Are municipal ordinances criminal in Orlando?

They can be enforced civilly or criminally. If criminal, penalties may include up to a $500 fine and 60 days in jail.

Can a municipal ordinance case be sealed or expunged?

Often yes, depending on the disposition and eligibility rules. Our team evaluates sealing and expungement options on every case.

What penalties apply to civil code enforcement?

Civil code enforcement can impose daily fines and liens; amounts may increase for repeat or irreparable violations under Florida’s Chapter 162.

Orlando Municipal Ordinance Defense Attorney

Quick Answer

What is an Orlando municipal ordinance violation and what are the penalties?

A municipal ordinance violation is a city-level offense (not a state crime) charged under the City of Orlando Code. These cases are typically heard in county court and may be prosecuted by the City Attorney’s Office. Penalties can include civil fines through code enforcement or—if treated as a criminal ordinance—up to a $500 fine and 60 days in jail upon conviction, depending on how the city enforces the ordinance. We defend these cases, aim to minimize penalties, and protect your record.

Orlando Municipal Ordinance Defense

If you’ve been cited or arrested for a city ordinance offense in Orlando—such as disorderly conduct, indecent conduct, trespassing, public urination, loitering or prowling, or certain panhandling-related conduct—our board-certified criminal trial team can help. We know how these cases are filed, how local judges handle them, and the options to resolve them with the least impact on your life.

How Orlando ordinance cases work

Source of law: The City of Orlando’s Code of Ordinances (Municode) sets out the rules and penalties.
Who prosecutes: Many municipal ordinance cases are handled by the City Attorney’s Office in county court (as opposed to the State Attorney, who prosecutes state crimes).
Where heard: County court (misdemeanor level) in Orange County, unless processed as civil code enforcement.
Penalties: For criminal ordinance convictions, courts may impose up to a $500 fine and up to 60 days in jail; civil code enforcement can impose daily fines and liens (including higher amounts for repeat or irreparable violations) under Chapter 162.

Common Orlando ordinance examples

These vary by location and enforcement focus, but often include: disorderly or indecent conduct, trespass on city property, public urination/defecation, loitering and prowling, certain panhandling-related restrictions (as defined by current code), noise, and signage violations. To see the current language, consult Orlando’s online code (sections are updated periodically).

Defense strategies we use

Challenging the stop/citation: Was there reasonable suspicion or probable cause? Are the facts consistent with the ordinance language?
Constitutional issues: Overbreadth/vagueness or time/place/manner restrictions (for speech-adjacent conduct like solicitation) when supported by facts and current case law.
Negotiate or divert: We pursue dismissal, amended charges, withhold of adjudication, community-based resolutions, and record-sealing/expungement eligibility when available.

Penalties & collateral consequences

Criminal ordinance: Up to $500 and 60 days in jail on conviction (court may also assess costs/restitution where applicable).
Civil code enforcement: Fines can accrue daily; repeat and irreparable violations can trigger much higher caps and liens.
Record impact: Even a minor ordinance case can appear on background checks; our goal is to resolve it in the most record-friendly way and pursue sealing/expungement where possible.

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FAQs: Orlando Municipal Ordinances

Are municipal ordinances “criminal”?

They can be. Orlando can enforce ordinances civilly (through code enforcement) or criminally in county court. If criminal, the statutory cap is generally a $500 fine and up to 60 days in jail.

Who actually prosecutes these cases in Orlando?

City ordinance prosecutions may be handled by the City Attorney’s Office in county court. State-law crimes are prosecuted by the State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit.

Will this go on my record? Can I seal or expunge it?

Outcomes vary. We aim for dismissals, withholds, or other resolutions that protect your record—and we’ll evaluate sealing/expungement eligibility right away.

What if my case involves “solicitation” or “panhandling”?

These areas change over time due to First Amendment litigation and code updates. We review the current Orlando code and facts for defenses and narrow tailoring requirements. Always check the latest code.

What should I do now?

Do not miss your court date or ignore a civil Notice. Contact us immediately so we can preserve defenses, talk to the prosecutor, and move quickly to avoid lasting consequences.

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