Landlord permit violations are increasing at the Delray Beach Code Enforcement Board hearings. A landlord permit is a $50 per year charge needed to rent out property within city limits. Seventy-seven landlord permit violations were read into record at the Sept. 8 hearing, with only a few of the property owners in violation in attendance. Most of the 77 in delinquency will have to pay an amount triple the original dues. Code Enforcement co-chairman Mark Behar said to obtain a “good standing” landlord permit in these particular cases will now cost those property owners in violation $150.

“If you come into the city and want to rent out your place its $50 per year. If you miss the permit fee it’s tripled,” Behar said.

He said he tried to offer some leniency in this rough economic state, but that the “city rules stipulate not budging on this issue.”

“Landlord permits and water fines are huge funds generators,” Behar said.

Northwest and southwest portions of the city had the most landlord permit violations, some 41 of the 77 violations, yet no area of the city was spared from the delinquencies.

Code enforcement board meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. in the council chambers at 100 NW First Ave. Call Danise Cleckley at 561-243-7213 for more information on the Code Enforcement Board.