Ocala board fines several people for unlicensed contracting after hearings

The City of Ocala Contractors Board found multiple individuals violated city contracting rules and approved fines and prosecution-cost awards after hearings on Sept. 19, 2025.

Board members accepted staff findings that contractors or helpers performed work that required permits or a licensed contractor at several Ocala addresses, including 1528 Northeast 17th Avenue, 1828 East Silver Springs Boulevard and 1014 Northeast 12th Street. The board imposed monetary fines, split prosecution costs among co-defendants where cases were related, and set payment deadlines.

Chief code official Dale Hollingsworth presented the cases and explained the municipal code sections cited in the complaints, and Officer Ocis Ferreira and other code officers gave onsite testimony and photographic evidence. Hollingsworth told the board the violations cited included municipal code sections 22 1 51(b)(6) (acting in the capacity of a contractor without being duly licensed), 22 1 51(b)(8) (performing work that requires a building permit), and, in one case, 22 1 51(b)(10) (aiding or abetting an unlicensed person) and 22 1 51(b)(13) (acts that would constitute a violation by a licensed contractor).

In case CON25-0033 (Hillary Carter, 1528 Northeast 17th Avenue), Officer Ocis Ferreira testified the work observed was…