Local

Apopka city ordinance confusion could be costly for resident

APOPKA, Fla. — An Apopka man said he did his best to follow city rules to store his trailer, but now it might cost him.

The man, who asked not to be identified, got a warning from the city telling him to move his work trailer parked in his yard or face a fine, but it turns out, the man is on the losing end of a city code screw-up because the city's website doesn't match its codes.

In this case, there is a difference between actual city ordinance, and the guidelines listed on Apopka's website, the place where most people would go to make sure they're following the rules.

That's what one Apopka man thought he was doing when he was blindsided by a violation notice.

It's a clear violation of Apopka city ordinance; a work trailer, parked in the side yard of a home.

It’s strictly prohibited in article seven of city codes listing where residents can store trailers.

“I got the letter from Code Enforcement stating that it has to be parked in the back yard,” the man said.

That's where things get less clear.

The owner, who asked not to be identified, told Channel 9 he thought he was following city rules.

The rules listed on Apopka's website shows common code violations.

It reads that trailers can be parked in the side yard, hidden from view with shrubbery, which is what the man planned to do when he brought home his new work trailer.

“You would think it would be all right,” he said.

He didn't know he'd have to rip down a fence, tear up landscaping and dig out a tree to move it into the backyard.

It was an unexpected project, all because of a few words difference on the website.

Channel 9’s Kimberly Eiten asked the city why its website and ordinances don't match.

A spokesperson said in an email, "The guidelines on the website were created years ago and are intended to summarize best practices of common code enforcement issues."

“You do your research first. See exactly what you can and cannot do, and then you won't get into this situation,” the man said.

He is now working on a deadline to move the trailer, or face a monthly re-inspection assessment.

The city said it is working on a new website due out as early as October.