Board escalates enforcement for repeat noncompliance, sends multiple matters to Massie

At the June 23 meeting the Fort Lauderdale Code Enforcement Board used its Massie‑hearing authority and daily fine adjustments to push long‑running matters toward resolution.

Inspectors identified a subset of cases with minimal recent contact or persistently stalled permit activity; the board voted to increase daily fines in several matters and directed mandatory Massie appearances where progress had not been shown. Examples in the docket included multiple properties with daily fines raised into the high hundreds or thousands (noted dollar totals were entered into the record where the city requested fines be imposed).

City staff also explained the lien amnesty program available to property owners who bring cases into compliance after fines have been imposed; staff said the amnesty program can reduce a lien by a significant portion (city staff referenced an 85% reduction window under that program, subject to eligibility and conditions).

Board members framed the Massie referrals and fines as tools to encourage cooperation after repeated extensions had failed to produce timely permit issuance or inspections. In at least one case the board explicitly tied future abatement of fines to demonstrable progress by the owner and to staff requests to abate when warranted.

Next steps: cases sent to Massie will return with mandatory appearances and tighter enforcement timetables; owners with imposed fines can apply for lien amnesty if they later come into compliance or can petition the board to abate fines after showing corrective work.