Fort Lauderdale special magistrate sets deadlines, fines and extensions across dozens of code cases

The Fort Lauderdale special magistrate on Feb. 11, 2025 set compliance deadlines, granted extensions and ordered administrative costs or fines for dozens of properties during a multi-hour code-enforcement hearing, addressing violations from illegal outdoor storage and unpermitted signs to recurring nuisance cases and public-safety concerns.

The hearing matters because the magistrate’s orders impose deadlines and, in some cases, daily fines that affect property owners’ repair schedules, potential rental operations and public-safety risks. Several cases drew back-and-forth between city inspectors, property owners or their representatives and the magistrate before the magistrate issued orders.

Inspector Shaikh Owen Kendrick told the magistrate that the property at 3121 Northwest 60th Drive was first sighted on Oct. 27, 2024 and remained out of compliance at a prehearing inspection; the city requested 10 or 28 days for multiple violations or $50 per day thereafter. Property representative Joseph Sanzari told the magistrate, “Give me 30 days, I guess. I’ve planted sod where the grass was missing,” and said he had begun cleanup. The magistrate granted the city’s request for compliance deadlines, telling Sanzari to coordinate with the inspector so fines do not begin to run.

At 3315 East Oakland Park Blvd. (Ocean Cross LLC), inspector Pat Gavin said a business was advertising “psychic” services in a CB zone where that activity is not allowed and that signs had been erected without permits. Landlord Gloria Wetherington said she would not renew the tenant’s lease until the matter was resolved. Attorney Roberto Stansi, representing the tenant, told the magistrate the tenant had removed the window signs and that the large rooftop sign would require a sign company and could be removed within about 30 days; the magistrate set a 28-day compliance deadline and warned that the city would return if psychic activity resumed.

Several property owners asked for and received extensions or scheduling changes because of contractor timelines, tenant evictions or health and safety issues. Examples: - 3315 and 3327 East Oakland Park Blvd. (Ocean Cross LLC): the magistrate set 28 days for the sign violations or $100 per day thereafter; for a repeat feather-flag violation at 3327 the city sought a finding of recurring violation and the magistrate ordered that future breaches be treated as repeat violations. - 820 Southwest 13th Street (J G and DeRozier): owner Melissa Bativo said she and family had cleaned miscellaneous outdoor storage but needed time to obtain repair estimates; the magistrate set staggered deadlines including a 91-day compliance date for one parking/driveway violation. - 904 Southeast 12th Street (James McGowan): owner said a tenant subject to eviction was occupying the unit; the magistrate allowed 56 days for compliance to allow eviction proceedings to proceed.

Some cases involved public-safety or technical constraints. At 2467 Cat K Lane, property owner Lindsay Woodruff asked for time to remove a dead avocado tree while preserving an active beehive inside the tree; she said bee removal specialists quoted about four weeks per hive for a “trap out” rescue operation. The magistrate granted a 91-day extension and ordered the case to reappear if more time was needed.

Recurring and repeat-violation cases drew larger fine calculations and findings of fact. Inspector Matthew Fletcher and others read multiple inspection dates into the record for properties shown to have repeated noncompliance; where evidence supported accrued fines the magistrate either imposed administrative costs or scheduled follow-ups. Notable examples included: - 3310 Northwest 60th Street: the city listed repeated exterior and roof violations and sought full fines totaling $11,150; the magistrate ordered the listed remedies and monitoring until compliance. - 1111 Southwest Second Court: the city requested full fine imposition of $2,800 for previously ordered noncompliance; the magistrate ordered administrative costs ($948) after finding the property was now in compliance.

Several fire-safety code matters were handled by Captain Carl Peterson of the Fire Marshal’s Office; multiple properties were given 28 or 56 days to submit required fire-protection-system reports, inspect hood suppression systems, or service fire extinguishers, with $100-per-day fines set to run thereafter if the work was not done.

The magistrate repeatedly told respondents that written orders would be mailed and that property owners should coordinate with inspectors to avoid fines. A number of matters were rescheduled for future hearings, notably March 11 and May 13 dates for cases where additional documentation or follow-up inspections were required.

Cases at a glance

- CE24100634 — 3121 NW 60th Drive (owner: not specified). Violations read; magistrate ordered 10 days for two violations and 28 days for two others, or $50/day per violation thereafter. (Inspector: Shay Kendrick; respondent: Joseph Sanzari.) - CE24120608 — 3315 E. Oakland Park Blvd., #202 (owner: Ocean Cross LLC). Signs advertising prohibited “psychic” activity; magistrate set 28 days to remove signs or $100/day thereafter; city will seek repeat enforcement if activity resumes. (Inspector: Pat Gavin; respondent: Gloria Wetherington; attorney: Roberto Stansi.) - CE24120659 — 3327 E. Oakland Park Blvd. (owner: Ocean Cross LLC). Repeat feather-flag/sign violation; magistrate recorded repeat-violation finding and warned of $100/day for future breaches. - CE24110477 — 820 SW 13th St. (owners: J G and DeRozier). Multiple exterior and driveway violations; owner requested time to obtain repair estimates; magistrate set staggered deadlines (including a 91-day deadline for one item). - CE24100343 — 904 SE 12th St. (owner: James McGowan). Landscape/ground-cover violation; magistrate allowed 56 days to allow eviction proceedings to proceed. - CE24090067 — 6916 NW 209th Ave. (owner: John W. Garces). Multiple exterior, roof and landscape violations; magistrate set a mix of 10- to 56-day deadlines and warned of $50/day per violation thereafter. - CE24010796 — 2624 NE 30 2nd St. (Golden Eagle Condor Association). Condominium parking/drive repairs; association president requested more time because of special assessment collection; magistrate granted a 56-day final extension and required reappearance. - CE24110550 — 2467 Cat K Lane (owners: Matthew Neville, Lindsey Woodruff). Dead avocado tree with active beehive: magistrate granted 91 days to allow bee-rescue efforts and scheduled reappearance if trapping extended. - CE23120151 — 532 NW 16th Ave. (owner: Vanessa Williams). Longstanding noncompliance with accrued daily fines; city requested full imposition and continuation of fines; magistrate ordered the requested relief per the record. - FC24110004 / FC24110008 / FC24120001 / FC24120004 — various commercial addresses. Fire Marshal requested 28–56 days to submit fire-protection reports, repair alarms or inspect hood suppression systems; magistrate granted those deadlines with $100/day fines thereafter. - CE24100529 — 2630 Sugarloaf Lane (owner: Carmen Camano). Derelict trailer and RV parked on grass; owner contested dates of compliance for registration; magistrate imposed $400 for one parking violation and rescheduled the derelict-trailer issue to March 11 for proof of timely registration. - CE24090229 — 2323 W. State Road 84 (CF RV Haven LLC). Removal of coconut palms without permit; permit later obtained for four replacements; magistrate imposed a one-time fine of $600 for removal without a permit.

What happened next

Magistrate orders will be mailed to respondents. Many cases are subject to reinspection; some will return to the magistrate if deadlines are not met. Where owners said they would coordinate with city inspectors or contractors, the magistrate emphasized that staying in touch with code compliance could prevent fines from accruing.

Speakers quoted in this report include the city inspectors and respondents recorded in the hearing transcript and are attributed as read into the record.