Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Code Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fort Myers code board finds multiple properties in violation, sets compliance deadlines and daily fines
Summary
At a Fort Myers Code Enforcement Board hearing, city staff presented dozens of cases alleging building- and property-maintenance violations. The board found multiple defendants in violation, set correction dates, and approved daily fines with caps and follow-up hearings; one item was withdrawn and one case was tabled for further review.
The Fort Myers Code Enforcement Board on an administrative hearing day found multiple property owners in violation of local maintenance and permitting codes and set compliance dates, daily fines and follow-up hearings for the properties cited.
City code officers presented dozens of cases alleging violations including work without a construction permit, unsafe structures, roof and drainage failures, accumulations of debris, and business tax violations. After staff testimony and, in some instances, comment from property representatives or attorneys, the board voted in favor of the city’s recommendations in most matters: finding defendants in violation, setting correction dates (typically in March–July 2025), and approving per-day fines that ranged from $100 to $250 with caps or, where noted, no cap for health-and-safety matters. One item was withdrawn by the city; another was tabled for additional research into permit and ownership records.
Why it matters: The board enforces the Fort Myers municipal code and the adopted International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC). The actions set deadlines and financial penalties aimed at returning properties to compliance and protecting neighboring properties; several cases cited lingering damage from Hurricane Ian and ongoing insurance or litigation processes that owners said have slowed repairs.
Votes at a glance (selected items from the hearing; each entry lists the case number, site address, primary violation(s), compliance date set by the board, fine per day and cap, and follow-up hearing date):
- Case COD-028433-2023 — 4025 Edison Avenue: construction permit required (shed installed without permit). Correction date: March 10, 2025; fine $250/day, capped at $50,000; subsequent hearing March 13, 2025. Motion to find in violation carried.
- Case COD-038461-2024 — 2301 Fowler Street, Units 4–8: cited as major unsafe structure (roof and interior collapse). Correction date: July 7, 2025; fine $250/day (no cap noted); subsequent hearing July 10, 2025. Motion carried.
- Case COD-031285-2024 — 1528 Carson Street: construction site screening violation (abandoned construction fence). Correction date: February 10, 2025; fine $200/day, capped at $50,000; subsequent hearing February 13, 2025. Motion carried.
- Case COD-030689-2024 — 2326 Clifford Street Unit A: accumulation/clearance violations (debris). Correction date: February 10, 2025; fine $200/day, capped at $25,000; subsequent hearing February 13, 2025. Motion carried.
- Case COD-030012-2023 — 1940 Suwanee Ave (church interior work without permit): correction date March 10, 2025; fine $250/day, capped at $50,000; subsequent hearing March 13, 2025. The property principals told the board they are certified contractors and requested additional time to coordinate recovery of fixtures and to obtain permits; the board set the deadlines and approved the motion.
- Case COD-023213-2023 — 4 Broadway Circle: construction permit required; roof and drainage violations. Correction date: April 7, 2025; fine $150/day, capped at $25,000; subsequent hearing April 10, 2025. Owner’s counsel described pending insurance litigation and a building permit issued on Dec. 17, 2024; board approved the city recommendation.
- Case COD-024833-2023 — 2955 Calvin Boulevard: roof and drainage; permit obtained and renewed; partial repairs underway. Correction date: April 7, 2025; fine $150/day, capped at $25,000; subsequent hearing April 10, 2025. The owner asked for additional time and the board set a May 5 compliance date in that motion.
- Case COD-031660-2024 — 3660 Central Avenue Unit 6: business tax receipt (business license) missing. Correction date: February 10, 2025; fine $200/day, capped at $50,000; subsequent hearing February 13, 2025. Staff said an application was submitted and review is pending.
- Case COD-031126-2024 — 2224 Franklin Street: fence installed without permit. Correction date: April 7, 2025; fine $150/day, capped at $25,000; subsequent hearing April 10, 2025. Owner reported a permit application and payment of fees; board approved motion.
- Case COD-024761-2024 — 2229 Franklin Street: roof and permitting (hurricane Ian damage). Correction date: May 5, 2025; fine $150/day, capped at $25,000; subsequent hearing May 8, 2025. Owner described medical and financial hardship; board approved the date and fine.
- Case COD-028788-2023 — 2145 Willard Street: multiple violations reduced to remaining construction permit required issue. Correction date: April 7, 2025; fine $250/day (no cap for the motion, noted as health and safety); subsequent hearing April 10, 2025. Owner described coordination with an architect and contractor; board approved motion.
- Case COD-029937-2023 — 2849 Olive Street: accessory structures, accumulations, and permit for rear fence. Correction date: March 10, 2025; fine $100/day, capped at $50,000; subsequent hearing March 13, 2025. Motion carried.
- Case COD-022508-2023 — 3237 Fallow Street: sign installed without permit. Correction date: March 10, 2025; fine $150/day, capped at $50,000; subsequent hearing March 13, 2025. Owner asked about removing the sign to comply; board approved motion.
- Case COD-037131-2024 — 2835 Winkler Avenue Unit 207: unsafe structure and multiple IPMC violations. Correction date: March 10, 2025; fine $150/day (motion recorded with no cap); subsequent hearing March 13, 2025. Motion carried.
- Case COD-031935-2024 — 2157 Davis Court: storage/abandoned vehicles. Correction date: February 10, 2025; fine $150/day, capped at $25,000; subsequent hearing February 13, 2025. Motion carried.
- Case COD-030989-2024 — 2254 Dora Street: vehicles without license plate, window and permit issues. Correction date: February 10, 2025; fine $150/day, capped at $25,000; subsequent hearing February 13, 2025. Motion carried.
- Case COD-026223-2023 — 1427 Gardenia Avenue: roof repairs; owner is pursuing replacement through a program. Correction date: April 7, 2025; fine $200/day, capped at $25,000; subsequent hearing April 10, 2025. Motion carried.
- Case COD-028473-2023 — 1804 Palm Avenue: accumulations, fallen trees, high grass. Correction date: February 10, 2025; fine $200/day, capped at $25,000; subsequent hearing February 13, 2025. Motion carried.
- Case COD-029328-2023 — 133 Lucille Avenue: windows and site clearing permits outstanding; correction date March 10, 2025; fine $250/day, capped at $25,000; subsequent hearing March 13, 2025. Motion carried.
- Case COD-024986-2023 — 1015 Ballard Place: sidewalk/apron repair (sidewalk, driveway hazards). Correction date March 10, 2025; fine $100/day, capped at $25,000; subsequent hearing March 13, 2025. Owner provided photographs showing a repaired parking slab and described permitting interactions; board approved motion.
- Case COD-022731-2023 — 4125 Manning Avenue: roof repair; owner on limited income; correction date April 7, 2025; fine $200/day, capped at $25,000; subsequent hearing April 10, 2025. Motion carried.
- Case listed as a lien approval (order of lien 2025-0109) — motion to approve the lien was carried.
- Several cases were found in noncompliance and the board directed liens or city abatement where no permit action or repairs have occurred (examples include addresses on Cleveland Avenue, Broadway, Highlands Avenue, Handy Court, Live Oak Lane and others). The board voted to impose liens and authorize abatement for properties still not in compliance.
Notable procedural items and exceptions: the board tabled one case while staff researched permit/ownership records; one case (agenda item 26) was withdrawn by the city and required no motion. Several property owners or their attorneys described pending insurance claims or civil litigation that they said affected their ability to complete repairs; the board repeatedly noted that civil litigation or insurance disputes do not automatically prevent the city from enforcing code but that mitigation of fines can be requested later once compliance is achieved.
The meeting closed after the board voted on the final noncompliance and lien items.
Speakers quoted in the hearing included city code officers and several property representatives; quotations in the record are attributed to the speakers listed below.
