Palm Bay special magistrate grants short extensions, sets fines for dozens of code violations

The Palm Bay Code Enforcement Special Magistrate on Jan. 8, 2025 granted short extensions for several property owners who spoke at the hearing, approved fines listed in a city report for a separate property, and found dozens of other properties in violation of the city code, setting compliance dates and daily fines.

The rulings affect individual properties cited for tall grass and weeds, accumulation of trash and debris, exterior disrepair and roof leaks, overgrown vegetation and tree damage, and vehicle or outdoor-storage violations. Magistrate directives set specific compliance dates and authorized daily fines of $50 per violation (with some properties cited for multiple violations), while a separate set-fine consent docket imposed $200 set fines and authorized the city to take corrective action and recover costs if properties remain noncompliant.

Why it matters: The hearing resolved active enforcement files and established specific deadlines that, if unmet, will trigger daily fines or city abatement actions for property owners across Palm Bay. Several respondents described health, financial or logistical barriers to immediate compliance; the magistrate balanced those explanations with firm compliance deadlines and repeat-violation penalties.

At the start of the hearing, a city code officer identified the first case as CB-25374-24, for the property at 1392 Schneider Street Southwest. The homeowner, Timothy Aptwish, told the magistrate he had been in a rear-end crash on July 24, 2024, suffered back injuries and had been unable to maintain the yard. "I just need a little more time, and I'll have the grass mowed and everything, you know, everything done," Aptwish said. The magistrate agreed to an extension and set the new compliance date for Feb. 7, 2025, warning that the city would impose a $50-a-day fine for each continuing violation; the officer stated there were two violations at the address, which the magistrate said could amount to $100 a day if both remain uncorrected.

At 1357 Pavilion Street Northwest (CEB-25588-25), owner James Michael Veil said he had cleaned most of the front yard and expected to finish within a couple of weekends. The magistrate set a compliance date of Jan. 23, 2025, and authorized a $50-per-day fine for each continuing violation.

At 890 Water Oak Drive Northeast (CEB-25558-25), homeowner John Curtis Williams reported roof leaks that collapsed part of an interior ceiling and said he planned to switch to a metal roof, subject to HOA architectural approval. He told the magistrate he planned to secure homeowners insurance by April. The magistrate set a 90-day compliance date of April 8, 2025, and noted there are two violations at that address (making the potential fine $100 per day) but said the city could consider another extension if a contractor documents progress or delays.

At 1337 Pakenham Street Northwest (CEB-25562-25), respondent Kim Lewis acknowledged an overhanging tree that was damaging a neighbor's fence and said removal or repair would likely cost the most. Lewis requested a short time to arrange vendor work; the magistrate gave 15 days and set Jan. 23, 2025 as the compliance date, with a $50 daily fine for continued violation.

At 630 Crowberry Road Northeast (CV-25567-25), the officer reported multiple code sections in violation, including a vehicle in major disrepair and accumulation of trash and debris. The responsible party indicated the property is occupied and said the city should charge vendor costs back to the property; the magistrate set Jan. 23, 2025 as the compliance date with $50-per-day fines for continuing violations.

The magistrate also noted one case (CEB-24807-24, 1670 Hartwellville Street Northwest) that prompted the city to request imposition of fines as listed in the city's authorization-to-impose-fines report; the magistrate found the respondents listed in that report in noncompliance and ordered the fines as stated in the city report dated Jan. 8, 2025. The transcript did not include the fine amounts in that report.

Several additional cases were handled on consent. The magistrate found respondents listed on three grouped consent dockets in violation and set the following uniform terms: for a per-day fine docket (items 1–21 on the per-day agenda), respondents not present have until Jan. 23, 2025 to comply and the city may impose $50 per day for each violation continuing past that date; for two set-fine dockets (items 1–44 and items 45–50 on the set-fine agenda), the magistrate gave respondents until Jan. 18, 2025 (10 days) to comply or face a $200 set fine and authorized the city to take reasonable action to bring properties into compliance and charge owners for costs.

The hearing record also shows several cases entered as voluntary compliance and closed: CEV-25603-25 (1151 Pasadena Road SE), CEV-25625-25 (195 Haines Road SW), and CEV-25611-25 (476 Troutwood Lane SW). Another earlier file, CEB-25339-24 (870 Eldrop Boulevard SE), was noted as having come into voluntary compliance and closed.

The magistrate closed the session after entering the orders and announcing the compliance dates and potential fines.

Votes at a glance

- CB-25374-24 (1392 Schneider St SW): Extension granted; compliance Feb. 7, 2025; $50/day per violation; 2 violations noted (could be $100/day). (Approved by magistrate.) - CEB-24807-24 (1670 Hartwellville St NW): Magistrate ordered fines as listed in the city's authorization-to-impose-fines report dated Jan. 8, 2025 (fine amounts not specified in the…