Wellington special magistrate orders corrections, assesses fines and costs in multiple code-enforcement cases

Special Magistrate Holly Hahn on Feb. 19, 2026 reviewed a full docket of Village of Wellington code-enforcement cases and found multiple property owners in violation of local codes and land-development regulations, ordering most properties corrected by March 19 and assessing daily fines and administrative costs where violations remained.

The hearing opened with procedural remarks from staff and Mr. Khalil on notice, evidence and the magistrate’s remedies, which include fines, liens and five-year cease-and-desist orders. Court compliance officers then presented individual cases supported by inspection photographs and evidence of prior notices.

In one contested matter, court compliance officer Oshiko Walton presented case NOHCC15282025 alleging a coated driveway apron and sidewalk at 310 Naughty Wood Lane that failed multiple inspections. The property owner spoke at the podium and said the coating was chosen for appearance and slip resistance and asked for time to fix it, citing health issues: “I spent three weeks in the hospital early last year… As far as me going out there and manually removing anything, there’s gonna be a slight delay,” he said. Magistrate Hahn found the violation remained, ordered correction, and assessed a $25-per-day fine beginning Jan. 16, 2026 plus $46.70 in costs. Hahn told the respondent he could contact code compliance after correcting the property to request a fine reduction.

Other notable outcomes included: - Case NO8CC48122025 (15950 Kanesa Court / Colonel Court LLC): staff reported an expired building permit for garage-door work. The magistrate ordered correction by March 19, 2026; a fine of $50 per day will begin March 20, 2026 if unresolved, with $12.22 in costs and a fine-certification hearing set for April 16, 2026. - Case NOHDashCC2024Dash2025 (13200 57th Place South): two businesses remained without required local business tax receipts. Staff recommended the local business tax fee plus a 25% penalty, a $250 penalty and $13.65 in costs; the magistrate ordered correction by March 19, 2026 and said a written order would specify penalties. - Case NOHDashCCDash2341Dash2025 (1098 Mulberry Place): vegetation- and stump-related violations remained after multiple inspections. Magistrate Hahn ordered correction by March 19, 2026 and assessed $25 per day plus $13.65 in costs and a five-year cease-and-desist. - Case NOHDashCCDash3279Dash2025 (12865 Kingsway Road / OB Self-Settled Special Needs Trust): staff reported multiple landscaping and vegetation-permit violations; the magistrate ordered correction by March 19, 2026, assessed $25 per day per violation and $12.22 in costs, and warned of a fine-certification hearing if not corrected.

Several rental-business and local business-tax cases were addressed. For rental-license violations (examples at 1204 White Pine Drive and 1531 Windcliff Drive), staff produced lease or utility documentation to support assertions that properties were being rented; Magistrate Hahn ordered property owners to obtain required local business tax receipts and assessed penalties (commonly 25% of the license fee plus a $250 penalty) and administrative costs where appropriate.

The hearing also included a fine-certification docket in which previously issued orders were certified as unpaid or uncorrected and fines were imposed. Cases concluded in this portion included Caroline and Donna Fletcher (NOHCC1428Dash2025) and William J. Contos (NOHCC4027Dash2025), each assessed $25 per day per violation (with costs in the range of $48.13 for those files) retroactive to the dates identified in the earlier orders. For cases where partial compliance had been made, the magistrate noted corrections while maintaining fines or continuing oversight for outstanding items.

Magistrate Hahn repeatedly emphasized that the principal remedy available was compliance: once a property is brought into compliance the respondent may contact code compliance to discuss possible fine reductions. Hahn concluded the docket and said written orders would follow for each case.

The hearing ended after the fine-certification agenda and the magistrate adjourned the special magistrate hearing. Many matters were continued, and several respondents who did not appear were ordered to correct violations by March 19, 2026; unresolved matters were scheduled for fine-certification hearings on April 16, 2026.