§ 23-83. Security deposits.

(a)

As to any residential owner-occupied property account or residential tenant-occupied rental unit account in the city, a noninterest bearing security deposit in the sum of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) shall be required before any service from the water or sewer system shall be provided or any garbage collection service provided.

(b)

As to any residential owner-occupied property account, where no previous deposit has been made, any such owner relocating the account within the city and who has not been delinquent in payment of the prior account for twelve (12) or more consecutive months shall not be required to deposit the security required by this section.

(c)

As to any residential tenant-occupied rental unit account in the city, any change of tenant occupancy shall be deemed a new account requiring the deposit for security in accordance with this section.

(d)

At the time of the opening or the reopening or change of name of any account for water, sewer and garbage service in the city, a set-up fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) shall be required and must be paid by the owner or other consumer.

(e)

As to all new construction and before any water service may be provided to the property, the builder shall pay the sum of forty dollars ($40.00) for water consumed during construction. When the meter is read after the completion of construction or when a certificate of occupancy is issued, any water consumed in excess of the volume included in the forty-dollar fee shall be determined and paid by the builder.

(f)

Upon discontinuance of the service or after the deposit has been held for two (2) consecutive years, during which time continuous service has been received and all bills for such services have been paid in accordance with the laws and ordinances of the city, the deposit, less the amount of any unpaid bills, will be refunded.

(g)

For all nonresidential consumers and all residential units that serve more than one (1) unit through one (1) master water meter, a deposit representing two (2) months' average charges for utility services, i.e., water, sewer, stormwater and garbage will be required. For business types new to Neptune Beach an estimated deposit amount will be made based upon similar businesses in the city or will be determined by the city manager or his designee. Upon termination of the utility services, the customer's deposit will be first applied to any balances owed on his account. Any balance remaining will be refunded to the customer or transferred to another account upon request of the customer.

(Code 1959, § 24-12.1; Ord. No. 86-3-9, § 1, 9-29-86; Ord. No. 91-1-11, § 1, 11-4-91; Ord. No. 1994-13, § 1, 7-5-94; Ord. No. 1998-08, § 1, 4-6-98; Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1, 8-1-05; Ord. No. 2005-21, § 1, 12-5-05; Ord. No. 2010-09, § 2, 5-3-10)