Bay County magistrate orders cleanups, fines and liens in multiple code-enforcement cases

A Bay County special magistrate ordered several property owners on May 14, 2025, to correct code violations — including unsafe mobile homes, derelict vehicles, trash and unpermitted structures — and imposed fines or liens where owners failed to comply.

The orders followed testimony from Bay County code-enforcement investigators and building-inspection staff and included deadlines to obtain building or demolition permits, removal of debris and, in some cases, county abatement with recorded liens for recovery of costs.

Investigators described hurricane damage, collapsed underlayment and exposed interior framing at 12503 Silver Lake Road in Fountain. Raymond Scott, a Bay County code-enforcement investigator, and Inspector Thorpe testified the single-wide mobile home was “unfit and unsafe,” with nonpermitted accessories, missing exterior finish and water intrusion. The magistrate found a violation of Bay County Code chapter 17 and gave the owner 30 days to either complete required repairs under an approved building-permit plan or obtain a demolition permit. The order warns that failure to comply will trigger a $100 fine and that any assessed fine will become a lien on the respondent’s real and personal property in Bay County.

At 2338 East 30 Fourth Place, inspectors said the primary structure’s roof had been repaired but an accessory shed remained damaged from a hurricane and contained debris. Inspector Thorpe reported the owner applied for a demolition permit for the accessory but the permit had expired; the owner said he planned to demolish the shed himself and sell the metal. Magistrate granted the owner time to seek a demolition-permit extension and scheduled a compliance hearing for May 14 at 1 p.m. The magistrate said a new demolition permit, if issued, would grant the owner roughly 90 days of relief while the work proceeds but warned the county will proceed if the permit is not extended or work does not continue.

At 2360 Bayview Avenue in the St. Andrews area, Investigator Robert Clarkson testified the property had long-standing problems with tarping, overgrowth and other items despite prior magistrate orders. Clarkson recommended imposition of daily fines for the period of noncompliance. The magistrate found the respondent had failed to comply for 476 days and ordered payment of $11,900 in daily fines (at $25 per day) plus a $200 initial fine, both accruing statutory interest. The order will be recorded as a lien against the respondent’s property.

The magistrate also addressed a first hearing for 761 Westwood Beach Circle, where Investigator Joe Tripp testified photos documented multiple derelict vehicles, trash and unsecured personal property. The magistrate ordered the respondent to bring the property into compliance within 10 days — by removing or sheltering derelict vehicles and clearing junk — and warned that, if not completed, a $200 initial fine and a $20 daily fine would be imposed and recorded as a lien.

At 1708 Sherman Avenue, the county had abated a nuisance after prior noncompliance. Inspector Thorpe testified to abatement and contracting costs. The magistrate ordered the respondent to pay $66,791 in abatement and incidental enforcement costs plus a $100 fine; both items will accrue interest if unpaid and will be recorded as liens against the property.

Two additional abatement orders were entered for properties presented later in the hearing. One owner was ordered to pay $12,768.67 (which the magistrate described as abatement costs plus the asbestos inspection) and another to pay $6,221.12 for abatement performed by a county-contracted company; both orders will be recorded as liens in the county records and will accrue statutory interest.

In a separate matter concerning a large mobile-home park parcel (parcel number 12966-000-000, multiple 1026/1022 addresses on East 204th Plaza), the magistrate found that recreational-vehicle occupancy by tenants had been a violation of the county’s land-development rules for the R-2 residential zone. Code-enforcement officers said the park briefly hosted RVs and other recreational vehicles rented through private arrangements; during investigation the vehicles were removed and the violations were cleared. The magistrate found the respondent knowingly rented lots for RV habitation after being told it was a violation and declared that if similar violations reoccur at the parcel they will be treated as repeat offenses subject to increased penalties. The magistrate cited sections of Bay County’s land development regulations (chapter 4) and chapter 17 of the Bay County Code for authority.

What the orders require and next steps

- Deadlines and permits: Owners with unsafe structures were given specific windows to either obtain building permits with manufacturer specifications and complete required inspections or obtain demolition permits and remove debris. - Fines and liens: The magistrate imposed or affirmed fines that will be recorded as liens where violations continued, including daily fines for ongoing noncompliance and one-time assessments to cover county abatement costs and asbestos surveys where applicable. - Future hearings: Several cases were set for follow-up compliance hearings on May 14 at 1 p.m.; the magistrate said extensions for demolition permits can provide temporary compliance but emphasized the county will act if work stalls.

Speakers at the hearing included the special magistrate presiding over the session, Bay County code-enforcement investigators Robert Clarkson, Raymond Scott and Joe Tripp; Inspector Thorpe from Bay County Building Services; property owners and respondents including Cynthia Barfield and a respondent who identified himself as Todd; and representatives and family members who spoke on behalf of respondents in select cases.

The orders are administrative actions by the special magistrate under Bay County Code chapter 17 and related land-development regulations; owners may pursue permits or removal to cure violations or face county abatement and recorded liens for recovery of costs.

Ending: The magistrate closed the docket after final orders and reminded owners that unpaid fines and abatement costs will be recorded in Bay County public records and draw statutory interest.