picture of land clearing violation 

​​Environmental Sciences staff conduct inspections of development sites to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and permit conditions. Compliance and enforcement staff's primary duties include enforcement of:

  • tree protection regulations
  • sea turtle protection regulations
  • zoning conditions
  • protected species management plans & monitoring reports
  • indigenous preserves
  • exotic removal
  • development order requirements

If projects or properties are not in compliance, enforcement action may be necessary. Enforcement action includes the issuance of a stop work, citation, and/or a notice of violation.

Abatement conditions of a notice of violation typically include compliance with approved permits and/or restoration of the site. If a violation is not abated within the timeframe given, it is scheduled before the Hearing Examiner. The Hearing Examiner can impose a fine in the form of a lien on a property of up to $250 per day and the cost of prosecution for the violation case. 

Environmental violations include the unpermitted clearing of trees or other vegetation, improper tree pruning, and noncompliance with zoning and development approval requirements and protected species issues. Environmental violations should be reported to the Environmental Sciences Enforcement staff member.
 

Other departments investigate the following more specific violations:

  • Code viola​t​ion complaints can be viewed and tracked through eConnect. After review of our database, if you need to file a code enforcement complaint for a property located within unincorporated Lee County, send an email to CodeEnforcement@leegov.com, or call 239-533-8895 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Complaints are investigated with minimal delay.
     
  • Noise complaints may be made directly to the Sheriff's office by calling 239-477-1000.​
     
  • Illegal dumping complaints and trash pick-up ma​​y be made by calling the Lee County Division of Solid Waste at 239-533-8000.
     
  • Complaints and inquires about code violations for properties located outside of Unincorporated Lee County, such as in the Cities of Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, Sanibel or in the Town of Fort Myers Beach, must be reported directly to those jurisdictions.
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