[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6296667,"mediaKeyId","2514027-ee96a317a66b3f60acf4658e927a30ec","parentId",2514027,"title","Magistrate issues compliance deadlines across multiple West Palm Beach building and business-tax cases","audioSeconds",2366,"startMs",84000,"endMs",2450000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2514027-ee96a317a66b3f60acf4658e927a30ec&start=84&end=2450","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2514027-ee96a317a66b3f60acf4658e927a30ec/thumbnail_84000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6296667/West-Palm-Beach/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Magistrate-issues-compliance-deadlines-across-multiple-West-Palm-Beach-building-and-business-tax-cases","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6296667-8768b88d9439f9edf01b25a44e3b5f80/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204385&Signature=ivIPcDsUSB6kHNSdn-irkBX88h4nwm0PSpJwj~aS55ce4a7ooLqYz-2bhQDnPpXC2vV7S6~OkNiTBJu3niGC9jwN8qwsWkSoVkEvhXz7LEq0cIXT9Goea98uW57SHIiIXJ1JlGx1bGoRAyB4hrrZ7NtikbH2yKvTGU7UUrfDhuWXzZozN-FuqhcLvhdRdT55EQMQ~1xNp0uzkSWZKPSftBnVYvPRdvuOIH-wxFU-uRQ149oTOuMsDq~ZO-E3hE30Hs~qEYxRXcxFGzFXVUzeNeDWC4hFYYXfYdpCWptALJAWfKZnWztkdXxm~OCZHkwcB~o8PAk94n6khm73jOVNKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of West Palm Beach, FL","date","2025-03-05T20:50:11Z","article","The City of West Palm Beach special magistrate heard a slate of contested building and code-enforcement cases on March 5 and set compliance deadlines and fines in multiple matters, ranging from 30 days to 150 days to obtain permits or other approvals, with daily fines assessed for noncompliance.

Highlights from the hearing include:

- CE23020178 (635 50th Street): Building inspector Saul Yamash testified the property showed a garage conversion to living space without required permits. The magistrate found a violation of the building code section cited for permit-required work and ordered compliance within 90 days or a $50-per-day fine thereafter. Yamash and the owner, David Aprea, confirmed a permit application had been resubmitted and review was underway.

- CEBLD24070614 (325 Valley Forge Road): Building inspector Kevin Pennington testified the owner, Peter Radler, replaced fence panels and repaired a pergola without permits. The magistrate ordered compliance within 30 days or a $50-per-day fine; Radler said he had submitted needed materials and expected plan review to complete in the timeframe.

- CEBLD24100658 (1830 Embassy Drive, Unit 609): Inspector Pennington described interior remodeling — kitchen and bathroom alterations and removal of walls — done without permits. The magistrate found violations and ordered compliance within 150 days or a $50-per-day fine; a contractor appearing for the owner said permits had been applied for and requested the extension.

- CEBLD23110464 (610 Tenth Street): Inspector Raymond Stevenson testified permits had been applied for, some inspections completed but not all. The magistrate ordered 150 days for compliance or a $25-per-day fine.

- CEBLD24080625 (815 Ninth Court): Work replacing wrought-iron columns with tile wrapping required historic-review comments. Respondents Chelsea Freeman and Denise Williams said historical-review comments were pending and the magistrate granted 150 days for compliance or a $25-per-day fine, noting the city would complete the historical review later the same day.

- CEBLD24020512 (507 Puritan Road): Inspector Kevin Pennington described a rear room addition with concrete slab and framing performed without permits. The magistrate ordered compliance within 150 days or a $50-per-day fine.

- CEBLD24100654 (700 North Tamarind Avenue): The magistrate handled this matter separately as an unsafe-structure case (see separate article). The magistrate ordered immediate abatement measures or a $250-per-day fine.

- CEBLD2420675 (411 Fourteenth Street): City inspector reported roof work done without permits. The magistrate ordered compliance within 60 days or a $50-per-day fine.

In nonbuilding code matters, the magistrate also addressed business tax receipt and certificate-of-use violations:

- CE25013270 (Crust and Company, 1401 Claire Avenue): City code officer Kevin Levine testified the business had not renewed its business tax receipt or certificate of use. Owner Jeremy O'Neil told the magistrate he was updating state registration (Sunbiz) and could complete the city forms afterward; the magistrate ordered compliance within 30 days or a $100-per-day fine for the COU and a one-time $250 penalty for delinquent business-tax receipts if not corrected in 30 days.

- CE25013298 (South Congress Ave parcel): Code staff reported commercial storage operations without a business tax receipt. No representative appeared at the hearing; the magistrate ordered compliance within 30 days or a one-time $250 fine.

- CE25013314 and other rental-license cases: Several rental-license and rental-license–related violations were heard; the magistrate ordered owners to obtain required rental licenses or correct code violations within deadlines between 21 and 60 days, with daily fines for noncompliance as noted on the record.

The magistrate repeatedly advised respondents to stay in contact with city staff when plan-review comments or historic-review schedules are delaying permitting, and to seek inspections promptly once permits are issued. Where respondents said permits were in process or had resubmitted documents the magistrate generally gave the deadlines the city recommended. Photographs and the case files were admitted into evidence in each contested matter without objection.

Several respondents confirmed they had applied for permits and described items outstanding — resubmitted surveys, plan revisions and fee payments. In some cases, owners said contractor or administrative delays had slowed the permit process; magistrate said communication with city staff could prevent fines if delays were beyond respondents’ control. The magistrate’s orders are effective immediately and will be mailed to respondents.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Code Compliance Special Magistrate Hearing | March 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the March 5 special magistrate hearing, city staff presented evidence in multiple contested building-permit and business-tax cases; magistrate set deadlines and fines ranging from 30 to 150 days, or daily fines where respondents fail to comply.","taxTitle","West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida","taxId",4250,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6296672,"Magistrate orders abatement or $250/day for collapsed canopy at 700 N. Tamarind",667,2783000,3450000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2514027-ee96a317a66b3f60acf4658e927a30ec&start=2783&end=3450","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2514027-ee96a317a66b3f60acf4658e927a30ec/thumbnail_2783000.jpg","/articles/6296672/West-Palm-Beach/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Magistrate-orders-abatement-or-250day-for-collapsed-canopy-at-700-N-Tamarind","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6296672-5600c60506a26a553f505cc3575d14a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204385&Signature=Sj4pWo02v2cFCFHS4QWwbbVMFCg-RDkH8eTiTGGJvb9XZGpT45wALXNSZzqNmyEMZ7TQpPyZ2k0GdGCwBq42nYkGz22Wsfqgem3bA~id~G9tZwTeaychQQgGL3sfU-nR7PsugOTFmvFct2T2phR425hamXUerZW0AevXzw7Ty-DuyGvhOYZ3tqyhuWlUF5HlsOPBDwbluubapxNfCFV21yJaFuD7o5ItmEod41OYY253jzU7hxwLSZv64kuIFYr~KaEmRUbqQpX~q4-lghfIHqdHzujh1N6xy54m3H-488QQ32pu5k-T2s16LG40bLMnFvh8RO7SeN-YMFPmRxYhlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of West Palm Beach special magistrate ordered abatement or other immediate measures for an unsafe concrete canopy at 700 North Tamarind Avenue, requiring compliance within 10 days or a $250 daily fine thereafter.

Raymond Stevenson, a building/code inspector for the city, testified that half the concrete canopy had collapsed and that, when he first visited, a worker was on the roof cutting and the structure posed a danger to the public. Stevenson told the magistrate he observed the canopy collapse and described children in the nearby area when school lets out, making the condition particularly hazardous. The city asked the magistrate to authorize abatement; Stevenson and city counsel said they were prepared to seek immediate abatement if necessary.

At the hearing, the magistrate paused to clarify the specific citations being pursued. City staff identified Florida Building Code section 116.1 as the basis for an unsafe-building finding; the magistrate ruled the city had demonstrated an unsafe condition under that section and that immediate remedial measures were required. Because the record showed the structure posed a risk to public health and safety, the magistrate ordered the respondent to correct the unsafe condition within 10 days or face a $250-per-day fine until the condition was abated. The magistrate also admitted the city’s evidentiary case file, including photographs showing the collapsed section.

The city withdrew pursuit of one of the inspection-based citations pending clarification of permit status; the magistrate continued that portion and proceeded with the unsafe-structure finding. The magistrate said the decision reflected the recorded testimony from city staff and the photographic evidence in the case file. The order requires the respondent to take steps necessary to make the structure safe; if the respondent does not meet the 10-day deadline the city may pursue fines or abatement measures under the code.","City staff identified a partially collapsed concrete canopy at 700 North Tamarind and the magistrate ordered immediate abatement measures within 10 days or a $250-per-day fine, finding a public-safety hazard.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6296677,"Special magistrate finds Empire Lounge in violation of noise ordinance, fines $500",6334,776000,7110000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2514027-ee96a317a66b3f60acf4658e927a30ec&start=776&end=7110","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2514027-ee96a317a66b3f60acf4658e927a30ec/thumbnail_776000.jpg","/articles/6296677/West-Palm-Beach/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Special-magistrate-finds-Empire-Lounge-in-violation-of-noise-ordinance-fines-500","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6296677-2917c46ea5513dcbc4189e753e99b64f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204385&Signature=HSX~zUrndY9Ub~ATRckSdI4uaxpYfmyTjDGSGsf-x0T8qQYjdMx7kuhZ58u0sGkvPq076ifzMFR7IbVo4WOgiwLa-tk2geQttdYys~2OywIEMQl2OdTVpxqgg9mUPQViLHLErI851hjl-nRqUIr2XXnMqyeeCkVqZrXfRhbT71eLBxdAehsCY8l5fTd9ebATrs12YT15SGBU1vf6-5huqHhULSD3uCUw0zxmWIQQD0nMAAdmpCIZtn1Xz3tAqhE6HIfoiIZqmJRuLc8zUERALKAzp4yjUfih5eb6~cLZRPCqdvrhFbnqNDYFsYsieefpJvvG8V8lyiX7Hqy4EEPSYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Amity Barnard, special magistrate for the City of West Palm Beach, found Empire Lounge in violation of city noise rules for a Dec. 6, 2024 incident and imposed a $500 fine as the first-offense penalty.

The finding followed testimony from West Palm Beach police officers who said they had responded to multiple complaints and that music from the lounge was “clearly and plainly audible” from a distance greater than 25 feet. Officer Christian de Carballo Padilla testified that on the night in question he spoke to the manager, identified as Delroy Blake, and issued a written warning after confirming the noise was audible from a parking area. Officer Tony Tran testified he later issued a first-offense citation when repeated complaints continued and confirmed the officer’s position approximately 255 feet from the music source during his observations.

The magistrate’s ruling focused on section 34-36(a) of the city code, which prohibits making or continuing any unreasonably loud noise that is plainly audible at 25 feet or more. The magistrate said the plain-language provision does not require a decibel meter reading outside the downtown entertainment district and that the officers’ personal observations and the recorded distances satisfied the city’s burden. The magistrate declined to find for a related subsection cited by the city (34-36(b)(9)(a)) because, she said, the city had not put forward sufficient evidence on that particular subsection.

Delroy Blake, who identified himself as manager and owner/manager of Blake Plaza where Empire Lounge operates, acknowledged the officers had issued a warning and later a citation. Blake and representatives said the business had made changes after the warning, including repairs to the front door to reduce sound escape and acquiring sound meters to monitor levels. Owner/manager Charnad Thompson testified the lounge had adjusted doors and taken other steps to limit noise.

Attorney Olin McLean and a representative for the plaza sought a continuance to allow further review with city administration and the district commissioner; the magistrate denied that request on the grounds that the December citation and the warning preceding it had provided notice and that the case was ready for adjudication. The magistrate said any policy changes about meter requirements or district boundaries would be a separate matter for the city to consider.

Because the city code prescribes a $500 penalty for a first offense under the cited section, the magistrate imposed that amount. The ruling was limited to the violation of section 34-36(a); the magistrate said the record did not support the other subsection cited by the city. The hearing record indicates the fine is a one-time civil penalty; the magistrate told respondents they would be mailed a written order reflecting the decision.

The magistrate encouraged the parties to confer with city administration about whether policy changes are appropriate in the future. The lounge representatives said they would continue working with code enforcement to reduce noise and present additional materials if needed.","A West Palm Beach magistrate found Empire Lounge in violation of the city noise ordinance for a Dec. 6 incident and imposed a $500 fine, after police testimony that music was plainly audible well beyond 25 feet from the source.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Magistrate issues compliance deadlines across multiple West Palm Beach building and business-tax cases

Magistrate orders abatement or $250/day for collapsed canopy at 700 N. Tamarind

Special magistrate finds Empire Lounge in violation of noise ordinance, fines $500