FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Residents in a Fort Lauderdale neighborhood are protesting citations and fines for illegal dumping in an alley behind their homes.
The alleyway, located between Northwest Fifth Court and Fifth Street, has been used as a dumping ground for items like construction debris, used motor oil, tires, furniture and roofing material. The list of garbage is endless.
The problem? The city of Fort Lauderdale has issued violations to the residents who live in the area with fines up to $240.
Frank Frione, a homeowner, described the current dumping situation as constant.
“There is always trash,” he said. “This is a common occurrence.”
Frione, who has received several citations and notices from the city, feels it’s unfair that residents are held responsible for the debris.
“They are holding you responsible for this stuff?” asked Local 10 investigative reporter Jeff Weinsier.
“All the time. We have got several notices, citations and it’s our problem,” Frione replied. “We need to remove the debris and haul it off.”
Frione is one of the few residents willing to speak publicly about the situation. Many others are concerned about potential retaliation after confronting illegal dumpers. One resident’s daughter-in-law experienced aggression when she tried to intervene, raising concerns about safety and further complicating efforts to address the issue.
The city’s stance is clear: adjacent property owners are responsible for maintaining public alleys under City Ordinance 24-4. If there is a violation, it is cited under City Ordinance 24-7(B).
City officials said that while they attempt to determine the cause of dumping and have removed debris at their expense in the past, residents are still held accountable for violations.
In a statement, a Fort Lauderdale city spokesperson said, “Upon issuing a violation, we attempt to determine the cause of the dumping. If the property owner is not responsible, the city has previously removed debris at its expense.”
Residents argue that monitoring and reporting illegal dumping is a full-time job and that it is unfair to hold them accountable for activities they cannot control.
“The city needs to help us,” said Frione. “We can’t police it; we are not law enforcement.”
Susan Grant, the acting city manager of Fort Lauderdale, is working with police and code enforcement to address the problem. Residents have suggested blocking off the alley and some have set up cameras to monitor dumping activity.
Local 10 viewers can read the city of Fort Lauderdale’s reason for the violations and when they plan on respecting the area in the statement below.