Safety Harbor board finds owner in violation over unpermitted pool screen; orders costs and daily fine if not permitted

The City of Safety Harbor Code Enforcement Board on May 21, 2025 found that the property at 1118 Knollwood Drive, owned by 20172 IH Borrower LP, remained in violation of Safety Harbor Land Development Code section 231(a) for a pool screen enclosure installed without a permit and ordered the owner to pay $410 in administrative costs and obtain compliance within 30 days or face a $100-per-day fine beginning June 20, 2025.

The decision followed testimony from Paul Bushey, Community Compliance Officer for the City of Safety Harbor, who said city inspections beginning Jan. 2, 2025 documented several maintenance issues (a polluted, unprotected pool; rotted soffit and fascia; and interior drywall removal). Bushey said the care-of-premises violations were later cured, but the pool screen enclosure remained unpermitted and in place as of the May 21 hearing. The city submitted tax-appraiser and tax-collector printouts identifying the recorded owner as 20172 IH Borrower LP and evidence photos of the unpermitted screen enclosure.

Why it matters: the board’s order converts the unresolved code violation into a continuing financial penalty if the owner does not take the specified action, moving the matter from administrative notice to an enforceable board order.

Bushey told the board the city issued an initial notice of violation on Jan. 3, 2025 and a second notice for building-without-permit on Feb. 25, 2025. The city mailed a notice of hearing on May 9, 2025, posted copies at the property and at city hall, and offered USPS proof of mailing and an affidavit of posting into evidence. Bushey said earlier maintenance items were addressed quickly but that no permit application had been submitted for the pool screen.

Board members asked clarifying questions. Carmen Lundy asked whether staff had spoken directly with anyone; Bushey said staff had communicated by email with employees of the property-maintenance company (which has a Tampa office) and that corporate ownership information indicated a Dallas corporate office. Brian Hack confirmed with Bushey that the prior care-of-premises violations had been remedied; Bushey said the city was not seeking enforcement on those cured items and was focused only on the unpermitted enclosure.

Tom Shea moved the order finding a violation of Safety Harbor Land Development Code section 231(a), giving the respondent 30 days to obtain compliance and imposing administrative costs of $410; Holly Myers seconded. The board carried the motion by roll-call vote, recorded as unanimous (7–0). The roll-call as read on the record and entered into the minutes was: Jeff Pradeus — Aye; Carmen Lundy — Aye; Holly Myers — Aye; Christina Jackson — Aye; Jeff Dahl — Aye; Tom Shea — Aye; Bridal (Brian) Hack — Aye. The board directed that, if the property is not brought into compliance by June 20, 2025, the fine will begin at $100 per day and continue until compliance is achieved.

Bushey estimated administrative prosecution time as at least nine hours of officer time and 16 hours of clerk time, which the city calculated as $410 in administrative costs. When asked whether 30 days was sufficient to obtain an after-the-fact permit, Bushey said he believed it was "ample time" to apply for and secure the permit.

No representative of the property owner attended the hearing. The board’s written order will be reduced to writing and mailed to the respondent as required by the board’s procedures.

The case was presented as New Business (case CED45-0323) during the May 21 hearing; the board moved on to old business after the order was entered.