Bay County magistrate orders compliance, fines and one finding of compliance across six code-enforcement cases

Panama City — Bay County Special Magistrate Tiffany Serta accepted enforcement recommendations June 12 following presentations by Bay County code-enforcement staff and building officials on six separate property cases, imposing deadlines and financial penalties in five matters and concluding one property is now in compliance.

Code-enforcement managers and county inspectors presented photographic evidence, previous orders and the inspection history for each address. The magistrate accepted staff recommendations in each case and set specific compliance timelines and fines where staff recommended them.

Why it matters: the orders create enforceable timelines and potential county liens on the listed parcels if owners do not meet the conditions set by Bay County code, chapter 17. Several properties were described as blighted or unsafe, and one property was found to be unrehabilitable and subject to demolition or full structural repair under permit.

Votes at a glance

- Case 20250435 — 8804 Freemar Avenue (Southport area): Code enforcement presented repeated inspections documenting overgrowth and a debris pile. Staff recommended the magistrate find a Bay County Code section 17-2 violation (overgrowth/yard debris), set a 10-day compliance deadline to remove debris and cut overgrowth, and impose an initial fine of $200 and a daily fine of $25 for up to 20 days if the owner does not comply. The magistrate accepted the recommendation. The case is also scheduled for a compliance hearing July 17 at 1 p.m. Central.

- Case 20243558 — 2604 Shoreline Avenue (Panama City):…