HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-004-484_-_Window_Opening_Ordinance_-_Adopted.docxORDINANCE NO. 2025-004-484
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 16,
ARTICLE III OF THE CITY MIAMI GARDENS CODE OF
ORDINANCES TO CREATE SECTION 16-61 ENTITLED
“WINDOW OPENINGS”; PROVIDING FOR ADOPTION OF
REPRESENTATIONS; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN
CONFLICT; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE;
PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN CODE; PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Gardens enacted property maintenance standards
via Ordinance No. 2005-13-51 for commercial and residential properties, and
WHEREAS, the purpose of the property maintenance standards are to improve
and enhance the aesthetic environment of the City, and
WHEREAS, Vice Mayor Robert Stephens, III, is proposing an amendment to the
property maintenance Code to increase the beautification standards for commercial
businesses, and
WHEREAS, specifically, the proposed amendment will prohibit certain security and
obstructive materials from accompanying commercial business window openings, thus
providing a clearer and cleaner exterior view of the commercial business, and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Florida Statute 166.041, has attached a Business Impact
Estimate to this proposed ordinance as Exhibit “A”, and
WHEREAS, Vice Mayor Robert Stephens, III, recommends that the City Council
amend Chapter 16, Article III of the City of Miami Gardens Code of Ordinances to create
Section 16-61 entitled “Window Openings”,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. ADOPTION OF REPRESENTATIONS: The foregoing Whereas
paragraphs are hereby ratified and confirmed as being true, and the same are hereby
made a specific part of this Ordinance.
Section 2. AMENDMENT: That the Code of Ordinances, City of Miami Gardens,
Florida, is hereby amended as follows:
Sec. 16-61. – Window Openings.
Window openings of commercial buildings shall not be equipped with opaque
grates, security bars, or opaque metal grills. Shutters shall only be permitted to block
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Ordinance No. 2025-004-484
the exterior window of the commercial business during or in immediate anticipation of a
natural disaster. Commercial businesses which currently have opaque grates, security
bars, or opaque metal grills accompanying window openings, shall remove such
materials prior to June 1, 2026. The City Manager shall have the authority to extend the
timeframe for compliance for up to one (1) year upon good cause shown.
Section 3. CONFLICT: All ordinances or Code provisions in conflict herewith are
hereby repealed.
Section 4. SEVERABILITY: If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase
or portion of this Ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any
court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and
independent provision and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining
portions of this Ordinance.
Section 5. INCLUSION IN CODE: It is the intention of the City Council of the City
of Miami Gardens that the provisions of this Ordinance shall become and be made a
part of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Miami Gardens and that the section of this
Ordinance may be renumbered or relettered and the word “Ordinance” may be changed
to “Chapter,” “Section,” “Article” or such other appropriate word or phrase, the use of
which shall accomplish the intentions herein expressed.
Section 6. EFFECTIVE DATE: This Ordinance shall become effective
immediately upon its final passage.
PASSED ON FIRST READING ON THE 11TH DAY OF JUNE, 2025.
PASSED ON SECOND READING ON THE 9TH DAY OF JULY, 2025
PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MIAMI GARDENS
AT ITS REGULAR MEETING HELD ON JULY 9, 2025.
________________________________
RODNEY HARRIS, MAYOR
ATTEST:
________________________________
MARIO BATAILLE, CMC, CITY CLERK
PREPARED BY: SONJA KNIGHTON DICKENS, CITY ATTORNEY
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Ordinance No. 2025-004-484
SPONSORED BY: VICE MAYOR ROBERT STEPHENS, III
Moved by: Councilman Leon
Seconded by: Councilwoman Julien
VOTE: 6-0
Mayor Harris Yes
Vice Mayor Stephens, III Absent
Councilwoman Baskin Yes
Councilman Leon Yes
Councilwoman Powell Yes
Councilwoman Wilson Yes
Councilwoman Julien Yes
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