Special Magistrate Flynn on Oct. 14 heard more than four dozen code‑enforcement matters and granted staggered compliance deadlines, stayed fines in some cases during the extension period and imposed fines or suspensions in others.
The most consequential action came in a rehearing of the vacation‑rental suspension for 314 Isle of Capri Drive. The City had sought a 395‑day suspension after five alleged violations (amplified noise, non‑amplified noise, parking, occupancy and failure of the responsible party to respond). Ari Pragen, attorney for the owner, asked for rehearing after the magistrate vacated an earlier order on notice grounds; city staff urged enforcement. Special Magistrate Flynn said he would not relitigate the underlying individual violation findings but, after hearing argument, “mitigate the time, and I’m gonna suspend it for 90 days,” rather than the 395 days the city requested. The magistrate directed that the suspension begin as the code requires — immediately following notice or within 30 days if there are current tenants.
Why this matters: suspending a vacation‑rental certificate removes the property from short‑term rental markets and can be financially consequential for owners; the magistrate framed the 90‑day suspension as a mitigated remedy but warned a longer suspension would be applied if violations recur.
Across dozens of individual property cases, the magistrate most commonly granted 36‑day extensions (to Nov. 19) or longer suspended periods (often 91 days, to Jan. 13, 2026) while staying fines during those windows so owners could seek compliance. Examples: several properties owned or managed by 5 Star Renovation and Construction LLC and adjacent parcels were given 91 days with fines stayed while outstanding permit comments were addressed. Smaller matters — landscaping, swale or lighting violations — frequently received 10 to 36 days to comply; where the city showed repeated or serious noncompliance, fines were imposed and left to accrue.
City inspectors presented evidence of code sections cited in many cases, most commonly landscaping (9‑305B), driveway/maintenance (9‑304B), overgrowth/debris (18‑12A), illegal land use (47‑34.1 variants) and vacation‑rental rules (Chapter 15/Section 15‑282). Owners or representatives often told the magistrate they were arranging permits, contractors, or demolition; the magistrate repeatedly tied additional time to active permit activity and required orders to reappear where compliance was not yet achieved.
Quotes: “I’ll vacate that order, and we’ll rehear it,” Special Magistrate Flynn said when he agreed to rehear the suspension motion; when announcing the reduced suspension he told parties he would “mitigate the time, and I’m gonna suspend it for 90 days.” Ari Pragen, representing the Isle of Capri owner, argued the suspension was disproportionate given the owner’s statement that prior violations were paid and arose on a single occasion.
Votes at a glance (cases and outcomes)
– CE25070118 (314 Isle of Capri Dr.) — Vacation‑rental suspension reheard; magistrate imposed a 90‑day suspension (reduced from city request of 395 days); suspension to begin per code (immediate following notice or within 30 days if tenants present). (Action: rehear + 90‑day suspension; order to reappear; fines previously imposed remain as noted.)
– CE24120492 / CE24120493 / CE24120495 (880–890 and 817 SW 20th St. / adjacent addresses, 5 Star Renovation & Construction LLC) — Magistrate granted 91‑day extensions with fines stayed during that period; orders to reappear (compliance date 2026‑01‑13). (Action: extension + stay)
– Multiple commercial/residential properties (e.g., 22 NE 16th Pl., 721 NW 18th St., 3617 SW 17th St., 200 E Las Olas Blvd., 5108 NW 10th Ter., 3767 SW 17th St., 4721 Bayview Dr., 1530 NW 11th Ct., 2850 NE 30th St., 2840 NE 30th St.) — Most received 36‑day extensions (compliance date Nov. 19) with a stay of fines while inspectors re‑confirm compliance; in several cases the magistrate declined further stays for violations judged transient (fines to accrue). (Action: extensions, stays or fines as specified in individual orders)
– Noise/party citation at 1700 NE 50th St. (Ocean Manor area) — Fine imposed for late‑night amplified and non‑amplified noise; fines ordered (no stay). (Action: fine imposed)
– Unpermitted vacation rentals (multiple addresses including 814 SE 14th St. and 4040 Gulf Ocean Dr. #806) — Magistrate imposed fines consistent with city request for operating without required certificate; deadlines to come into compliance or daily fines (many at $1,000/day for transient vacation‑rental violations). (Action: fines / enforcement)
– Parking/occupancy/transient violations tied to vacation‑rental rules (e.g., 1416 Quatrono Park Realty LLC; 2505 Center Ave.) — The magistrate found violations and set compliance windows or imposed fines depending on the recurrence and evidence. (Action: findings of fact; fines or compliance windows)
What the magistrate emphasized: extensions were frequently tied to demonstrated progress — active permit submittals, contractor engagement or physical remediation — and the judge warned that repeat violations would prompt lengthier suspensions or immediate fines. The magistrate repeatedly instructed owners to coordinate with inspectors and to use the agency’s permit/inspection channels.
What to watch next: many compliance dates fall on Nov. 19 and Jan. 13, 2026; the magistrate said he would consider steeper penalties or longer suspensions for repeat noncompliance at future hearings.
Sources quoted in this article appear in the hearing record: Special Magistrate Flynn; Ari Pragen, attorney for property owners; Wanda Aquavella and other City of Fort Lauderdale code compliance officers (presenting inspectors); Amy Brown, code compliance supervisor. All specific dates, fines and code sections are taken from hearing testimony and magistrate orders recorded in the Oct. 14, 2025 Special Magistrate hearing.