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Property manager disputes long-running shed enforcement; board halts continuing fines pending council review
Summary
At a hearing the property manager said a contested shed was deconstructed in October while staff said compliance was only achieved on Feb. 10, 2026; the board found the property in compliance as of Feb. 10 and stopped continuing penalties, leaving accrued fines and lien-reduction options to city council.
A lengthy exchange at the City of Vero Beach Code Enforcement Board meeting focused on a longstanding shed violation where the property manager and staff disagreed on when the property achieved compliance.
The case file shows an initial citation for an unpermitted shed and an extended enforcement timeline; staff said that while portions of the structure were deconstructed earlier, material left on site meant the property did not meet compliance until Feb. 10, 2026. The property manager, Billy Garrett, told the board, "The shed has been taken down in October," and said the structure was taken apart board by board and staged for relocation with planning-department coordination.
Code enforcement staff countered that the base and certain materials remained on site until the February compliance date, and that building permits had not been pulled for required elements. Staff also provided an estimated accrual of continuing penalties in one exchange (figures cited in the hearing included estimates around $22,700 and references elsewhere to "512 days" and $25,600 in fines for prolonged noncompliance).
After hearing both sides, the board voted to find the property in compliance as of Feb. 10, 2026, and ordered cessation of continuing penalties effective 02/09/2026. The board and staff emphasized that stopping daily penalties does not resolve accrued fines; property representatives were told they may apply to the city council for a lien-reduction request and should bring documentation to support the timeline of corrective work.
What’s next: The property manager was advised to prepare paperwork and photos for a council meeting if he seeks reduction of accrued fines. Code Enforcement staff will accept a lien-reduction request and the clerk’s office will advise on council procedures; the board’s action preserved the city’s right to collect accrued amounts while halting further daily penalties now that staff verified compliance.
Quote from the hearing: Billy Garrett said, "So it was taken down and we put it in a pile, put a tarp over it to move to get building permits… The shed was taken down in October."
