City Council reduces property lien to $500 after owner faces hardship

The City of Miami's Code Enforcement Board convened on July 9, 2025, to address various property violations and mitigation requests. The meeting began with discussions surrounding a rental property that had previously been cited for illegal units. The property owner, who recently lost her husband, faced a significant fine of $216,150. After deliberation, a motion was made to reduce the fine to $5,000, reflecting the owner's current financial difficulties. However, the motion failed with a vote of 2 to 3. A subsequent motion to further reduce the fine to $500 was proposed and passed unanimously, allowing the owner some financial relief.

The board then moved on to other cases, including a vacant lot associated with Global Real Estate Holdings. The city objected to any mitigation until a pending tax deed sale was resolved, which would provide funds to cover outstanding fines. The board agreed to reset this case for future consideration once the financial situation was clarified.

Another case involved a single-family home where the owner sought mitigation for a $100,000 lien due to work performed without a permit. The board discussed the owner's compliance in closing the necessary permits and ultimately voted to reduce the fine to $0, acknowledging the owner's efforts to rectify the situation.

Further discussions included properties with substantial liens, including one case where the total fines reached $1.4 million. The board agreed to reduce the fines to $20,000 after considering the new owner's compliance efforts.

The meeting concluded with additional mitigation requests, including a duplex with a lien of $138,450. The board reiterated that the minimum fine for non-homestead properties was $10,000, but they could vote to reduce it to $0 with unanimous consent.

Overall, the meeting highlighted the board's efforts to balance enforcement of city codes with compassion for property owners facing hardships, while also ensuring compliance with city regulations. The next steps for several cases will involve further discussions and potential resolutions as the board continues to address outstanding violations.