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Commissioners reduce $195,104.40 in code enforcement liens on Apopka property to $2,500 plus administrative costs
Summary
The board granted a reduction of code enforcement liens on property at 1208 Helen Street in unincorporated Apopka, approving a $2,500 fine plus administrative costs of $1,204.40 (total $3,704.40) after discussion of lengthy noncompliance and ownership changes.
The Seminole County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 23, 2025, voted unanimously to reduce two long‑running code enforcement liens on a property in unincorporated Apopka to a combined $2,500 fine plus administrative costs of $1,204.40, producing a total due of $3,704.40.
John Martin, code enforcement division manager, told the board the property at 1208 Helen Street had two code enforcement cases: case 19‑112 for uncultivated vegetation and case 19‑113 for rubbish. He reported the combined liens had grown to $195,104.40 after fines and accruals spanning multiple years. Martin said the prior owner had brought one violation into compliance previously and that the current purchaser, Ocala LLC, had worked to secure compliance and correct the remaining violations. Martin provided the history of the board of county code enforcement findings, dates of compliance hearings and the amounts originally assessed.
Commissioner Lockhart questioned whether the current owner had performed the cleanup if compliance preceded the purchase. Martin explained that Ocala LLC had been working toward compliance while the prior owner, Miguel Leon, still held title and that Ocala LLC did not have proper title at the time it first began cleanup efforts; the firm completed legal paperwork and then filed the lien reduction request.
District Commissioner Diane Costin, whose district includes the property, moved to reduce the liens to a $2,500 fine plus administrative costs of $1,204.40 for a combined total of $3,704.40. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously. The board authorized the chair to execute a satisfaction of lien after payment of the approved amounts.
The transcript documents that the violation for rubbish persisted roughly five years and that staff logged about 29.75 hours on the cases. The applicant had asked the board to reduce the accrued fees because the buyer reported substantial cleanup and repair costs. The board's action reduces the county's secured amount and provides a path for satisfaction of the lien upon payment of the reduced total.
