Magistrate fines owner $1,000 after finding 'tree abuse' of front-yard mango in Fort Lauderdale

A Fort Lauderdale special magistrate on June 9 ordered a property owner to pay a $1,000 fine after finding that a mango tree in the front yard had been “hatracked” and rendered nonviable.

Senior officer Gail Williams presented photos and testimony that the tree had been severely cut back in a way the city characterizes as tree abuse. The city’s landscape official, Robert Fisk, and the city’s certified arborist testified that the pruning left the tree structurally unsound and that removal and replacement would be required. The arborist told the magistrate, “the tree has been cut so severely that it is no longer viable,” and recommended removal with a replacement planting under the city’s permitting rules.

Property owner Alexander Elnikov disputed the characterization, saying he had cut only side branches after a large limb failed two years earlier and that he “never touched the top.” The exchange grew tense as the owner pressed his view that the work was limited and defensive. The magistrate interrupted after hearing city expert testimony and ruled the pruning met the city definition of hatracking.

The magistrate imposed the $1,000 fine for tree abuse and gave the owner 63 days to obtain a tree-removal permit and to arrange replacement planting or face a fine of $100 per day thereafter. The owner was told he would receive an order by mail with instructions and permit requirements.

Why it matters: The decision underscores the city’s enforcement posture on improper pruning, the requirement that hazardous or removed trees be handled through permits, and the potential financial penalties for property owners found responsible for irreversible tree damage.

What’s next: The owner has 63 days to obtain the required permit and replacement plan; the magistrate ordered reinspection and will resume enforcement if the work is not completed or permitted in the timeframe.