West Palm Beach special magistrate orders compliance, reduces multiple liens and fines

The City of West Palm Beach Special Magistrate Keith Davis presided over a Feb. 5, 2025 hearing that resolved dozens of code-enforcement cases, set deadlines for property owners to correct violations and approved reductions on several long-running lien amounts. Cases ranged from short compliance orders for overgrown yards and missing paint to multi-year lien reductions tied to earlier permit and licensing violations.

The hearing matters included orders to obtain building permits or remove unpermitted work, deadlines to repair or paint structures, and split orders (short deadlines for public-safety or nuisance items, longer deadlines where permits or substantial repairs were required). Magistrate Davis repeatedly found in favor of the city’s recommended findings of fact and relief when respondents failed to appear or when city staff documented unresolved violations; in other matters the magistrate approved negotiated reductions of outstanding code-enforcement liens.

Votes at a glance

- Case CE BLD 24090642 (780 S. Sapodilla Ave., Unit 408): Found in violation for work without permit; 30 days to obtain permit or come into compliance; $50 per day after deadline.

- Case CE BLD 241006660 (1740 Fifth St.): Found in violation for interior demo without permit; 90 days to comply; $50 per day after deadline.

- Case CE BLD 24100651 (534 Datura St.): Unsanitary condition / grease-trap lid issue and related permit requirement; 90 days to comply; $50 per day after deadline.

- Case CE BLD 24020526 (95130 Third St.): Exterior stucco work required permits; owner applied and case in review; 60 days to complete permit process; $50 per day after deadline.

- Case CE BLD 24030537…