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West Palm Beach magistrate sets deadlines, reduces liens and fines businesses after enforcement docket
Summary
Special Magistrate Amity Barnard oversaw a long code-enforcement and lien-reduction hearing Aug. 5, 2026, issuing compliance deadlines for dozens of properties, reducing three major liens, and imposing fines for underage-alcohol sales.
Amity Barnard, special magistrate for the City of West Palm Beach, opened the Aug. 5 hearing and swore in participants before hearing evidence and testimony on dozens of code-enforcement matters.
City staff presented photographic evidence and investigation timelines for properties across the city, and magistrate Barnard repeatedly entered the city’s evidentiary case files and set compliance deadlines. "I'll require a respondent to comply with those code sections within 60 days or a $100 a day fine be assessed for each day that the violations continue," Barnard said when imposing a standard compliance order. Where violations were linked to ongoing renovations or permit processes, she granted longer windows; where violations were straightforward (overgrowth, edging, trash) she set shorter deadlines.
The magistrate also considered lien-reduction petitions under Chapter 162. After hearing the city and property representatives, Barnard reduced a $35,600 lien to $2,000 (payable in 90 days), cut a $76,800 lien to $9,500, and reduced a $244,000 lien to $45,000 with six months to pay. In explaining her reasoning on one reduction she noted she had to balance the gravity and history of the violations with the evidence of remediation and expense the owner had undertaken. "Having considered the statutory criteria... I'm going to reduce the lien amount from $76,800 down to $9,500 payable within 90 days," she said.
Two downtown establishments were fined after police compliance operations found underage patrons were served. The magistrate imposed a $500 fine on Waxens for a first offense and $500 on Duffy's for a second violation in the same month; business representatives said they had disciplined staff and retrained employees. "We hope this is a one-and-done scenario," a Duffy's representative told the court.
The magistrate adjourned the hearing at 12:20 p.m. and directed respondents to contact code officers for reinspection after completing required work. The orders issued at the hearing will become effective immediately and include daily fines for continued noncompliance.
