[{"_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",6269913,"mediaKeyId","3039819-4bb717a9271059337e2d95fc297c0aa9","parentId",3039819,"title","Fines keep accruing in long-running Bridal Mariner renovation case; magistrate says reactivated permit and engineer letter needed to halt penalties","audioSeconds",622,"startMs",5972000,"endMs",6594000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3039819-4bb717a9271059337e2d95fc297c0aa9&start=5972&end=6594","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3039819-4bb717a9271059337e2d95fc297c0aa9/thumbnail_5972000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6269913/Fort-Lauderdale/Broward-County/Florida/Fines-keep-accruing-in-long-running-Bridal-Mariner-renovation-case-magistrate-says-reactivated-permit-and-engineer-letter-needed-to-halt-penalties","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269913-12104ef43432ea9e8f2eb78632d689d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770976451&Signature=Em2mO3OxeTi~O0kTtmQEWtfF9xv8uyi8hKm4PtC43tFShGlujEgUlGpOEnSNWIFx7GoxZOx6-9yLmKOcZBLnR8n4qBLRfwlf6~UsdxIaBmcuUXtlG3r3291H55iMoEQSyt-xK5XYjiftFymdko3px3PyZrf4T2BAV9ZPk6jXeHsJLw2vTjgEwoV~bnqkWt9cSMXhMQAaXk5d7egy5oBeaWfviPnY2yRCzdfM6EEkMFnfDbEYZ8gX1bDS0Eb6u6Lxt4Z7KlDvgYFavMGt3PYU5wn8geRkK6QoOHo9umvQfD0o9MBCjn5z-Y~QiXmliDv8EL2PIUL1Si8geijQiCbNXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Fort Lauderdale, FL","date","2025-04-17T16:39:03.033Z","article","The magistrate on April 17 ordered fines to continue accruing in a multi-year enforcement case at 3100 Northeast 40 Ninth Street, telling the property’s representatives the city lacked a current issued permit and an engineer’s letter tied to an issued permit — both of which the magistrate said are required to request a further extension.

Justin Campano, speaking as a representative on the board, described a sequence of contractor problems: leaked, allegedly defective windows, a contractor termination and ongoing litigation with the original contractor. Chief Leonardo Martinez for the city said the permit had expired and staff had no record of the required engineer letter appended to an issued permit.

The magistrate explained the city’s standard: “An engineer can submit a signed and sealed letter all day, but unless there is appended to it an active, yes, valid permit, then we cannot offer another hundred and 80 day extension.” The magistrate ordered the owner to pursue a change-of-contractor and reactivate the permit; once the permit is active and the engineer’s letter properly references that issued permit, the magistrate said the fines would stop and the project would qualify for the typical 180-day compliance window.

The hearing record indicates fines have accrued since 2021 and the city asked to impose approximately $44,600 in outstanding penalties. The magistrate allowed the owner to pursue the administrative steps described and said there would be a later opportunity to request amnesty or reductions once the administrative prerequisites — a valid permit and an engineer’s letter tied to that permit — are satisfied.

Owners were advised to coordinate with plan reviewers in the building department and to complete a change-of-contractor and reactivation process to return the project to active-permit status; the magistrate flagged that, once those steps are completed, staff may grant the requested extension and temporarily stop further fines.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Special Magistrate Hearing: Building and Construction Enforcement on April 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The special magistrate ordered fines to continue in a long-running construction enforcement case at 3100 Northeast 40 Ninth Street after finding the project’s permit had expired and no qualifying engineer letter was on file; the magistrate outlined steps the owner must take to stop accrual.","taxTitle","Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida","taxId",4849,"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},6269918,"Magistrate upholds 'unfit for human habitation' finding for Fort Lauderdale house; hearing set to impose fines",621,1757000,2378000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3039819-4bb717a9271059337e2d95fc297c0aa9&start=1757&end=2378","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3039819-4bb717a9271059337e2d95fc297c0aa9/thumbnail_1757000.jpg","/articles/6269918/Fort-Lauderdale/Broward-County/Florida/Magistrate-upholds-unfit-for-human-habitation-finding-for-Fort-Lauderdale-house-hearing-set-to-impose-fines","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269918-ef22ac4d42810beac2962cf2bbc55def/orig.mp4?Expires=1770976451&Signature=BAGRIM7AicOcivm4yDznDZ1gwfV9kGpEG2o7H-YlSqnmkYFqZ5MNuDyAi8TuGdP6CxC56bsJUbgWgUqHyMcXyoNHQZdIAeNNWKb4NpgXewmhaPDoR0vsV0kKh6Nb0nI8DENEsNk-4m~v31u0~zmDuOJ184Q~Yrme2fkJjtFgcjZ4fVXZYDKHyT7gPq9elRtZww-efnx9BqPt49CxSeON~3tjfcs3hnnsoEjIQNF6NiXvaMqr0bp~19FW30Ed5NHcJDWyZIn~0h3tT-~ujYGAfE~htaOJNKfy4E55mE8l1PlgpvxQAHujc4nCrTmY3jRcu0~bdwfd7EDUGHzwcWnYbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Fort Lauderdale special magistrate on April 17 upheld a prior finding that the home at 2680 Northwest 21st Court is unfit for human habitation and set the matter for a hearing to impose fines after inspectors said the property remains noncompliant.

The magistrate said the prior order stands and that the purpose of the day’s reappearance was to determine whether the previously identified violations had been cured. Inspector Jose Saragusti for the city told the magistrate the property remained noncompliant and described conditions the city said created safety risks, including clutter, padlocked doors and bars on some windows.

Mabel J. McCoy, the property owner, told the magistrate, “I don't know why you keep saying the house is unfit. There's something wrong with this picture because the house is not unfit. That's my house. We know this. And the house has been I've been there 57 years.”

The magistrate said the earlier finding of unfitness could not be revisited at the reappearance and criticized the owner for declining to speak directly with city inspectors when asked previously. The magistrate ordered that the case be set for a hearing to impose fines if compliance is not achieved and said the owner would have time before that hearing to work directly with city staff to cure the violations.

City inspector Katie Williams confirmed that staff had attempted outreach and that inspectors had made follow-up visits; Detective Stilani accompanied a follow-up inspection noted in the record. The magistrate said that, based on pictures and staff reports, compliance would require removing padlocks from doors, removing bars from windows reported to be a life-safety issue and clearing extreme trash and clutter from the property.

The magistrate encouraged the property owner to coordinate directly with the inspector to identify outstanding items and to allow city staff access so the building department could confirm compliance prior to the fines hearing.

A follow-up Massey hearing was scheduled; the magistrate warned that the matter involves life-safety issues and that fines could be imposed if the violations remain uncorrected.","A magistrate maintained an earlier finding that a house at 2680 Northwest 21st Court is unfit for human habitation and scheduled a follow-up hearing to consider fines after inspectors said the property remains unsafe and operated as an illegal boarding house.",{"_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},6269922,"Fort Lauderdale magistrate grants deadlines, imposes fines and withdraws some cases at April 17 building hearing",8855,915000,9770000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3039819-4bb717a9271059337e2d95fc297c0aa9&start=915&end=9770","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3039819-4bb717a9271059337e2d95fc297c0aa9/thumbnail_915000.jpg","/articles/6269922/Fort-Lauderdale/Broward-County/Florida/Fort-Lauderdale-magistrate-grants-deadlines-imposes-fines-and-withdraws-some-cases-at-April-17-building-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269922-c7bd4e76b62594b96aaa37532a61bfb2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770976451&Signature=T-9O2ad0nkqHE2Ulk02-Nj7si9uWZ~caW5FEVo5I76Aiv~9dZ2kao3DiYuXVWmBqDPjo2y1MEb5KgafdkDmj3bvugujlV5FeWw6DHBnXdlUP11ScU5WXZcMxcdFGsB-dEvpTzFR362xdtcKJurmd9h9OXaeszkxfoj-JAG98HgGxeuEzOqnErZQKVjXXJxMLRoP1B4jA3xIPFG4I91IJSCUlWUCEfyhJrglRoQYHFVPe941R5-8y9IXow9ZnKyQCIcsAuUNFFVjUpz3T6nPa67ZtiZ9oC8pdDWGAW-Ra9dLTPn-xhZXuyW3rFz7DqJsxeuzLxxC87bDbJC-epuDCJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fort Lauderdale’s special magistrate hearing for the Building Division on April 17 produced a string of orders requiring property owners to get permits or face fines, while the city granted limited extensions in cases where work was underway.

The hearing produced several different outcomes: the magistrate repeatedly granted time-limited extensions and suspended fines while owners secured permits or engineer letters; other cases had fines imposed for long-standing violations; and the city withdrew a small number of matters where staff and owners agreed to further review.

Why this matters: The hearing shows the city using both regulatory pressure and targeted flexibility — short extensions or suspension of fines — to move long-running compliance matters toward completion. For property owners, engineers and contractors, the hearing underscored that an issued permit (or an engineer’s signed letter tied to a valid permit) remains the key trigger for stopping fines and obtaining the longer compliance windows the city will allow.

Chief Leonardo Martinez, speaking for the city, repeatedly told the magistrate the status on many files: “The case is not in compliance. The city is requesting the full amount to be imposed,” reflecting the City’s general recommendation where permits or required engineer documentation were not yet in place.

Magistrate rulings followed a pattern: when an active permit or clear plan-review pathway existed, the magistrate often granted 28 to 180 days and temporarily suspended fines; when permits had expired or no valid permit or required engineer letter was on file, the magistrate ordered fines to remain in place and directed owners to reactivate permits or submit missing documents.

Notable orders and city recommendations from the hearing included the following.","A Fort Lauderdale special magistrate hearing on April 17 resulted in a mix of extensions, suspended fines, imposed fines and withdrawals across dozens of building-code cases as the city pressed owners to obtain permits or face continued accrual of penalties.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Fines keep accruing in long-running Bridal Mariner renovation case; magistrate says reactivated permit and engineer letter needed to halt penalties

Magistrate upholds 'unfit for human habitation' finding for Fort Lauderdale house; hearing set to impose fines

Fort Lauderdale magistrate grants deadlines, imposes fines and withdraws some cases at April 17 building hearing