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DeLand special magistrate orders repairs and daily fines for multiple properties; continuances set for Dec. 11
Summary
At a Oct. 23, 2025 special magistrate hearing, the City of DeLand entered orders requiring multiple property owners to remedy code violations by Dec. 8 or face daily fines; several cases were continued to Dec. 11 and two long-running matters resulted in $25,000 fines. The magistrate also discussed statutory disclosure duties when ownership transfers occur during enforcement proceedings.
Special Magistrate Christina Epperson on Oct. 23 ordered property owners in the City of DeLand to fix multiple code violations by 5 p.m. on Dec. 8, 2025, or face daily fines ranging from $100 to $250 beginning Dec. 9.
City code enforcement staff presented evidence and photographs in several matters, describing unsafe structural conditions, accumulated debris, and overgrown grass. An unnamed city presenter described a house with extensive exterior wood rot and a deteriorated porch support, saying the support beam “is rotting away.” The magistrate found that property in violation and entered an order requiring repairs by Dec. 8 or a $250-per-day fine to begin Dec. 9.
Amber Parker, a City of DeLand code enforcement officer, presented a case for 519 South Clara Avenue, reporting a large pile of debris in a driveway and grass or weeds taller than 12 inches; the magistrate ordered compliance by Dec. 8 or a $150-per-day fine beginning Dec. 9. Parker also presented two related cases for 736 West Hubbard Avenue alleging accessory structures built within side setbacks without permits and a 6-foot corner fence likely inside the right of way; both cases were found in violation and each was set to incur a $200-per-day fine if not brought into compliance by Dec. 8.
The magistrate entered fines and liens on several previously adjudicated properties. A repeat-violation order was entered against 1020 East Hillary Avenue (Dwayne E. Mikowski), imposing a $200-per-day fine as of Oct. 1, 2025. A property at 532 East Ridge Avenue (listed as John Christopher Rich Estates) was ordered to pay $100 per day beginning Oct. 21, 2025. For 732 Cox Street (Agnes Kinkade), staff said a prior finding had declared the structure unsafe and unfit for occupancy; the magistrate imposed a $250-per-day fine beginning Oct. 21 and a lien on the property.
Two long-running dockets concerning 212 South Boston Avenue were resolved in favor of a final compliance determination and fines. Staff told the magistrate the property came into compliance on Oct. 8, 2025; the fine period calculated by staff ran 533 days, producing a $25,000 amount due in each related docket. The magistrate entered orders reflecting those fines.
Several cases were continued to allow owners or contractors more time to address deficiencies. The magistrate granted continuances to Dec. 11, 2025, for matters including 513 North Stone Street, 321 West Waltz Avenue, 1329 North Wenland Boulevard, and multiple related cases for 340 West Rich/Ridge Avenue, as staff reported work under way or pending sales.
A respondent-side representative raised an ownership-transfer issue to the magistrate, saying title had been moved from a trust to an LLC after the city’s initial notice. The representative cited statutory disclosure duties that can attach when ownership changes while a code enforcement proceeding is pending; staff said they had not received any formal notice of transfer and warned that a transfer could affect how a lien or judgment is recorded. The magistrate noted the exchange on the record but entered the enforcement orders based on the evidence presented.
The hearing concluded with the magistrate scheduling the next session for Dec. 11, 2025, at 5 p.m. The hearing was taken off the record at 5:44 p.m.
