The Bay County Special Magistrate on April 16, 2025, found multiple property owners in violation of county land-development and property-maintenance codes and ordered fines, daily assessments and liens; the magistrate also authorized code-enforcement staff and county contractors to enter properties to abate ongoing violations.

The rulings affect more than a dozen parcels across unincorporated Bay County, including an initial fine of $400 plus a $75 daily fine for the repeat violation at 6926 Coe Road and a reduced fine of $300 (plus accrued interest) for the owner of 6812 Roadrunner Road after the owner produced a roof permit and evidence of repair. The magistrate recorded that abatement costs and fines will become liens on offending properties under the county’s Uniform Assessment Collection Act (chapter 21 of the Bay County Code).

Why it matters: The orders allow Bay County to hire contractors to remove hazardous or blighted conditions and to place liens on property when owners do not pay. Several respondents said financial hardship, health problems or disaster recovery caused delays in compliance; the magistrate repeatedly cited prior notice and ordered continued enforcement in most cases.

The magistrate opened the hearing by saying, “I have reviewed the docket. I don't see any basis for a recusal as to any of the cases,” and proceeded through scheduled items, taking testimony from Bay County code-enforcement investigators and from property owners or their representatives.

Top outcomes and reasoning

- 6926 Coe Road (Joshua Marshall): The magistrate found a repeat violation of Bay County Land Development Regulation section 4‑0‑5 (residential zones) for a non‑lawful residential use. Officer Chris Hubbard of Bay County Code Enforcement testified that inspections on March 18 and April 14 showed personal items and a camper remained on the lot. The magistrate imposed an initial fine of $400 and a $75 daily fine for noncompliance, authorized county staff and contractors to enter and abate the violations, and directed that the recorded order become a lien on the property. Mr. Marshall told the magistrate he had been working out of town, that tornado damage had affected his family’s housing options and that he believed a temporary housing allowance applied; the magistrate noted the owner had adequate notice and ordered enforcement to proceed.

- 6812 Roadrunner Road (Angela Kayron Self): Investigator Raymond Scott testified the owner obtained a roof permit on Nov. 21, 2024, and the property later reached compliance on roof repairs. Ms. Self described ongoing post‑hurricane trauma and health problems in her testimony. The magistrate reduced the imposed fine to $300 but required payment of accrued statutory interest and said outstanding interest could not be waived by the magistrate.

- 7629 Santa Rosa Avenue (Margie Smith): Inspector Metrae Thorpe and other staff presented photographs showing a blighted mobile home, unsecured pool, stagnant water, accessory‑structure and fencing issues, and piled debris obstructing sight lines at the Santa Rosa/Fifth Street intersection. The magistrate found the respondent had adequate time to abate but had not complied; the order imposed an initial combined fine totaling $1,200 (a $200 initial fine plus a $1,000 fine tied to blighted structures) and a $25 daily fine until compliance. The magistrate authorized county staff and contractors to abate identified violations and to record a lien for abatement costs.

- 3417 Long Road (Natalie McSwain / represented by Richard Shank): The magistrate reviewed a long-running matter first heard May 15, 2024. The county previously contracted for cleanup of junk and derelict vehicles; the outstanding issue remained blighted roof/structure conditions. Counsel Richard Shank told the magistrate his client hired legal representation on April 11 and had requested the case file; he asked that daily fines be tied to the active permit extension. County staff opposed suspending fines, saying the respondent had a permit that expired April 11 and had not progressed. The magistrate concluded there was willful noncompliance, reinstated a $25 daily fine starting in April, and reset compliance review for July 16, 2025; the magistrate said payment of fines and abatement costs would be recorded as liens if not paid.

Other items (summary of rulings)

- 1113 E. 24th Plaza: Investigator Robert Clarkson reported the recreational vehicle violation had been corrected; the magistrate entered an order reflecting compliance.

- 6532 Sunrise Drive: The magistrate found the property remained in violation and imposed an initial fine of $500 plus a $25 daily fine until corrected; the order will be recorded as a lien if unpaid.

- 7139 Brent Road: The magistrate found the property in violation for overgrowth and other issues, imposed an initial fine of $200 and a $25 daily fine (totaling the amount in the order), and authorized abatement and lien recording.

- 5528 Adelie Road and 5922 Pisa Circle: Both properties were reported by staff as brought into compliance; the magistrate entered orders reflecting compliance.

- 7104 Big Daddy Drive: Inspector Thorpe and Investigator Clarkson reported corrective action; the magistrate found the property in compliance and closed the item.

- 801207 Cluster Road (listed as "80 1 20 7 Cluster Road" in the record): The magistrate found blighted and unsafe accessory structures, RVs and debris; no permits had been submitted. The magistrate imposed an initial $1,000 fine, authorized entry and abatement by county contractors, and directed recording of liens as allowed under chapter 21.

- 9219 S. Silver Lake: The magistrate found the property in violation, imposed an initial $500 fine, authorized county abatement and lien recording.

- 7325 Elmedge: The magistrate found a burned mobile home, RVs and blighted conditions; an initial $1,000 fine was imposed and abatement was authorized with lien recording.

- 7420 Highway 2302: The magistrate found derelict vehicles, trailers and other blighted conditions and imposed a $500 fine, authorized abatement and directed lien recording.

Quotes from the hearing

- "I have reviewed the docket. I don't see any basis for a recusal as to any of the cases," the Special Magistrate said at the start of the session.

- Respondent Joshua Marshall at 6926 Coe Road said, "I didn't know I had to get a permit ... I thought when I got on the website ... it said anyone affected [by the tornado] could stay in a camper," explaining why a camper remained on his lot.

- Angela Kayron Self, whose roof permit was later produced, described personal trauma after Hurricane Michael and told the magistrate, "I'm... I was going for death... but I decided I was gonna live." The magistrate cited her efforts to obtain a roof permit in granting a reduced fine.

What will happen next

The magistrate’s orders authorize Bay County code‑enforcement staff and contractors to enter properties and abate violations where owners fail to comply; abatement costs and fines will be recorded as liens in the Bay County public records under the Uniform Assessment Collection Act (chapter 21 of the Bay County Code). Several matters will be rechecked on follow‑up dates (for example, the 3417 Long Road matter was continued to a compliance hearing on July 16, 2025). Owners who bring properties into compliance before follow‑up inspections may stop daily fines by notifying code enforcement and scheduling reinspection.

Ending: The session covered numerous code‑enforcement files; the magistrate repeatedly noted prior notice had been provided, stressed owners’ responsibility to respond, and directed county staff to proceed with abatement and lien recording where compliance was not achieved.