Special Magistrate orders compliance deadlines, daily fines and progress reports in Daytona Beach code cases

The Daytona Beach Special Magistrate on July 14 reviewed a calendar of code-compliance matters, ordering multiple respondents to correct violations by set deadlines, imposing daily fines in several absentor minimally responsive cases and scheduling progress reports for ongoing renovation projects.

The magistrate (presiding official) moved several cases to later compliance dates after hearing status reports from counsel and contractors. In Case 35, counsel Alana Smith of Cobb Coe Law Firm said a permit had been issued and “they anticipate it'll take about 6 weeks to complete.” The magistrate amended the order to allow the respondent until September 2, 2026, to achieve compliance and required a progress report at the August 11 meeting.

In Case 1, Becky Lewis, the community association manager for the International Beach Club Condominium Association, told the hearing the association had taken steps to address violations. The magistrate found the respondent noncompliant and ordered compliance by October 7, 2026, with a progress report at the August 11 meeting.

Several homeowners said financing or contractor delays had slowed repairs. Respondent Cathy Mitsopoulos told the magistrate she was awaiting refinance proceeds and expected funds by late August; staff and the magistrate agreed to an October 7, 2026, compliance date with a September progress update if needed.

The magistrate pressed owners of substantially altered or unsecured rental properties to secure structures. For a consolidated matter involving multiple vacant or gutted units (consolidated cases 11 and 16), contractor Benjamin Hernandez said the new owner had submitted permits but could take months to complete work; the magistrate ordered all buildings on the parcel secured to city standards by July 28, 2026, and set an August 11 progress report to monitor longer-term renovations.

Where respondents failed to appear or showed little progress, inspectors recommended fines and the magistrate imposed per-day penalties. For multiple cases presented by city inspectors, the magistrate ordered daily fines beginning July 9, 2026, that will continue to accrue until the property is brought into compliance or the fine cap is reached; fines imposed in the hearing ranged from $100 to $250 per day with caps typically set at $15,000, and in one case a $25,000 cap was used.

Owners who did appear but said they were waiting on permits or engineers were generally given time to obtain permits and asked to return with monthly progress reports. William Panora of Panora Properties said his permit review was scheduled for July 23; the magistrate extended the cutoff to August 5, 2026, and directed a progress report at the August 11 meeting to establish a firm compliance date.

The magistrate repeatedly told respondents to keep their assigned inspector apprised of any problems that would delay compliance. When respondents reported that work was in progress but not yet complete, the magistrate favored progress reports and amended orders over immediate fines, reserving daily monetary penalties for properties that remained unresponsive or unsecured.

The hearing concluded after a brief update from city counsel about pending appeals; with no further matters, the magistrate adjourned the session.

What happens next: multiple respondents must appear or file progress reports at the August 11, 2026 meeting; properties left unsecured or without required progress may face continuing daily fines or further enforcement actions.