Fernandina Beach board finds Moore property in violation, sets Aug. 6 compliance deadline

The Fernandina Beach Code Enforcement and Appeals Board voted July 3 to find the property occupied by Joseph and Kimberly Moore in violation of local codes for operating a business from a residence and for visible inoperable vehicles and trailers, and set a compliance deadline of Aug. 6, 2025. If the violations are not corrected by that date, the board ordered fines of $25 per day per violation to begin on Aug. 7, 2025.

George Wells, code enforcement officer for the City of Fernandina Beach, presented the staff case and asked the board to enter photos, documents and inspection reports into the record. Wells told the board the property had been inspected April 9, 2025, and that his office found "multiple code violations" including a duty-to-maintain violation (outer siding with mildew and vines), an inoperable-vehicle matter, and operation of a rental business after the local business tax receipt had been revoked. Wells said the City’s recommendation was to give the property owner 14 days to comply and, if not, "assess administrative fees and a fine of $25 per day per violation to begin on July 18" (the board later set the effective fine start date in August to match the compliance deadline).

Board members pressed Wells and city counsel on the nature of the evidence that a business was operating from the residence. Wells cited an active website advertising jet-ski and scooter rentals and a Sunbiz registration listing the property address, saying those items constitute "presumptive evidence" under the local ordinance. One member noted that if the equipment on site were the owner’s personal property and not part of an active business, some items could remain; Wells replied that "if he stops business operations from that location" and takes down the website, visible items could be acceptable, but continued operation without an LBTR would remain a violation.

After discussion about timing around the Independence Day holiday and how much time would be reasonable for the respondent to correct the violations, a board member moved to find the property in violation of the cited code sections, assess administrative fees (stated in the record as $328.81), and give the respondent until Aug. 6, 2025, to come into compliance with all three violations. The motion specified fines of $25 per day per violation to begin on Aug. 7, 2025, until compliance is achieved. The board voted by roll call to adopt the motion; the city recorded the vote and the motion carried.

The staff recommendation and the board’s order require the respondent to remove or relocate items visible from the street (boats, trailers, jet skis/scooters) or otherwise enclose them, take the advertising website down, and cease business operations at that address because planning staff had denied an LBTR application for the location in 2021. The board’s action is administrative enforcement; if fines accrue or remain unpaid, the city retains processes for collection as described by counsel.

The board set no additional interim monitoring requirements other than the compliance date and fines. The respondent was not present to speak during the hearing; staff certified service of notices on the respondent earlier in the case. The case will return for further enforcement action only if staff reports noncompliance after the Aug. 6 deadline.