Winter Springs Code Enforcement Board orders repairs, sets deadlines and fines in four property cases

The City of Winter Springs Code Enforcement Board on July 21 found four properties in violation of state and model building codes, set compliance deadlines and signaled fines of up to $250 per day if owners do not meet the orders.

The board heard evidence from Chris Alban, code compliance inspector, and considered staff recommendations on work performed without permits and on a separate roof-maintenance case that the board said appears to have a multi-year history. The most contested item involved unpermitted commercial work at 898 Gary Hillary Drive, where code staff recommended a 30-day compliance window and potential daily fines; board members questioned how stop-work orders are enforced when work continues.

Alban presented photographic and permitting records for each case and recommended orders requiring permits to be obtained or repairs made by specified dates. Tara Lynn, director of community development, explained that permits can be placed on hold when reviewer comments have not been addressed and told the board that, in the 898 Gary Hillary Drive case, outstanding reviewer comments (including the need for signed-and-sealed engineer documents) had not yet been submitted. "The applicant has not addressed the comments, and so the review is not moving forward," Lynn said.

The board approved all four staff recommendations by recorded vote. Three of the four decisions included a formal notice establishing grounds for repeat violations should the same violation recur within five years.

Votes at a glance

- Case 2025CE000665 — 898 Gary Hillary Drive: Found in violation of Florida Building Code section 105.1 (permits required). Respondent ordered to obtain required permits and bring the property into compliance by Aug. 21, 2025; board authorized consideration of fines up to $250 per day if not corrected. Vote: unanimous (5-0).

- Case 2025CE000376 — 606 Casa Park Court A: Found to have violated Florida Building Code section 105.1 for work beyond an electrical permit; records show permits for alteration and electrical were later issued and the inspector reported the property is now in compliance. The board found the violation had occurred but imposed no fine because the property was corrected; the board recorded findings to establish grounds for a repeat-violation designation should the conduct recur. Vote: unanimous (5-0).

- Case 2025CE000751 — 1054 Winter Springs Boulevard: Found in violation of Florida Building Code section 105.1 for unpermitted interior electrical work; a permit application was filed and the final inspection was completed July 10, 2025. Staff noted the property was out of compliance for roughly 16 days between June 1 and June 17, 2025. The board found the violation and recorded grounds for repeat violation within five years. Vote: unanimous (5-0).

- Case 2025CE0001142 — 224 Shore Road: Found in violation of the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) section 304.7 (roofs and drainage) for a tarp remaining on the roof. The board ordered correction by Oct. 20, 2025 (90 days) and said fines up to $250 per day may be imposed if the order is not met; board members noted the address previously appeared on an agenda in January 2024 and asked staff to check whether earlier action was pulled. Vote: unanimous (5-0).

What the board discussed

898 Gary Hillary Drive (Case 2025CE000665) drew the most board questions. Inspector Alban said two commercial permit applications remained either on hold or under review as of the day before the hearing (Commercial20250343 remained in review; Commercial20250307 remained on hold) and that a stop-work order was posted at the property on April 16, 2025. Alban requested the presentation and testimony be submitted as part of the official record. "I request this presentation and testimony be submitted as part of the official record," Alban said.

Board members pressed staff on enforcement options when work continues after a stop-work order is posted. Tara Lynn said holds are typically placed when reviewer comments have not been addressed; she told the board the applicant and the applicant's contractor had met with staff and that the building official had, as recently as the meeting day, spoken with the project's engineer about required signed-and-sealed documents. Lynn said staff had been in communication with the tenant and owner but that some reviewer comments had not been addressed for a couple of weeks. "As soon as they submit signed and sealed documents... it's possible" the outstanding items can be resolved within the 30-day compliance window, Lynn said.

Board members asked whether the general contractor's license could be threatened when work is done without permits; staff said licensing and potential complaints to professional regulators are separate steps not before the board in the present ordinance-based hearing. The board's motion focused on the building-code violation (work without required permits) rather than initiating licensing action on the contractor.

Other cases

At 606 Casa Park Court A (Case 2025CE000376), Alban testified that he first observed construction debris and interior work inconsistent with the property's electrical-only permit and had posted a stop-work order March 3, 2025. Permit records later showed an alteration permit (Residential20253244) and an electrical permit (Residential20252914) were issued; Alban recommended finding a violation occurred but imposing no fine because the respondent had since come into compliance.

At 1054 Winter Springs Boulevard (Case 2025CE000751), Alban reported an initial investigation that found interior electrical work without the appropriate permit; a permit for electrical (Residential20253594) was applied for May 28 and issued with a final inspection completed July 10. Staff noted approximately 16 days of noncompliance between June 1 and June 17.

At 224 Shore Road (Case 2025CE0001142), Alban presented photos showing tarps and sandbags on the roof and recommended a 90-day compliance window to secure permits and complete repairs. The board approved staff's recommendation but asked staff to check records from January 2024 after a board member said the property previously appeared on the agenda and was pulled at that time.

Process and next steps

For each order the board set a compliance date and authorized staff to consider fines up to $250 per day if owners fail to comply by that date. Board members recorded unanimous votes on all four items. Staff will monitor permitting activity and report back if compliance is not achieved by the deadlines.

The board adjourned after routine business and a brief departing-member comment at the end of the meeting.