Magistrate waives fines for Fort Lauderdale property owner after flood-related hardship

A special magistrate waived code-enforcement fines on May 29, 2025, for the owner of a flood-damaged home at 2612 Southwest 14th Avenue after the owner and her attorney explained the property’s post‑flood condition and the owner’s recent personal loss.

Ashley Sawyer Smith, counsel for homeowner Tammy Celitano, told the special magistrate the property’s code accruals stemmed from a “massive flood” that left the house severely damaged and prompted litigation tied to stormwater rerouting into the neighborhood. Smith asked the court for forgiveness or amnesty for the accrued fines.

Celitano, who addressed the magistrate in person, described recent personal hardship. “I just lost my fiance of 17 years of cancer,” she said. After hearing that background and counsel’s description of the post‑flood condition, the magistrate said, “In light of the fact of the flooding and your hardship, I’m just gonna waive the the fines.”

Inspector Rafael Santos had presented the case (CE23110332) and confirmed the city was seeking full imposition of fines for outstanding code accruals. The magistrate’s order rescinded those fines for the owner in this hearing.

The waiver applies to the fines tied to the violations described on the record for this case; the city noted the underlying property issues originated after the flood and that multiple inspections and filings documented the accruals. The owner and counsel were directed on the record about next steps for closing the matter administratively.

No additional penalties were imposed at the hearing and the magistrate gave the owner leave to pursue any available administrative remedies if further questions about compliance arise.