Clearwater board orders permits, sets March 25 deadline for multiple Brigadune properties after slideshow of 69 after‑the‑fact permits

At a Feb. 25 hearing the Municipal Code Enforcement Board pressed property owners in the Brigadune/Brigadun area to either obtain building permits or remove unpermitted work after a code inspector presented maps and examples showing widespread after‑the‑fact paver and patio work.

Inspector Cat Reese of the City of Clearwater showed a GIS map and photographs documenting pavers and patio enclosures that extend beyond individual property lines onto common HOA land. ‘‘As of today, we have 69 successful permits that have been pulled after the fact,’’ Reese told the board, describing the city’s approach of allowing homeowners to pursue after‑the‑fact permits rather than immediately imposing triple penalties for unpermitted work. She said compliance for the active cases could be met by obtaining an issued permit by March 25, 2026, with six months from issuance to complete the work; fines of $150 per day per violation were described as the enforcement backstop.

Several individual respondents appeared for related cases. In one matter involving City Square LLC at 522 Cleveland Street, attorney Michael Lignos acknowledged the company ‘‘admits’’ the violation for a humidor and bar installed without permits; the board ordered an approved permit by March 25. The owner/operator of Nash Keys (the tenant) described confusion in prior permitting guidance and said he is willing to remove the humidor if required.

Board members and staff discussed how the city has worked with the HOA on notarized forms and permit processes to streamline after‑the‑fact compliance. The board found respondents in violation in multiple Brigadune cases and entered orders requiring permits or removal with the March 25, 2026 deadline; the board noted owners may return for extensions or to show progress and emphasized that repeated violations could lead to daily fines or liens.