The City of Delray Beach special magistrate found a property in violation of local permitting rules and gave the homeowner 45 days to obtain finalized permits for a hardwired floodlight, with daily fines possible if compliance is not achieved.

Code officer Latoya Thompson of the Delray Beach Code Enforcement Division presented the city's case on Oct. 1, 2025. Thompson said a neighbor complaint prompted an investigation on July 31, 2025, and that her review, photos and consultations with building department staff showed a floodlight fixture hardwired to the home without the required permit: "the floodlight fixture was hardwired without a permit, which constitute a violation of the city of Delray Beach, land development regulation 7.2 0.2, permits, permits and inspections." Thompson said a magistrate violation notice was issued Aug. 22, 2025, a compliance date was posted at the property Aug. 27, and a reinspection on Sept. 29 showed the fixture still installed and no permit on file. Thompson also offered three photographic exhibits and a permit-screening record from EPL showing no permit on Sept. 29; Thompson said a permit application was filed Sept. 30 and was in process as of the Oct. 1 hearing.

Respondent Carol Russo told the magistrate she believed the motion-activated fixture was preexisting when she bought the house and that she replaced a burned-out light with the same device. She said she did not realize the work required a permit and described financial and practical barriers to obtaining an electrician and completing online applications. "By the time I got my electrician around, yeah, you know, number 1 was, you know, I'm on Social Security, and the money was a little tight," Russo said.

At the hearing the city initially described a 30-day compliance target. The magistrate said she had consulted the code enforcement supervisor, Enrique Fernandez, who advised that $75 per day would be an appropriate maximum if fines became necessary; the city earlier referenced a lower daily amount during the exchange. Citing the inspection record and Thompson's testimony, the magistrate found the property in violation of Land Development Regulation 7.2.0.2 and ordered the respondent to "obtain and have their permit issued and finalized" within 45 days or a fine of up to $75 per day may be imposed. On the record the magistrate said, "I'm gonna make it 45 days." The magistrate also accepted exhibits 1 through 3 into evidence.

The magistrate's order establishes a 45-day compliance deadline from Oct. 1, 2025; the transcript records no roll-call vote on the order. The enforcement action leaves the permit application in process and allows the city to reassess compliance at the next inspection.