Magistrate finds Howland Boulevard resident in violation for front-yard parking but waives fine after correction

The special magistrate found that a vehicle parked in the front yard at 2230 Howland Boulevard violated Deltona's parking code but that the condition had been corrected before the hearing, so no fine was imposed.

Code enforcement officer Steve Brockhoff presented photos and a timeline showing intermittent front-yard parking beginning Jan. 7, 2025; a notice posted Jan. 14 and additional observations through May 4 prompted the request for a hearing. Brockhoff said the property was in compliance at the time of the hearing and noted cleanup of the sidewalk.

Respondent Lindsay Tripp said the household has limited driveway space, two working vehicles and two toddlers, and described practical difficulties with the lot's steep incline and neighboring lot constraints. She said the vehicle had been removed about one to two weeks after the initial notice and that the current parking is in the driveway.

The magistrate said the city code prohibits parking in the front yard except on approved driveway surfaces and ruled that while a violation occurred it had been corrected; therefore no fine will be imposed. The magistrate warned that any violation of the same code within five years will be treated as a repeat offense for which fines up to $500 per day may be imposed.