Alachua County magistrate orders compliance deadlines, records guilty finding and cancels liens in July enforcement hearing

The Alachua County Code Enforcement Special Magistrate heard more than a dozen enforcement matters July 2026 and issued orders requiring compliance, setting fines and, in one case, recommending a lien.

In a case about a demolition and alleged unauthorized tree clearing at 1221 Southeast 27th Street in Gainesville, county staff said the owner, Carl Davis, had not corrected the violations after notices and inspections. The county recommended the magistrate find a violation and order the respondent to come into compliance within 30 days or pay $100 per day thereafter; county staff reported $350 in costs. Senior forester Andrew Coniglio told the magistrate that at least three trees appeared to be heritage size and that mitigation would require replanting three 15-gallon trees or paying a fee in lieu (Coniglio referenced both $250 and later $206 per tree during testimony).

The magistrate granted extensions in multiple cases when respondents or their representatives asked for time to cure violations. Theresa Fulmer, who identified herself as attorney for a bank that foreclosed on a property at 11131 Northwest 11th Avenue, was allowed 60 days to obtain bids and bring that property into compliance. Owners of several other properties, including G and L Liuzzo LLC at 1024 Southwest 60th Terrace and Thomas McDermott at 2300 Southwest 56th Avenue, were each granted 45 days to resolve permit or electrical-permit issues after owners said the problems stemmed from contractor miscommunication or misunderstanding about permits.

In a long-running matter regarding a property on U.S. Highway 301 in the Hawthorne area, county inspectors told the magistrate the parcel likely requires an enhanced nitrogen-reducing septic system and that a temporary "dump tank" solution generally does not meet state requirements. The magistrate said a written decision would follow by mail.

During the penalty phase, county staff reported a guilty, not-in-compliance finding in a separate case (Mitchell Jeremiah, trustee) with prosecution costs of $420 and a daily fine of $75, producing a reported total of $4,003.20; county staff requested a lien. Later in the hearing, Ryan Loftus, who acquired a property by tax deed and said he had invested in cleanup and permitting, asked for rescission of prior fines and liens; the magistrate agreed to remove the County lien and to issue an order reflecting that decision.

The magistrate routinely noted the county's incurred costs for bringing each matter to hearing, specified compliance dates or fines if compliance was not achieved, and closed the docket at 10:00 a.m. The magistrate said most contested matters would result in written orders mailed to respondents.

County staff recommended monetary mitigation, compliance periods and, in one case, a lien; owners who attended generally asked for time to correct problems and were granted extensions when county staff indicated compliance was likely within the requested window. The hearing record includes photographs and notice-of-violation letters the magistrate directed to be entered into evidence. The magistrate reminded attendees that decisions can be appealed to the courts but not to the Board of County Commissioners.

What happens next: the magistrate will issue written orders by mail specifying the compliance deadlines, fines per day if not complied with, and any liens or rescissions ordered.