Bay County orders demolition or repairs at 9104 N. Silver Lake after inspectors find unsafe, unpermitted structure

Bay County's special magistrate found the structure at 9104 North Silver Lake in the Fountain area to be unsafe and ordered the respondent to either obtain a demolition permit and remove the structure or submit a complete building-permit application, structural report and action plan within 30 days.

Donna Newell, trades investigator with the Bay County Building Safety Division, said the department received complaints and that investigators observed active construction without issued building permits. "We received the complaint from a neighbor across the street. And as we pulled onto the property, there was, obviously, a structure being built," Newell said, and she reported stop-work orders and that the Bay County Sheriff's Office assisted when workers and equipment needed to be removed.

Robert Boulet, Bay County building official, inspected the structure and described conditions that posed safety risks. "It is" an unsafe structure, Boulet said when asked whether the observed building was unsafe. He noted that the structure could be easily accessed from the roadway, had fresh tire tracks, no fencing or trespass signage, and that the partially completed upper deck lacked railings or decking in places that would allow someone to walk into an unsafe area.

The magistrate found a violation of Bay County Code section 17-2 (unsafe structure) after reviewing photographs and testimony. The order requires the respondent to "apply for and obtain a demolition permit, demolish and remove demolition debris from the property," or alternatively to "submit a complete building permit application to the building department" including a full structural report and detailed action plan with time frames and to complete all required inspections and finalization of permits. If the respondent fails to comply within 30 days, the magistrate ordered a $1,000 fine to be imposed and recorded as a lien on real and personal property in Bay County. A compliance hearing was set for July 16 at 1 p.m.

Investigators recorded multiple inspections dating back to February 2024 and continuing into 2025, including stop-work orders and postings of hearing notices. New ownership changes were noted in the file; the current respondent listed in the enforcement documents is Mr. Alvarado. The magistrate emphasized that permits, engineering and plan review must be completed before any work will be approved and that allowing permits to expire or be revoked after issuance will be treated as noncompliance under the order.

The magistrate directed the respondent to contact Code Enforcement if there are delays in meeting the order and required final inspections and permit finalizations before repairs would be deemed complete. The compliance hearing will revisit the property on July 16 at 1 p.m.