The Fort Pierce special magistrate granted property owner Charles C. Hailey III 120 days to obtain permits and pursue city grant funding to repair fire damage at 1815 North 17th Street, the magistrate announced at a code-enforcement hearing.

City staff presented the case (BV2025-000711815), initiated April 4, 2025, citing multiple International Property Maintenance Code provisions for unsafe structures, electrical hazards and damaged exterior and interior components following a fire. Staff recommended a 60-day compliance window. Inspector testimony said no permits had been submitted and that photographic evidence documented fire damage and subsequent posting of hearing notices.

Charles C. Hailey III, who testified he learned of the hearing only days earlier and that one co-owner lives out of town, told the magistrate he plans to apply for a city grant to help repair the fire damage. "I do intend to apply for a grant from the city, to assist in the the repairing of the damage," Hailey said. He said the front portion of the home remains habitable with water service but no electricity, and that he is on a fixed income and may need to make repairs incrementally if grant funding is not approved.

Given Hailey's circumstances and his stated intention to apply for grant assistance and to pursue a homeowner's permit with family help, Special Magistrate Jamie Barrow extended a longer compliance window than staff recommended. Barrow found a violation exists and granted Hailey 120 days to obtain permits, obtain approval for required inspections (at least every 180 days until permits are closed), comply with permit conditions and cure non‑permit violations; otherwise a $100-per-day fine will be assessed. Barrow noted Hailey has 30 days to appeal.

Staff records show the case originated from a fire report and that some photographs in the file were taken on the initiation date and later for posting; the city said a certified-mail/posting procedure was followed when mailed notices were not signed for.