Ocala contractors board fines man for unlicensed work at SE 17th Street property

The City of Ocala Contractors Board on an administrative hearing found Larry Dean Hyer guilty of performing contracting work without a license and of commencing work requiring a building permit without one, and assessed fines and costs totaling $380.97.

Dale Hollingsworth, the city's chief code official and manager of the Code Enforcement Division, told the board the case (CON25-0031) stemmed from an investigation at 925 SE 17th Street after staff observed construction in progress. Hollingsworth said a records check showed no active permits and that Hyer "admit[ted] that he was not licensed" and described and demonstrated the work he had been doing.

The board's action followed a staff recommendation to find Hyer guilty of violations of Section 22-1-51(b)(6) (acting in the capacity of a contractor without being registered or certified) and Section 22-1-51(b)(8) (commencing or performing work for which a building permit is required without such permit). Hollingsworth said staff recommended a penalty of $100 per violation plus costs of prosecution totaling $180.97; combined, that figure equals $380.97.

Responding to the hearing, Hyer said he had recently moved to the area and described helping a neighbor out of necessity, saying in part, "I come from, Midwest Wisconsin, where there's a lot of people that help themselves... if somebody needs help and I have the ability to help somebody out, then that's what we do." He also acknowledged not being familiar with the local licensing and permitting requirements.

The property owner, identified in the record as Nicolette, addressed the board and described damage from a fallen tree and the neighbor's assistance in protecting items in an upstairs residential unit. She told the board Hyer "saved us from that way" and asked the board to consider the circumstances.

Board member Shirley Wright moved to accept the staff recommendation to find Hyer in violation and assess the combined fines and costs of $380.97; a second was recorded by Michael Carter. The board voted in favor and the motion carried.

Hollingsworth noted the city has a separate enforcement action pending against the property owner; that matter was not resolved at this hearing. A city officer will provide the respondent instructions for paying the assessed fines.

The board record shows two excused members for the meeting; the board proceeded with a quorum for the contractors hearing. The case file is recorded as CON25-0031 and the cited municipal code sections appear in the staff presentation.

The board did not alter the staff's recommended sanction during the hearing. Hyer was informed of his right to legal counsel for future proceedings and that failure to pay could result in a lien being filed.