Smiths challenge fines over unpermitted stairs and short-term rental prohibition in St. Pete Beach hearing
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Summary
Property owners Christopher and Brianna Smith, represented by attorney Jeff Pfeiff, contested fines tied to an alleged unpermitted stairs repair and a city prohibition on short-term rentals for their property at 7700 Boca Ciega Drive; no final ruling is recorded in the provided transcript.
Christopher and Brianna Smith challenged the imposition of fines at a St. Pete Beach code enforcement hearing after a city order cited unpermitted stairs and a prohibition on short-term rentals at their property, their attorney said.
At the hearing before the special magistrate, Pete Dewar, code enforcement manager for the City of St. Pete Beach, confirmed the Smiths were contesting fines imposed by a city order and noted the challenge had been filed within 20 days of that order but had been postponed because of a recent storm. "The respondent, Christopher Smith and Brianna Smith, are challenging the imposition of fines based on this order," Dewar said.
The Smiths were represented by attorney Jeff Pfeiff. "My name is Jeff Pfeiff. I represent the respondents," Pfeiff told the magistrate. Pfeiff said the owners live at 7700 Boca Ciega Drive and that a notice dated July 24, 2024, informed them a hearing was set for Sept. 9 because of a violation at that address. He said the property was subject to a prohibition on Airbnb-style short-term rentals and that the Smiths removed listings after learning of the rule. Pfeiff also told the magistrate that a guest had not caused damage and that the owners "came into compliance in early" (date not specified in the transcript).
On the procedural record, Dewar asked whether the challenge to the imposition of fines had been filed within 20 days of the order; the magistrate and staff confirmed the filing and that the matter had been postponed due to the storm. The transcript does not record a final ruling, a vote, or any monetary amount for fines.
Because the hearing transcript provided is fragmentary, several procedural details were not specified on the record available here: the precise date when the Smiths achieved compliance, the exact fines assessed, and any final decision by the magistrate. The record shows the parties presenting positions and procedural history but does not include a disposition or written order in the excerpt provided.