Sarasota magistrate continues most cases, imposes fines in unresolved permit and vacation-rental matters

A City of Sarasota special magistrate hearing on Aug. 28, 2025, addressed more than two dozen code-enforcement cases, wrapping up several matters as corrected, imposing modest fines in a handful of long‑running files and continuing most other cases to September and October for follow-up inspections or permit activity.

The hearing, conducted by Magistrate Richard Ellis with City of Sarasota staff represented by Miss Kennedy, covered cases ranging from hurricane repair and unpermitted interior work to overgrowth, accumulation of junk and multiple complaints about short‑term vacation rentals being advertised or operated without a registration. Magistrate Ellis routinely found violations continuing where permits or inspections remained outstanding, continued cases to give respondents a chance to obtain permits or complete repairs, and in several cases imposed limited fines or costs intended to recover the city’s enforcement expense.

City staff told the magistrate that some properties had corrected the cited problems before the hearing and therefore required no assessment of civil fines. Those cases included: Anna Ruby (case 202500690), where the pergola and fence violations were closed with a final inspection on Aug. 12 and the city recommended no fine or costs; Vince Franco’s Crown Castle matter (202500261), found in compliance on Aug. 22 and assessed a single‑day fine of $100 plus $7.65 in costs after the city reduced prior larger fines; and Ellison Jean Cole (202500950), whose carport repair passed final inspection on Aug. 21 and for whom the city recommended only inspection costs (waived by the magistrate in that matter).

Other matters produced starker outcomes. Natural Comfort Footwear / Saint Armands LLC (202500259) drew a civil fine of $16,200 to date and $3.90 in costs after the city’s affidavit documented 162 days of a $100 daily running fine for unpermitted…