Ocala Code Enforcement Special Magistrate Hearing – April 29, 2026

On Wednesday, April 29, 2026, Special Magistrate Ryan C. Fong convened the City of Ocala Code Enforcement Special Magistrate hearing at 10:30 a.m. in the Ocala City Hall Council Chamber. The meeting notice was published on April 17, 2026. City staff, led by Chief Code Official Dale Hollingsworth, presented code enforcement cases, and city officers were sworn in before testimony. The magistrate heard new business cases, handled noncompliance and lien matters, and adjourned at 11:29 a.m.

Represented New Business Cases

• CE25-0514 – City of Ocala v. ROC Holdings of Ocala LLC (1015 SE 17th St): The city alleged removal of landscaping and trees without site-plan approval or permits in violation of §§122-219 and 118-71. The city reported that most landscaping was replaced, vehicles no longer parked on the vacant area, and only four replacement shade trees remained outstanding. Owner’s representative Clay Albright explained the work was intended as a property improvement, no permits were believed necessary, and the removed trees were dead or dying; landscape architect Paul Bruce stated a plan was submitted and he understood required replacement trees could be credited, possibly to two trees. The magistrate found the tree-removal violation remained uncured, ordered compliance through the permitting process, adopted staff recommendations, and included $354.49 in city costs.

• CE25-0929 – City of Ocala v. College Park Plaza (3131 SW College Rd Unit 207): The city alleged sign work without a permit in violation of §110-51. Inspector Osias Ferrera testified the case had been open about 246 days; an earlier permit application was never finalized. Lava Sports Lounge managers Rachel Cox and a second manager said a permit application had been resubmitted and delays were caused by an incorrectly signed notice of commencement from the property owner. The magistrate found the violation still existed, adopted staff recommendations for compliance, and included prosecution costs in the order.

• CE26-0211 – City of Ocala v. 1215 SW 3rd Lane Trust / Partners Team One TR (1215 SW 3rd St Unit B): Inspector Stephani Smith testified the tenant reported no heat, non-working outlets, rodent droppings, and other housing-code issues under the adopted Standard Housing Code (§82-151). Owner’s representative John Amerson agreed the issues existed, said the tenant was being moved to another Ocala Housing Authority property, and planned to repair and permit the unit. The magistrate adopted staff recommendations, set a May 28, 2026 compliance deadline, and included $228.65 in city costs.

• CE26-0375 – City of Ocala v. Williams Elvira Est (522 SW 15th Ave): The city cited weeds/trash and dangerous-building conditions under §§34-95 and 82-182. Inspector Ferrera testified the house was abandoned, with a dilapidated roof, wall issues, and overgrowth. A representative said the property was in probate and he had limited ability to maintain or demolish it. The magistrate found the violation uncured and adopted staff recommendations with costs.

• CE25-0040 – City of Ocala v. RAM Central Florida Investment LLC (1622 SW 4th St): Under old business, the owner requested a 45-day extension, stating her business partner’s medical emergency delayed work and that they had obtained and paid for a permit. The city opposed an extension, noting an initial March 2025 permit expired without inspections, and the post-order permit also had not been completed within 90 days. The magistrate denied the extension and ordered fines to accrue from November 22, 2025 until compliance.

Unrepresented New Business Cases

No respondents appeared for these cases. The magistrate found the respondents in violation and adopted staff recommendations, including corrective-action deadlines, fines, and prosecution costs:

• CE26-0036 (1900 block NW 11th St) – weeds/trash; repeat violator.
• CE26-0230 (432 NW 9th Ave) – abandoned/derelict vehicle under §34-122.
• CE26-0240 (1129 NE 9th Ave) – abandoned vehicle and dangerous building under §§34-122 and 82-182.
• CE26-0243 (1656 SW 3rd St) – weeds/trash.
• CE26-0274 (1002 W Silver Springs Pl) – weeds/trash.
• CE26-0378 (2300 block SW 5th St) – weeds/trash.
• CE26-0496 (24 NW 6th Ter) – unpermitted work and dangerous building under §§122-51 and 82-182. The city presented evidence of dangerous unpermitted electrical conditions and conversion of a single-family home into a duplex; the magistrate ordered the property immediately vacated by all tenants but declined to order utility shut-off.
• ENV26-0057 (2000 block SW 19th Ave) – site-plan conformance failure and repeat weeds violation under §§122-219 and 34-95.
• ENV26-0087 (600 block NW 6th St) – weeds/trash.
• ENV26-0106 (2710 NE 15th Ave) – barbed-wire/fence violation and weeds/trash under §§82-3 and 34-95.

Old Business – Consent Agenda for Non-Compliance and Liens

• CE25-0911 – Exit Strategy May 13 LLC (2117 NW 1st St): Lien approved for $7,911.34.
• CE25-0615 – Sanchez Jose (3901 SW 30th St): Lien approved for $1,394.46.
• CE25-0760 – Ocala North Property LLC (3435 N Pine Ave): Fine-only lien approved for $1,360.00. A brief docketing question about whether this case was on the list was resolved when the city confirmed it was the third lien case already heard.
• Additional non-compliance consent cases accepted with fines under prior orders: CE25-1109, CE25-1114, CE25-1146, CE25-1202, CE25-1291, CE25-1308, CE26-0013, CE26-0151, ENV25-0238, and ENV25-0329. No respondents appeared.

Key Outcomes

• The magistrate found code violations in every new business case and adopted staff recommendations for corrective action, including deadlines and fines for noncompliance.
• The requested extension for RAM Central Florida Investment LLC was denied; fines accrued from November 22, 2025.
• Immediate vacation was ordered for the dangerous building at 24 NW 6th Ter.
• Approved liens totaled $10,665.80.
• Magistrate Fong stated this was his final hearing and praised the code enforcement team. He adjourned at 11:29 a.m.