The Lehigh Acres Community Planning Corporation (LACPC) discussed a proposed rent ordinance put forth by Edd Weiner, LACPC’S vice chairman at its meeting on February 11.

The ordinance would require that property owners of all single-family, duplex and multi-family units in Lehigh Acres – unless exempt – to obtain a permit and submit to inspection before the unit could be rented.

A yearly fee of $100 would be charged for each unit. The owner would have to comply with the International Property Maintenance Code, according to a draft copy of the ordinance.

The county could obtain an administrative search warrant if after notice there is a refusal to allow entry into the dwelling.

Weiner also suggested a requirement for a real estate agent or property manager to be an owner’s local agent to receive notices.

Commissioner Frank Mann and county staff attended the meeting to provide information.

Bob Stewart of Lee County Department of Community Development (DCD) who oversees code enforcement said that “Bonita Springs charges a $100 fee for a three-year renewal program.” He also reported that they do 600 a year generating $60,000 in revenue, requiring a full time staff of three and a cost of $400,000.

Mary Gibbs, DCD director, said that with 8,000 licenses, a large staff would be required and “not effective use of resources.” Stewart said that Bonita has a “60 percent failure rate on inspections.”

Using Bonita Springs as an actual example, Lehigh Acres would require a staff of 100 and a budget of more than $5 million.

Mann told the group there “is now 12 code enforcement in Lehigh.”

Assistant County Attorney Dawn Perry-Lehnert expressed the legal concern of treating some different from others.

Other than another elected official, no one from the public attended the meeting.

Lee County Public Resources confirmed after the meeting that no legal notice had been published for the meeting.

At the request of Commissioner Frank Mann, the LACPC approved the Lehigh Acres Community Plan, which was developed by Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC at a cost of $500,000. The plan now goes to the Board of County Commissioners for review, modification, and final adoption. Coming up with a community plan is why the LACPC was created. The next meeting of the LACPC will be March 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Veterans Park Community Center.