Royal Palm Beach special magistrate grants fines, orders compliance; unsecured pools face imminent abatement

Royal Palm Beach’s special magistrate on July 8 conducted a full docket of fine-assessment, violation and mitigation hearings, granting a range of fines, setting compliance deadlines and ordering follow-up inspections.

The hearing opened with the magistrate swearing in attendees and the Village presenting evidence for many cases. The magistrate repeatedly told respondents that fines stop only after a village inspector confirms compliance.

Why it matters: The session resolved dozens of property-maintenance and public-safety cases that can carry continuing per-day fines and sometimes large lump-sum assessments. Two unsecured residential pools were judged immediate hazards; the village set short abatement deadlines that, if unmet, will trigger village abatement and a charge-back for cost of work.

Key outcomes and details

- Roof tarp and permit delays: In a fine-assessment for 7 Dubb Circle, the magistrate granted $325 in fines for a tarp on the roof, assessing $25 per day for 13 days so far and continuing until the village’s permit printout or an inspector’s affidavit of compliance is recorded. Respondent Luciana Gonzales said an insurance claim and a permit application had been initiated but the permit had not printed yet.

- Unsafe structures and debris (multiple related cases, TLH 26 / Total Royale LLC): Owner’s representative Christopher DeBendke described demolition and cleanup activity across several properties. The magistrate reduced some initially assessed daily fines where demolition was complete but left continuing fines in place for remaining debris, trash and unpermitted structures until inspectors confirm full compliance.

- Commercial property enforcement (BJ’s Wholesale): Anthony Rodriguez, counsel for BJ’s Wholesale, said the company did not receive notice of a June 11 hearing until July 1. The magistrate noted the landlord/notice issue but granted a $975 fine plus continuing on outstanding dumpster/parking violations while encouraging the respondent to work with staff and the landlord for possible later reduction.

- Fine-mitigation requests for bank/foreclosure properties: Several mitigation requests for bank-owned or foreclosure properties were presented. The magistrate stopped accrual of new fines pending confirmation of proper authorization and required agents to return with written owner authorization before the magistrate would act on mitigation requests.

- Health and safety — unsecured pools: Two respondents with open pool barriers were ordered to secure their pools by July 13 or the village will abate (temporary fencing or drain/cover) and seek reimbursement for abatement costs at a later fine-assessment hearing set for Sept. 10. The magistrate emphasized the danger to children and called securing pools an urgent public-safety priority.

- Vegetation, staining and signage: Dozens of residential and commercial cases involving overgrown grass/weeds, stained sidewalks/driveways, prohibited signage or missing permits were set with compliance dates (commonly Aug. 28 or July 31) or assessed daily fines (frequently $25/day or other per-day rates) when already out of compliance. Magistrate repeatedly advised property owners to call the inspector after work is done to stop fines.

Votes at a glance (selected cases)

- Case 25-0147180 (7 Dubb Circle; Luciana Gonzales): Fine granted — $325 assessed ($25/day × 13 days) and continuing until permit issuance/inspector affidavit; outcome: approved.

- Case 25-018910481 (Acme Road; TLH 26 Giles LLC / Christopher DeBendke): Fine adjustments and continued compliance orders granted; unsafe-structure fines reduced where demolition completed; outcome: approved (continuing fines where applicable).

- Case 25-0401500 (500 N State Road 7; BJ’s Wholesale / Anthony Rodriguez): Fine granted — $975 plus continuing; outcome: approved.

- Case 17-019610089 (Penzance Lane; US Bank/Hudson Homes — fine mitigation): Accrual of fines stopped pending owner authorization; mitigation deferred, returned/withdrawn status to be refiled with proper documentation; outcome: deferred.

- Case 20Five-0620/20Five-0551 (Madore; Bowman — unsecured pools): Orders to secure pools by July 13 or village abatement authorized; follow-up fine assessment set for Sept. 10; outcome: abate-authority granted (compliance deadline set).

- Case 23-042011487 (Ricardo Varaybor — play structure removed): Fine mitigation reduced to $1,412.50 payable by Sept. 9 after documentation of removal was submitted; outcome: approved (mitigated).

- Multiple residential properties (examples): A series of $325-plus-continuing fines were granted where properties remained out of compliance 13 days (typical citation pattern); several small fines (e.g., $75–$250 flat fines) were granted or reduced where compliance was achieved prior to hearing.

What the magistrate emphasized

The magistrate repeatedly told respondents that fines stop only when a village inspector files an affidavit of compliance or documents the permit/repair. Owners were urged to call Code Enforcement (Margaret Hancock or the assigned inspector) after work is complete and to respond promptly to plan-check comments so permits issue sooner. For mitigation requests, the magistrate required written owner authorization before accepting settlement of large assessed fines.

What’s next

Affected parties will receive written orders in the mail; many cases were calendared for status or fine-assessment hearings on Sept. 10 or shoulders-of-agenda dates (Aug. 28, July 31). Where the village is authorized to abate an imminent hazard (notably open pools), abatement will proceed after the July 13 deadline if respondents do not correct the condition; the village may seek cost recovery at the follow-up hearing.

Sources: Verbatim statements and evidence entered into record during the July 8, 2025 Village of Royal Palm Beach special magistrate code-enforcement hearing.