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Special magistrate orders permits and potential fines after Longwood business removed firewall without permit
Summary
At a March 26 hearing, the City of Longwood presented evidence that a business at 190 S Ronald Reagan Blvd removed a required fire separation wall without a permit; the special magistrate found a violation, ordered permits and inspections, assessed $76.74 in administrative costs and set a $50-per-day fine for continued noncompliance.
A special magistrate in the City of Longwood found on March 26 that Joseph Lawrence Retail LLC (operating as Longwood Social at 190 S Ronald Reagan Boulevard, Suite 120) violated the city’s land development code by removing a fire-separation wall without obtaining the required permit and ordered the property owner to obtain the necessary permit or face daily fines.
Shelly Braun, a code enforcement officer for the City of Longwood, told the hearing that the City issued a notice of violation on Jan. 6, 2026, and conducted inspections on Jan. 6, Jan. 30, Feb. 27 and March 19, 2026. Braun said proof of certified delivery of the notice was received from both the tenant and the owner and that the business Longwood Social was evicted from the premises within 30 days of the notice.
"This case involves a violation of LDC Article 10, Section 10.10 — no permit," Braun said, explaining the City’s request that the respondent be found in violation and required to secure a permit and pass required inspections.
The magistrate, after questioning about the address and parcel identification used for service, announced a finding that the respondent had violated the city code by removing the fire-separation wall without first obtaining the necessary permit. The magistrate ordered the respondent to obtain a permit from the City of Longwood Building Department and to comply with all permit requirements.
As part of the order, the magistrate assessed administrative costs of $76.74, payable within 30 days of service of the final order. The respondent was given 15 days from the date of service of the order to come into compliance by obtaining the required permit; if the property failed to come into compliance, the magistrate ordered a penalty of $50 per day for each day the violation continued beyond the compliance date. The order also required that all inspections associated with the permit be passed within 30 days after compliance.
The magistrate returned the evidence to the presenting party and closed the public hearings.
What happens next: the order requires the property owner to secure the permit and pass inspections within the timeframes set in the order. If compliance is not achieved, the fine of $50 per day will begin to accrue and the administrative cost must be paid within 30 days of service.
