Seminole County magistrate orders compliance deadlines, fines for multiple unpermitted structures

Special Magistrate Sherry Setfin issued orders and set compliance deadlines for a series of Seminole County property code cases at a June 12, 2025 hearing, directing property owners to obtain required permits or face daily fines and possible liens.

The magistrate found one respondent out of compliance and imposed an immediate fine: in Case 2426CESM, Los Campos De America LLC at 345 Jones Avenue in Sanford, Setfin said, “I find sufficient evidence to ratify my prior order of 02/13/2025… I’m going to find that you are not in compliance, and I’m going to impose the fine of $250 a day starting 06/11/2025,” with administrative costs required to be paid or recorded as a lien. County staff had testified that exterior work — new siding, framing, windows and a door — had been done without permits and that plan-review corrections submitted in 2024 showed no recent applicant activity.

The magistrate issued or confirmed compliance deadlines and follow-up hearings for multiple other cases:

- Case 2511CESM (202 Jasmine Lane, Longwood; owners Daniel Bula Velasquez and Letty Gutierrez Ospina): County staff reported unpermitted installation of three gates, an awning and pergola, a swimming pool with plumbing and electric, a drainage pipe in a rear easement and demolition work on two sheds. Inspector Brent Griffin testified the violations remain and that some permit applications are in process but not issued. Setfin amended the prior order and set a new compliance deadline of Sept. 10, 2025, with a compliance hearing on Sept. 11, 2025; the county had recommended a lien retroactive to June 11, 2025 at $250 per day until compliance.

- Case 2545CESM (824 Fern Drive, Longwood; owner Deborah Grice): Staff documented concrete columns, walls and entrance gates installed without permits and said a variance is required to proceed. The magistrate ordered permits to be obtained and set a compliance deadline of Sept. 10, 2025 (recommendation materials had shown Sept. 11), with a compliance hearing on Sept. 11, 2025; the magistrate stated a $100-per-day fine would be imposed for noncompliance after the deadline.

- Case 2431CESM (conversion matter in RM-1 zone): Staff and the respondent’s counsel described a planned lot conveyance to resolve setback issues so a barn/garage conversion can meet the Land Development Code; Setfin allowed 90 days and set a compliance hearing for Sept. 11, 2025.

- Case 2476CESM (1760 Mullet Lake Park Road, Geneva): For unpermitted addition, pool and accessory structure, staff reported plan-review corrections and pending responses; the magistrate continued the matter with a target compliance period of about 60 days and scheduled a compliance hearing for Aug. 14, 2025.

- Case 25Dash39CESM (1345 Palomino Way, Oviedo; Steven and Marybeth DeLeonardis): Staff said multiple unpermitted structures remain and one barn-conversion permit is in plan check; the magistrate ordered the respondents to obtain required permits by Aug. 13, 2025 and warned of a $50-per-day fine for continued violations after compliance.

- Case 25Dash37CESM (495 Howard Avenue, Longwood; Revamp Capital LLC): Staff documented a fence installed without a permit and no relevant application on file; Setfin ordered compliance by July 9, 2025 or a $250-per-day fine would be imposed.

- Case 2474CESM (666 Encino Way, Altamonte Springs; Jean Pierre): Staff reported fence, gates and related electrical/plumbing work; a variance is likely required for the fence. Because a volunteer group planned remediation work and a lead volunteer was temporarily out of town, Setfin extended the compliance date to Oct. 8, 2025, with a compliance hearing Oct. 9, 2025.

- Case 2460CESM (1982 Longwood Lake Mary Road; Annabel Fernandez): Planning had approved a variance but the related fence permit application voided for inactivity. The magistrate continued the matter with a new compliance deadline of July 9, 2025 and a compliance hearing July 10, 2025, and asked county staff to notify the owner that a new permit application must be submitted.

- Case 25Dash32CESM (3021 Freedom Trail, Oviedo; Erlend Rodriguez Santos and Mandy Reyes Hernandez): Staff said no permit applications addressed a heat pump and pole-barn alterations; the magistrate noted prior orders and the risk of escalating penalties and granted a 30-day extension with a compliance hearing July 10, 2025.

What the county presented and why it matters

Ruth Goldstein, program coordinator for the county building division, repeatedly cited Seminole County Code Chapter 40, Appendix A, Section 105.1 as the basis for the cited violations and presented permit histories and inspection photos for each case. Brent Griffin, Seminole County building inspector, testified repeatedly that violations remained on properties and described the status of plan-review corrections and permits in process. Planning staff, including Hillary Payton of planning and development, provided context for cases where variances or limited-use permits were implicated.

Several respondents told the magistrate they had been working with county staff or that language, clerical or survey issues had slowed progress. In one case a respondent said an email address typo had prevented plan-review notices from reaching the applicant; county staff confirmed the ePlan notification issue and said it had been corrected.

Decisions, penalties and next steps

Setfin issued orders that range from short continuances with specific reporting requirements to an immediate $250-per-day fine where she found the respondent remained noncompliant. For each case the magistrate either: (1) ordered the owner to obtain the required permits by a specified compliance date and set a follow-up compliance hearing, or (2) found the owner noncompliant and imposed daily fines and administrative costs that may be recorded as a lien on the property. County staff were directed to assist property owners with plan-review steps and to confirm filings and inspection results ahead of follow-up hearings.

Ending

The magistrate closed the docket after entering the orders and scheduling the follow-up hearings. Owners directed to obtain permits were told to maintain communication with building and planning staff; the next special magistrate hearing date was set on the record for July 10, 2025.