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Wingate management given 30 days to fix code violations at multiple Gainesville units
Summary
Magistrate set 30‑day compliance deadlines for multiple units managed by Wingate Companies after county inspectors documented infestation, ventilation and plumbing violations; daily fines and one‑time maintenance neglect fees were noted per unit.
Alachua County code enforcement officers presented evidence on multiple property‑maintenance violations at units managed by Wingate Companies, and the magistrate allowed the management company 30 days to complete repairs while noting daily fines and prosecution costs that will apply if units remain out of compliance.
Officer Benjamin, a property‑management housing inspector for Alachua County, described repeated violations across several units — including infestation, inadequate ventilation and plumbing hazards — and requested compliance within the county’s property‑maintenance code. “In the first case, Apartment B5… ongoing inspections determined that Apartment B5 is still in violation as of 04/28/2026,” Officer Benjamin told the magistrate.
Brian Benge, regional facility director for Wingate Companies, said management had scheduled contractors, ordered parts and planned a full inspection once a new maintenance supervisor starts. “We’ve got a contractor scheduled for the thirteenth to come in,” Benge said, and asked for time to complete work and secure resident cooperation for unit access.
The magistrate and county staff agreed that 30 days was a reasonable compliance window for multiple units. The hearing record shows unit‑level enforcement details, including the county’s stated daily fines and administrative costs: Apartment B5 — $450/day fines, $280 prosecution costs and a one‑time $500 maintenance neglect fee; Apartment B3 — $600/day fines, $140 prosecution costs and $500 one‑time fee; Apartment B1 — $550/day fines, $280 costs and $500 one‑time fee; Apartment 09 — $400/day fines, $280 costs and $500 one‑time fee; Apartment H3 — $600/day fines, $210 costs and $500 one‑time fee; Apartment B6 — $850/day fines, $280 costs and $500 one‑time fee; Apartment B7 — $400/day fines, $280 costs and $500 one‑time fee.
Why it matters: The violations encompass life‑safety and habitability items such as infestation, ventilation, smoke detectors and plumbing hazards. If management cannot access occupied units promptly or cannot complete repairs within the set period, the county may assess the stated daily fines and seek liens for prosecution costs.
Management said it would provide invoices, pest‑control logs and contractor documentation to the county so code staff can issue compliance letters once work is complete; those letters would halt fines tied to ongoing violations.
