Property Owner Responsibilities

According to City Ordinance C-02-39, connection to the newly installed sewer system will be required once the area is certified as complete by the Broward County Development Management Division and a Project Completion Date is set by the City Engineer.  WaterWorks 2011 anticipates the Project Completion Date to be approximately 150 days or more after construction completion.  As much as the Project Management Team strives to adhere to schedules, they are subject to change. 

As a property owner, you will have to pay a one-time conversion cost to convert your property from septic tank to sanitary sewer service. If you own a single-family home, you can expect the one-time conversion cost to be approximately $2,500 - $4,500.  In addition to the one time cost, you will have to pay a sewer service fee as part of your monthly utility bill.  

Property owners must be connected within 90-days of the Project Completion Date as set forth in City Ordinance C-02-39. Failure to pay and hook up within 90 days will result in enforcement actions. The Treasury Division can bill and file a lien against the property (in accordance with Florida Statute 159 and City Code 28-190), and the Community Inspections Division has the authority to issue appropriate notices, leading to presentation of the violation to the Special Magistrate.  At this level, fines up to $250 per day may be imposed. 

Connections-Related Questions and Answers

1.      I am already connected. Why am I receiving additional notices?

We are required by City Ordinance to guarantee that each property owner receives all notices and reminders related to the connection mandate. Within the 90-day connection period, we do not extract complied properties from non-complied properties for the 45-day reminder mailings. Please note that the 45-day reminder letter serves as a courtesy notice; the notice states that if property owners have connected they should disregard the notice.

2.      Why am I receiving violation notices when I already paid the connection fee?  I already hired a plumber to do the work. I just haven’t been able to physically connect to the new sewer system.

The letter that you received is not because you did not pay your connection fee.  The letter was sent to you because you have not connected to the city sewer.  Even if you paid the connection fee, pulled your permits and are in the process of connecting, according to our records you are not connected. Therefore, you will continue to receive reminders until you pass your two inspections, including the final inspection and your permit is closed. 

3.      What can I do to convert my septic tank into a cistern?

A septic tank serving a single family residence may, at the owner’s discretion, be converted into a cistern pursuant to certain procedures. To make a conversion, the owner/contractor is required to first obtain a permit from Broward County Health Dept. (954-467-4804) and follow the guidelines.

4.      How is my connection fee determined?

Your connection fee is based upon City Ordinance No. C 02 39.  A residential home is $1000 per unit (i.e. single-family home ($1000), duplex ($2000) and triplex ($3000).  If the residential home has four or more units the connection fee will drop 19.5% and calculated at $805 per unit.  A commercial property's connection fee is usually determined by 36 months of consumption history.

5.      I just passed final inspection but it is well after the due date. Do I have any fines accumulated?  

We need to verify the status of your permit.  Should the permit still remained open fines will   accrue. If the permit is closed, and no fines have accrued, the city will close your case. However, if your permit is closed and there are fines, the Special Magistrate will make a decision regarding the fines. You will receive notice when the Magistrate Hearing is scheduled. There is only one hearing each month for WaterWorks 2011 cases.

6.      I just passed final inspection and I have a Special Magistrate Hearing for this month. Do I need to attend?

First, we will verify if fines have accrued. If fines have accrued, you should attend the Special Magistrate Hearing.

7.      I want to buy a house that was supposed to connect this month but it is not. Can I receive more time to connect?

The Broward County Property Appraisers must first recognize the property’s ‘change of ownership’. Once new ownership has been established, a new 90-day clock with a new connection due date will be established for the property.

8.      What is a 90-day clock?

It is the timeframe established by the City Ordinance for property owners to complete the entire connection process.

9.      Can an owner-occupant finance his/her connection fee?

A property owner who is also the occupant ("owner-occupant") of a residential single family, duplex, triplex or other residential property, as defined by Chapter 47 of the Code of Ordinances, has the option to pay the connection fee under subsection (6) prior to expiration of the time required for connection or may finance the connection fee, over a period of five (5) years at an annual interest rate of six (6) percent compounded monthly.

An owner-occupant of a residential property that is more than one (1) dwelling unit may only finance a pro-rata share of the connection fee representative of the number of dwelling units occupied by the owner. A property owner electing to finance the connection fee or portion thereof will repay the fee as part of the regular utility bill and will be subject to collection   actions authorized by Code or Florida Statute. Those property owners' homes will be subject to a "voluntary lien," which must be paid in full prior to transfer or sale of property to another owner. Owner-occupants who elect to finance the connection fee pursuant to this subsection (6), shall be required to execute a promissory note secured by a lien on the property prior to connecting to the system or within ninety (90) days from the completion date, whichever comes first. An owner who does not make payments as provided in the promissory note shall pay a penalty for each month the payment is not made. A property owner must be Homesteaded to be eligible for a Connection Grant.

10.  I already passed final inspection; the permit is signed next to FINAL by the inspector. However, I continue to receive violation letters, why?

It could be possible that you have outstanding fines.  We can verify if fines have accrued.  If   your permit is closed and there are fines, the Special Magistrate will make a decision.  You will receive notice when the Magistrate Hearing is scheduled. There is only one Hearing each month for WaterWorks 2011 cases.

11.  I received the connection letter for a house that I no longer own. It was a foreclosure and I don't want to continue receiving violation notices. The change [of ownership] was done at the Broward County Property Appraisers Office. What can I do?

Please contact Code Enforcement at 954.828.5207 to determine if fines existed prior to the foreclosure and who is responsible for satisfying the fines.  It is a case by case scenario.

12.  I am calling from a title company and need to close on a foreclosed property which was supposed to satisfy its connection requirement months ago.  How do I proceed?

Please contact Code Enforcement regarding the fines at 954.828.5207, to determine if the property accrued fines prior to the foreclosure and determine the responsible party.  It is a case by case scenario.

13.  I received the connection letter with the correct name but incorrect address.  How can I get this corrected?

Contact WaterWorks 2011 Call Center.  A Coordinator will verify the information against Water Billing and Broward County Property Appraiser databases.   A revised letter will be sent should incorrect information exist.

14.  I received the connections letter with the correct address but incorrect name. How can I get this corrected?

Contact WaterWorks 2011 Call Center. A Coordinator will verify the information against Water Billing and Broward County Property Appraiser databases.   A revised letter will be sent should incorrect information exist.

15.  I own a condo/townhome that is required to connect to the new sewer system. How can I find out if the other units/properties within in my complex paid the connection fee?

Since the information for each property is provided directly to each property owner, we encourage the property owner to contact the homeowner association (HOA) for information about the other properties.

16.  Is my house exempt from the connection fee payment?

There are some exceptions to the connection requirement. If you live in areas such as Twin Lakes or Chula Vista (part of Riverland Annexed area) which were recently annexed to the City, you are not required to pay a connection fee; however, you will have to pay a monthly sewer user charge.  If you live on a private road, the City may not require you to connect or pay a connection fee. You should receive a letter if your property is exempt for any reason. If not, contact WaterWorks 2011 to determine if your property is exempt.

17.  I live on a private road. Does that mean I am not connecting?

Living on a private road does not automatically exclude you from connecting to city sewer. There are some properties, however, which will not connect.  We will notify you if your property is not required to connect through the WaterWorks 2011 program.

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