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Royal Palm Beach magistrate hears dozens of code cases; sets compliance deadlines and fines
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Summary
At a special magistrate hearing April 8, the Village of Royal Palm Beach imposed fines and compliance deadlines across dozens of code-enforcement cases, set common compliance dates in May and July, and reduced one life-safety penalty. Several commercial and residential permit issues were ordered corrected or face daily fines.
The Village of Royal Palm Beach Special Magistrate Doug Mac on Wednesday ordered a slate of compliance deadlines and fines across a wide range of code-enforcement cases, from unpermitted construction to parking and stormwater violations.
The hearing covered dozens of matters. Village attorney Amity Barnard and code officers presented evidence in each case; magistrate decisions typically set a compliance date (commonly May 10 or May 28) or required property owners to appear at a fine-assessment hearing before daily fines would begin.
Notable outcomes included a $1,800 fine for a restaurant in Cobblestone Village after village staff said grease or food waste was dumped into a stormwater retention area for six days (village requested $300/day for six days). Magistrate Mac said the village’s photographs showed six days of violation and ordered $1,800, no continuing.
The magistrate also addressed a string of expired commercial permits and remodeling cases across the village; owners were generally given until April 30, May 10 or May 28 to pull the required permits or face fines that range from $25 to $100 per day depending on the case. Several property owners that showed they had since applied for permits were given additional time to finalize paperwork and inspections.
In repeat‑violation cases, the magistrate emphasized the village’s concerns about recurring noncompliance. For a plaza tenant that stored a branded Mission Barbecue truck in required parking spaces, the magistrate set an April 30 compliance deadline; fines would begin if the vehicle remained.
The hearing also included mitigation requests. In the largest mitigation matter, the Grandview at Crestwood Condominium Association challenged a $51,350 life‑safety assessment related to gate and electrical permitting. The magistrate reduced that amount and ordered $8,236 due by July 8 (see separate article for details).
Magistrate Mac repeatedly urged owners to call code officers after repairs are completed so re‑inspections can be scheduled and credited. Orders and payment instructions will be mailed to property owners and the village staff advised contacting the code enforcement office with proof of compliance.
