 $40.00, paid before any search will be processed, shall be charged per
research request for each parcel of real property requiring a search of the city's official
records and production of a property search report identifying any outstanding liens,
special assessments, utility balances, fees and fines that are reasonably ascertainable.
The form of the report shall be in the manner prescribed by the city clerk and a copy shall
be filed with the city clerk's office.
SECTION 2: Conflicts. In the event of a conflict or conflicts between this Ordinance and other
ordinances, this Ordinance shall control to the extent such conflict exists.
SECTION 3: Severability. If any provisions of this Ordinance or the application thereof to any
person or circumstances are held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions of
applications of this ordinance which can be given effect without invalid provision or application,
and to this end the provisions of this ordinance are declared severable.
SECTION 4: Codification. Section 1 of this Ordinance shall be codified, and such section may be
renumbered or relettered as required for organizational purposes and to accomplish the intent
of this Ordinance.
SECTION 5: Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect on February 1, 2027 after its
adoption by the City Commission of the City of Longwood, Florida.
FIRST READING: T1145Us{- 3I 20267
SECOND READING: )oils+- � ' 02(,
PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS I14hDAY OF (,1�,( , 2026
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Liane Cartagena, City Clerk
Approve form and legality for the use and reliance of the City of Longwood, Florida only.
Daniel W. La I , y Attorney
Ordinance No.26-2288
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