[{"_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",6287361,"mediaKeyId","2553686-efea7ed1e3af7128bf13329ac39308ea","parentId",2553686,"title","Magistrate orders $1,000 fines for three short‑term rentals at St. Pete Beach property; zoning cited","audioSeconds",679,"startMs",930000,"endMs",1609000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2553686-efea7ed1e3af7128bf13329ac39308ea&start=930&end=1609","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2553686-efea7ed1e3af7128bf13329ac39308ea/thumbnail_930000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6287361/St-Pete-Beach/Pinellas-County/Florida/Magistrate-orders-1000-fines-for-three-shortterm-rentals-at-St-Pete-Beach-property-zoning-cited","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6287361-a1f0fe3f8a6d67bd6f064e825766759f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176833&Signature=oiZv8~w1pXzGM7pwUlhs7IRMAOm8QbUl55TgVqoe5nq-kOnN4VODUNnl-Q8rwKx-7054n2TGBbKaC9YOERzLrvKF9m9AFwb47g6GwrnQvOCiMHwB5Vf84Swtf-Fg~-BAPIITRI-dZ85P60nlnqjG7F-rIE2HQE5Tqau1YQk65462BwYZ6ybMxRLTiKZtPYKoq2m9g8lFzdH3pkztOSrOjPYPJE8lagkvbPpolQEgmxhb~~JVKXsuBFOQ70WIJIxUblf7DynAyLtaORs3t9PGyDazVp7bQgfCjHBf0hUawSocj01WSWT0N-VklRBDMaOI7~y5eJU6lIkW6iftFS3uuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of St. Pete Beach, FL","date","2025-03-11T02:32:40Z","article","A special magistrate for the City of Saint Pete Beach found that a property owner violated the city's land development code by offering short‑term rentals in a zoning district that permits only monthly tenancies and assessed civil penalties.

The magistrate found three short‑term rentals at the property and assessed $1,000 per rental, plus $330 in administrative costs and any applicable recording fees. “I am going to find that the property was in violation of the stated code sections. I am going to find that there were 3 rentals. I am going to find that they were all short term and otherwise prohibited in that zoning district. And I am going to assess, the thousand dollars, for each 1, along with the, administrative cost and recording cost to the city,” the magistrate said.

City staff presented Airbnb listings and reviews as evidence. The city’s representative said the property is in the T C One zoning district and is permitted only for monthly rentals; the owner was cited under section 30.5 (Prohibited uses and structures) of the City of Saint Pete Beach Land Development Code.

Respondent David J. Tucker said he relied on a property manager and that some post‑hurricane accommodations had been provided to displaced neighbors at no charge. Tucker also questioned whether a recent state emergency order affected local zoning; the magistrate rejected that interpretation. “That does not affect the city's zoning,” the magistrate said, responding to the reference to DBPR order number 2024‑O9 and press reports.

The magistrate noted no evidence was presented to show this owner was entitled to hurricane‑related exemptions similar to those the magistrate applied in a separate case, and ordered the full penalty. Staff said the city would prepare a written order documenting the violation, fines and the administrative/recording fees; the city may record a lien if the fines are not paid within the statutory period.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Live March 10","oneSentenceSummary","A special magistrate found three short‑term rentals at a St. Pete Beach property in a zoning district that permits only monthly rentals, and assessed $1,000 per rental plus administrative and recording costs.","taxTitle","St. Pete Beach, Pinellas County, Florida","taxId",48406,"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},6287366,"Magistrate reduces short‑term rental penalties after Jacobson testimony; $500 fine per rental assessed",521,278000,799000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2553686-efea7ed1e3af7128bf13329ac39308ea&start=278&end=799","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2553686-efea7ed1e3af7128bf13329ac39308ea/thumbnail_278000.jpg","/articles/6287366/St-Pete-Beach/Pinellas-County/Florida/Magistrate-reduces-shortterm-rental-penalties-after-Jacobson-testimony-500-fine-per-rental-assessed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6287366-9b08f1d9e5ef049ea3b26a7f70357afa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176833&Signature=BFd199cUtbCR6eIWSS1v8YH7t3i~M3JTXTDIhZMhKhWsclwVtKoq64gq769bpU8ikE74D6LSmHVtpO-EcHi86UrxWAjVyHu782sGx9ASA6nmr5xn3DFZtzMS58wSs5ROs9fRZ9dCl8oomQkN~iHsqI7-P~1DM37AmoNxiRvzZfNxx-6L8lqM53DLls3PFgf7uWQvmijUhPdw5M~wn4N0iT~sZJEQ~NidgUCP9OY~0HgFpzQKbJNt0tR6sVRycgygYr9Bkyix0gWB2p-FXm3qkh8yveDrhutNfXepptnuvGJCZ2Ca1~bM98b~cVpvdRsH3hx-VCibaJm6laL2EYlvBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A special magistrate for the City of Saint Pete Beach found a property in violation of the city's land‑use code after evidence showed multiple short‑term rentals and assessed civil penalties reduced for hurricane‑related hardship.

The magistrate found seven short‑term rentals at the Jacobson property and described the violation as “irreparable, irreversible.” The magistrate said she would assess $500 for each of the seven rentals and impose the $330 administrative fee and any applicable recording fees. “I am going to assess a fine of $500 per each of the rentals, and that is an equitable remedy specifically due to the sustaining of damage due to the hurricanes,” the magistrate said.

City counsel presented Airbnb listings, reviews and an affidavit of posting as evidence. Steve Rivera, appearing on behalf of the city, summarized the inspection and said the property was in violation of section 20.03 of the City of Saint Pete Beach Land Development Code and recommended $1,000 per review for 10 reviews, totaling $10,000 plus administrative costs.

Richard J. Jacobson, the property owner, testified that he bought the house about three years earlier and had rented it to help cover large mortgage and repair costs after hurricanes. Jacobson said some reviews were posted by family members to help market the property and that payments may not have exchanged hands for all stays; he told the hearing, “We just assumed that it was fine.”

The magistrate credited parts of Jacobson's testimony, including the possibility that some stays did not involve payment, and cited the recent hurricane damage as a mitigating circumstance in reducing the per‑rental penalty. The magistrate also instructed staff to prepare a written order reflecting the ruling.

City staff and the magistrate discussed recording fees for liens if fines are unpaid; staff estimated recording costs “between $18 and $22” per recording. The magistrate said she would include the administrative charge and any recording fee in the final order.

The magistrate ordered the fines and said an order would be mailed to the respondent; the record shows the city will pursue collection or lien recording if fines are not paid within the statutory time frames.

","A St. Pete Beach magistrate found seven short‑term rentals at a property and assessed $500 per rental (reduced from the usual $1,000), plus administrative and recording costs, citing hurricane damage relief as a mitigating factor.",{"_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},6287371,"Special magistrate: tiki hut removed, no fines for St. Pete Beach property owner",112,153000,265000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2553686-efea7ed1e3af7128bf13329ac39308ea&start=153&end=265","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2553686-efea7ed1e3af7128bf13329ac39308ea/thumbnail_153000.jpg","/articles/6287371/St-Pete-Beach/Pinellas-County/Florida/Special-magistrate-tiki-hut-removed-no-fines-for-St-Pete-Beach-property-owner","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6287371-b111bf232fe7fd8cb7b8ed8a6905728d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176833&Signature=bNgYbCE0TiZ2JT-1oVcBQWrKMSDYOkRttgS1zTyUhcCjbKzrBLt2~rsVIA6F6TY8PvNu8wJUqRlx67GJz3VIFb7~1S8Pp9CQGcmaKi5DWt2v1wdIuD1dMV431J~6mrHpKaPMucDbankqoBlOkx-nHC2YNBvXHgBHDWSACMOGxV8JiR2imxY9o91epgdVonv-SmV5lz~-uO1R3xDnmW9Y5afu-xdGrugvYb9~MwfhCY47vy-n1ncmresJva62ANKwgA1K6Z4GA3qYAjoTV2CGdVZHaKoC5aMbX2U1hUg0-Yfh-uo2QPDbxfhqFUI8Lu-wnC4CM9xjeQTLFf8~QDa4Xg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A special magistrate for the City of Saint Pete Beach found a property in compliance and declined to assess fines after the owner removed an unpermitted tiki hut.

The hearing officer said the property had been brought into compliance and ordered that no fines or administrative costs be imposed. “I am going to find the property is now in compliance, and I am not going to assess any fines or any administrative costs. And I will get you an order to that effect,” the special magistrate said.

City staff told the hearing the tiki hut had been removed and that the city would have sought $329 in administrative costs. Pete Dewar, code enforcement manager for the City of Saint Pete Beach, notified the magistrate of two agenda continuances earlier in the session but did not contest the compliance finding in this case.

Property owner “Mister Cudahy” told the hearing the building in which he lives was uninhabitable after hurricane damage and said, “I don't have the money.” The magistrate noted that the owner's daughter had emailed the city and that the inspection record listed February 28, 2025, as the date the property came into compliance.

The magistrate said a written order reflecting the compliance finding would be issued and sent to the parties.

No further enforcement action was announced at the hearing.","A special magistrate found the Cudahy property in compliance after the owner removed an after‑the‑fact tiki hut and declined to assess fines or administrative costs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Magistrate orders $1,000 fines for three short‑term rentals at St. Pete Beach property; zoning cited

Magistrate reduces short‑term rental penalties after Jacobson testimony; $500 fine per rental assessed

Special magistrate: tiki hut removed, no fines for St. Pete Beach property owner