Magistrate orders fines after fire leaves 7920 East Drive unit unsafe and unrepaired for months

A unit at 7920 East Drive #3 was declared unsafe after a Feb. 16, 2026 kitchen fire and remains boarded and unrepaired, the North Bay Village code enforcement director said. The special magistrate entered an order adopting the village's recommendation that fines accrue until the property is brought up to code.

Orlando Rodriguez told the hearing that police and fire responded to extinguish a kitchen fire and that "luckily, nobody was hurt." He said the unit was boarded and the village building official declared it unsafe for habitation; the village posted unsafe-structure notices. Rodriguez said some repairs fall to the condominium association (board) and some to the unit owner under condominium documents. He reported that the board had communicated but did not provide verifiable corporate documents or power of attorney for an agent to appear and that months had passed without repairs. The village requested fines to accrue at $50 per day until compliance is achieved.

Special Magistrate Regine Monastine said she would enter the order in accordance with the village's recommendation. The magistrate's order therefore directs the property to obtain permits and complete repairs; fines will begin accruing immediately until the violations are corrected.