Cooper City’s special magistrate presided over a full docket of code and building cases on Oct. 1, 2025, ordering deadlines, continuances and daily fines for multiple property owners who either lacked permits or had outstanding building-safety reports.

The most time-sensitive orders required final structural and electrical reports in two multi-unit and commercial matters and set firm short-term compliance dates. The Woods Condominium Association was given two weeks to submit final structural and electrical engineer reports to complete a 40-year recertification; the magistrate warned that a $250-per-day fine will begin if the reports are not filed by Oct. 15. Several commercial and multi-tenant buildings cited under the state building-safety inspection requirements were given 10–30 days to provide outstanding reports or face daily fines and a $150 administrative fee.

Special Magistrate Angel Petty Rosenberg emphasized the hearing’s role as a compliance forum. “After all the testimony is completed and all the evidence is presented, I will make a finding as to whether a violation exists,” she said at the start of the session. City staff and inspectors described which tasks remained for individual properties; Carlos Vega, Cooper City’s community development director, told one owner about the building-department timeline: “As soon as we issue the permit, as long as she schedules the inspection before 03:00, our inspectors will be there the next day.”

Several residential permit disputes were continued to status dates so owners can finish plan revisions and obtain permits. Examples: owners who installed pavers or extended driveways without permits were typically given short continuances (status dates in November) while the city’s building department completed plan reviews. In other, more complex matters the magistrate imposed longer compliance windows: a disputed rear shed at 8705 Southwest 50th Street — where the respondent presented photographs predating their 1998 purchase and raised the possibility of grandfathering or a variance — was continued with a six‑month compliance window (compliance date April 1, 2026) to allow planning and zoning review; failure to comply after that date will trigger a $250-per-day fine and an administrative fee.

The hearing also included a reduction-of-fine matter in which the magistrate recalculated outstanding penalties for one owner after reviewing permit histories and inspection records; that matter was continued for the respondent to produce additional documentation and refile evidence at a December status date.

Votes at a glance (selected orders and deadlines)
- Case 251427 / 251428 (tree removal): Clerk reported both matters closed and marked complied.
- Case 242461 (11704 S. Island Rd., Diana Jimenez): Inspector Mark Reali testified pavers were approved and finaled; the fence permit had been submitted 9/29 and was approved on subsequent review. Magistrate Rosenberg found the pavers portion complied and ordered the owner to complete fence inspections and correction by Oct. 15, 2025; if the fence is not finaled the magistrate ordered a $250-per-day fine starting Oct. 16 and a $150 administrative fee.
- Case 242987 (10321 Cueto St., Jamie & Valerie Mendez): Continued to Nov. 5, 2025, for status while the owner and the city resolve design/HOA issues; no daily fine assessed at this hearing.
- Case 250492 (2822 Canyon Ave., Don Gosling): Continued to Nov. 5, 2025, for status while permit revisions are prepared to meet setback/12-foot width limits; inspector recorded prior plan rejection and recommended status update.
- Case 251036 (8705 SW 50th St., Thomas & Alice Lacey): Respondent produced historical photographs and surveys; magistrate noted legal issues (possible variance, planning/zoning review) and set a six‑month compliance window ending April 1, 2026; if not complied a $250-per-day fine will begin April 2, 2026, and a $150 administrative fee is due within 30 days of the order.
- Case 251695 (11633 SW 57th St., Gaetano & Selena Pirelli): Found a vegetation/weed violation; inspector confirmed property was cut before the hearing; magistrate found violation but waived daily fines because the property was brought into compliance and assessed the $150 administrative fee due within 30 days. Staff warned that repeat violators face higher per-day fines (up to $500).
- Case 201915 / 201916 (10335 SW 53rd St., Andrei Comartin): Respondent sought reduction of fines and provided permit and inspection history; building staff and community development recalculated fine days and permitted permitting/inspection dates and asked respondent to produce receipts/inspection records. Both matters continued to Dec. 3, 2025, for status and to allow the respondent to submit additional proof for recalculation.
- Case 221527 / 221530 (9221 SW 49th Place, Francisco Masone): Staff confirmed recent progress; magistrate applied a large reduction on the maintenance/driveway matter and, after reviewing hardship evidence, reduced a roof-related fine and set a 90-day payment deadline (Dec. 30, 2025) for the reduced amounts; if not paid the full original lien amount will be reinstated.
- Commercial/building-safety inspection matters (multiple EN/EEN dockets, examples below): The magistrate ordered owners or their representatives to submit outstanding structural and electrical inspection reports required under the Broward County–amended Florida Building Code by either Oct. 15 or Oct. 31, 2025 (dates vary by case). If reports are not received, the magistrate set a $250-per-day fine and a $150 administrative fee.
- The Woods Condominium Association (EN240052, 5100 SW 90th Ave.): final structural and electrical reports due Oct. 15, 2025; $150 administrative fee past due and must be paid; $250-per-day fine begins if reports are not filed by Oct. 15.
- A series of commercial properties cited under the Building Safety Inspection Program (borough/EN dockets for addresses including 9495 Sheridan St., 9221 SW 49th Pl., 9850 Sterling Rd., 10201 Sterling Rd., 4706–4712 Flamingo Rd., and others): reports or documented repairs required by Oct. 15–Oct. 31, 2025, or $250-per-day fines will begin.
- Case involving an after‑the‑fact pickleball installation (EN25‑0023, Madison matter): Magistrate gave the respondent one month to demonstrate progress toward permits or removal and continued the matter to Nov. 5, 2025; the magistrate cautioned that fines have accrued from the original order date and may be certified if compliance is not demonstrated.

Why it matters
Cooper City’s hearing consolidated a mixture of routine permit disputes (driveways, pavers, fences) with higher‑stakes building‑safety and recertification cases that implicate life‑safety reviews and potential liens on properties. Short deadlines set in multiple cases mean owners must finalize permits, inspection scheduling, or structural reports quickly to avoid fines that can be recorded as liens.

What to watch next
Several matters return for status on Nov. 5, 2025, including continuances for permit revisions, ongoing building‑safety inspections where reports remain outstanding, and several residential cases the magistrate left pending for plan corrections. Owners given reduced penalties were ordered to pay by specified dates (some with 90‑day payment windows) or face reinstatement of full liens.

Ending note
Magistrate Rosenberg reiterated the hearing’s limited role: to determine compliance and set enforceable deadlines and fines, while variances or code changes remain the purview of planning and city commission review. Residents and representatives were repeatedly advised to meet with community development staff before leaving the hearing to confirm next steps and schedules for inspections and permit issuance.