Bay County imposes daily fines for property code violations at multiple addresses

The Bay County Code Magistrate Hearing held on April 16, 2025, focused on several compliance issues regarding property violations. The meeting addressed ongoing noncompliance cases, imposing fines and setting future compliance hearings for property owners who failed to meet previous orders.

One significant case involved a property owner found to be willfully noncompliant. The magistrate determined that the individual had not made necessary corrections and was "gaming the system." As a result, a daily fine of $25 was imposed starting in April 2025, with a compliance hearing scheduled for July 2025. The magistrate emphasized that failure to comply would result in fines constituting a lien against the property.

Another case discussed involved a property at 6532 Sunrise Drive, where the owner had not complied with previous orders to address blighted conditions. The magistrate ordered an initial fine of $500, along with a daily fine of $25 until compliance was achieved. Similar actions were taken for other properties, including those at 7139 Brent Road and 5528 Adelie Road, where fines were also imposed due to ongoing violations.

The hearing concluded with several properties being brought into compliance, demonstrating the effectiveness of code enforcement efforts in Bay County. The magistrate reiterated the importance of adhering to property codes to maintain community standards and avoid financial penalties. The next steps for noncompliant property owners will be closely monitored, with further hearings scheduled to ensure compliance.