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Resident disputes county building inspection for solar installation; staff to follow up
Summary
A resident told Marion County commissioners July 15 she has video she says shows a final building inspection for a 2021 rooftop solar installation was done without an inspector entering the home’s locked backyard; Building Safety said the permit was finaled and the CO issued and staff will meet privately with the family to review video and records.
A resident, Christy (Chris) Mazzini, raised a public‑comment complaint at the July 15 Marion County Commission meeting saying the final building inspection for a solar installation on her home in 2021 was performed without the inspector viewing the panels or accessing the locked backyard. She said she has video that shows the inspector stayed in the driveway and did not enter the rear yard to verify grounding and metering details.
County Building Safety Director Mike Savage told the board he has met with the Mazzinis several times during a multi‑year inquiry and that the department’s records show four inspections were performed and that the permit was finaled and a Certificate of Occupancy issued. Savage said inspectors generally do the work they are asked to re‑inspect rather than re‑check every item, and he cited Florida Building Code Section 110.1 (inspection authority) that limits re‑inspection on finalized permits. He said the department’s inspections manager performed a field check when the Mazzinis requested further review and that he found no defects during that check.
Savage also said the department has requested the video several times but had not yet received it. Commissioners asked staff to meet with the Mazzinis and review any supplied video and supporting documents; Commissioner Curry offered to act as a liaison because he had met with the family previously. The board asked building staff and county administration to make available a conference room after the public meeting so staff could work directly with the family and review video evidence and records. Staff committed to collecting and distributing the Mazzini materials to the commissioners for review.
What happens next: Building Safety staff will convene a follow‑up meeting with the Mazzinis, inspect records, and review any video evidence provided. The county will not reverse a finalized CO without appropriate legal or code grounds; any further action will follow statutory and departmental procedures.
