Pensacola magistrate starts fines, grants continuances in multiple building-permit cases

Special Magistrate Matthew Hargraves presided over the City of Pensacola Code Enforcement Authority for Building Inspections on June 24, 2025, where the magistrate ordered previously assessed daily fines to begin for multiple properties, granted continuances on several permit-related matters and closed one case after compliance.

The hearing matters centered on alleged work without permits and unsafe-structure findings. Robbie Weekley, deputy building official for the City of Pensacola, presented evidence for each matter and recommended either that daily fines commence where compliance had not been achieved or that hearings be continued to allow applicants time to correct permit application deficiencies.

The most immediate outcomes included orders to commence previously assessed fines of $25 per day for properties found in prior hearings to be in violation of the Pensacola Municipal Code for work without permits. The magistrate ordered those fines to commence on June 24, 2025, unless otherwise noted in the record. For one commercial matter involving storage containers at 2115 West Cervantes Street, the magistrate assessed previously ordered fines of $100 per day to begin June 24, 2025, because the storage containers remained in place. Weekley explained that court costs of $200 had been ordered in multiple cases and that in some matters those costs remained unpaid.

Some owners were granted additional time. The owner present for case 25-2 (1835 West Chase Street) requested a continuance to allow time to correct plan-review comments; Weekley described review comments being returned to the applicant and told the magistrate the review involved a required electronic third-party verification of the engineer’s digital signature. The magistrate continued that matter to the July 8, 2025, hearing. Weekley also asked for and received continuances to July 8 and July 22, 2025, in other matters to allow surveys, revised drawings or other corrective work to proceed.

One case was closed: for 501 East Cervantes Street (Case 22-18), Weekley reported accessory structures had been removed and court costs paid; on that basis the magistrate closed the matter.

Assistant City Attorney Kia Goldsmith addressed the magistrate about a procedural question raised during new business: when daily fines should commence in matters that have had multiple continuances. Goldsmith said she would provide a written opinion to the magistrate. "Yes, sir. I can get that to you," Goldsmith said.

The hearing concluded after the remaining docketed cases were continued or otherwise disposed, and the magistrate adjourned the session.