VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA FALL NEWSLETTER

Thanksgiving Fire Safety Tips • Stay in the kitchen while cooking on the stovetop so that you can keep an eye on the food. • Never leave the house if you have the oven on. • Keep kids away from hot foods, liqu ids and stovetops. Remember, if they're close enough to touch it, it's close enough to burn them. • Be sure t hat electrical cords from electrical knives, coffee makers, plate warmers or mixers are not dangling off the counter or wi t hin easy reach of a chi ld.

Special Event Permits When is a permit required?

Special event permits are required for any outdoor activity, gathering, group of people or vehicles, upon public or private property, likely to inhibit the usual flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic or create noise in excess of that typically associated with the area. Examples are block parties, parades, races, grand openings, fund raisers and similar events. What documents do I need to provide? Acompleted application is required along with a site plan showing the layout for the event. A Certificate of Insurance is also requ ired, naming theVillage ofTequesta as an additional insured. What is the deadline? For events with 200+ attendees, the appl ication must be submitted at least 45 days in advance. You can apply up to a year in advance for a special event permit. For events with less than 200 attendees, applications should be submitted at least 20 days in advance. Do I need to go before Village Council for approval? Al l special event permit applications with 200+ attendees requ ire you to attend a Vi llage Council meeting for approval. Such special event permits must be submitted at least 45 days in advance and wil l be placed on the calendar for t he next regu larly scheduled Vil lage Council meeti ng. What else do I need? If alcohol will be sold or served, you wil l need to obtain a temporary alcohol license from the Department of Bus iness and Professional Regulation (DBPR). A copy of the issued license temporary alcohol license must be provided to the Building Dept. prior to the date of the event. What happens if my special event permit is denied? To avoid denial, please ensure that you submit a timely application. If your appl ication is denied, you can request an appeal to the Village Council. The request must be in writing to the Village Manager within ten days of the denial and wi ll be considered by the Village Council at its next scheduled meeting. If you have any questions or require any assistance with your application, please call the Building Department at (561) 768-0450. Click here download a Application PDF

• Keep matches and utility lighters out of reach of ch ildren - up high in a locked cabinet is best! • Never leave a child in a room alone with a lit candle. • Make sure your smoke alarms are working before you start cooking. Test them by pushing the "test" button. • Keep kids busy with games, puzzles or books. If they would like to help with food preparation, cookie decorating is a fun and safe way for t hem to help. The mission of the Tequesta Bu ilding Department is to make sure t hat al l bui ldings within t he Village are safe for its citizens. To do this, the Building Director inspects structu res in a timely manner to ensure const ruction, alteration, repairs and modificat ions are performed in accordance with state and federal laws and Vi llage ordinances. The first step in the construction process is to hire a licensed contractor who is requi red to meet specific State standards. Following building codes is critical to ensuring t hat structures remai n safe. In the state of Florida, it is il legal to hire an unlicensed contractor. It is a dangerous practice that could resu lt in a defective structure that is not code complaint, and ultimat ely could lead to a safety risk wi t hout the proper inspections by the Bu ilding Department. Many unlicensed contractors operate without genera l liability or workers compensation insurance making the homeowner responsible for any injuries suffered due to non-compliant work. Tequesta residents can rest assured that prior to the approval of a permit, the building department has researched the contractor to verify they are licensed and insured. Hiring an unqualified, unlicensed contractor leaves you open to fraud and exploitation, and may subject you to future fi nes. To avoid financial liability, and for your safety, always hire a properly licensed contractor. If you have any questions, please contact the Building Department at (561) 768-0450. 7