Magistrate finds violations at Nimrod Lane property; owner ordered to clean up by Oct. 31

The Martin County Code Enforcement Magistrate found that violations existed at 4367 Southeast Nimrod Lane in Stuart and ordered property owner Charles K. Kennedy to correct trash and inoperable-vehicle conditions by Oct. 31, 2025.

Deborah Carrasco, a code compliance investigator, testified she inspected the property on June 19 and July 15, 2025, photographed trash and what appeared to be an inoperable trailer with flat tires, and issued a notice of violation on July 28, 2025 citing Martin County Code sections for nuisance/trash and inoperable vehicles. "On 06/19/2025, I inspected the property. At that time, I observed trash, an inoperable vehicle," Carrasco testified and offered photographic exhibits.

Kennedy appeared at the hearing and disputed the characterization of some items as "trash," saying he stored plywood used for his cabinetry work and questioned limits on vehicles and trailers. The magistrate emphasized the code's itemized list includes wood, furniture and construction debris and noted that photographs were accepted into evidence. "If you look at the code ... there is an itemized list of all of the objects that are considered trash and debris," the magistrate told Kennedy.

The magistrate accepted county exhibits 1–15 into evidence, found the violations existed, ordered compliance by Oct. 31, 2025, and awarded $575 in investigation costs to the county. If Kennedy fails to comply, the order specifies fines of $100 per violation per day beginning after the deadline. The magistrate noted Kennedy may appeal the decision to circuit court.