Code enforcement orders Winter Springs property to remove commercial vehicles within 7 days

The Winter Springs Code Enforcement Board voted Jan. 28 to find the property at 613 North Pinto Court in violation of city ordinances for keeping commercial and construction vehicles on a residential lot and for parking vehicles in yard areas, and ordered the owner to bring the property into compliance within seven days.

Inspector Chris Alban presented photographs from inspections beginning July 22, 2024, through a reinspection on Jan. 27, 2025, showing multiple commercial and construction-related vehicles stored in yard areas and motor vehicles parked off the driveway. "Staff recommends the code enforcement board find the property in violation, issue an order requiring the violation be corrected and the property brought into compliance on or before Feb. 12, 2025 ... and consider the imposition of a daily fine of up to $250 per day per violation," Alban told the board during his presentation.

The respondent, occupant Darren Lockwood, testified and acknowledged work was under way on an accessory structure and driveway. Lockwood said he has been performing much of the work himself to save money and that some vehicles are needed for on-site construction. "I don't wanna be here. I wanna be in compliance," Lockwood said. His attorney, Michael Woods of Cobb Cole, asked the board to allow the city’s building-permit and construction-site management process to clarify which vehicles could remain during active work and proposed a short period to submit a construction management plan and screening for equipment.

A neighbor, Rich Murphy, told the board he first contacted code enforcement in July and said the vehicles have remained in the yard for months. "I took it upon myself back in July to reach out to code enforcement and just ask what was permissible," Murphy said, describing concerns about neighborhood appearance and property values.

Board members discussed a key factual dispute: the respondent and his attorney said a building permit (cited in materials as 2023-00001857) had been treated as active; city staff reported the public permitting records did not show an active permit in the public portal and that the permit status appeared to be expired as of Jan. 28, 2025. Board members noted that even if some equipment is associated with construction, most vehicles photographed did not meet the code’s limited allowance for on-site construction parking without a site-management plan or active permit.

The board approved a motion to find violations of Winter Springs City Ordinance section 20-4-34 (authorized commercial vehicles in residential areas) and section 20-4-39(a) (parking areas on residential lots — permitted locations). The board ordered the respondent to correct the violations within seven days (compliance date set seven days from the meeting); if the respondent failed to comply, the board approved imposing a fine of $250 per day per violation until the city verifies compliance. The motion passed by roll call vote (6-0): Board member Art Gallo — aye; Board member Maurice Capra — aye; Board member Karen Owens — aye; Board member Debbie Penke — aye; Vice Chair Miguel Martin — aye; Chair Steve Gilday — aye.

City staff will follow up to verify compliance. The board and staff also noted outstanding administrative questions for city permitting staff to clarify — specifically the permit number and whether a site-management plan was in place — which will determine whether any equipment legitimately remains for active construction. The board’s action addresses only the code violations shown at the hearing and defers permit-status adjudication to the permitting process and any related hearings.

The board moved on to its next case after the vote; staff will file verification of compliance or a notice of noncompliance if the deadline is missed.