Martin County magistrate orders permit renewals, fines and costs for multiple Palm City and Hobe Sound properties

A Martin County Code Enforcement Magistrate on June 18, 2025 ordered several property owners to obtain required building permits or face daily fines after a routine hearing in county chambers.

The magistrate approved a stipulated agreement in case EF2025010553 requiring a confidential property owner at 5907 Southwest Cherokee Street in Palm City to obtain an active permit by Oct. 1, 2025, or pay $100 per day until the violation is corrected; the county noted $350 in costs had been paid. "This case concerns the property at 5907 Southwest Cherokee Street located within Palm City," investigator Chris Counselor testified. The magistrate said, "Without objection, I'll accept into evidence the county's exhibits 1 through 9 in this case," and signed the agreed order.

The hearing also produced compliance orders and deadlines for other properties in Martin County: - 6905 Southwest Woodbine Way (case KCNF2025030274): Investigator Chris Counselor told the magistrate he observed an expired permit for an addition and photographs showing staged construction. The owner was ordered to renew the expired permit by July 31, 2025; failing that, a fine of $100 per day will accrue and the county was awarded $575 in investigation costs. - 3236 Southwest Eureka Drive (case KCNF2025021061-01, owner Jessica T. Lango): Investigator Deborah Carrasco documented high grass, trash and unsecured window shutters. Carrasco requested evidence be admitted and asked that Lango be ordered to comply by July 31, 2025. The magistrate found violations and ordered compliance by July 31; if not, a fine of $100 per violation per day will accrue (three violations were recorded), and $575 in costs was awarded to the county. - Lloyd J. and Deborah Rogers (ENF2025040772): The magistrate continued the Rogers matter to July 16, 2025 after the respondent reported addressing an inoperable boat trailer and ongoing work to build a neighborhood playground. - 9322 Southeast Athena Street, Hobe Sound (EF2024120252, Michelle D. Arthur's Revocable Trust, Ronald DuPois trustee): Investigator Kelly Switzer described trash, debris and an expired permit application for an accessory structure; the magistrate ordered compliance by July 31, 2025, or fines of $100 per violation per day and awarded $575 in costs. - 5629 Southeast Indigo Avenue, Stuart (ENF2025040209, Michael G. Leonard): Investigator Maria Espaia documented high grass and trash, and the magistrate ordered compliance by July 31, 2025, or fines of $100 per violation per day, plus $575 in costs to the county. - 7550 Southeast Eagle Ave, Hobe Sound (ENF2025030514, William Hoffman): Investigator Michael Joseph presented an expired permit for a water‑heater change-out; the magistrate ordered permit renewal by July 31, 2025, or fines of $100 per day and $575 in costs.

Investigators repeatedly asked the magistrate to admit county exhibits into evidence before each order. For example, Carrasco said, "I request that all of the county's exhibits be received into evidence," and Switzer made similar requests. Where owners contacted staff during the notice period, the magistrate noted those communications but still issued compliance deadlines when permit activity or corrective work remained incomplete.

The magistrate also reported routine administrative actions: the March and April 2025 minutes were approved and signed, and the next hearing was set for July 16, 2025 in chambers. The hearing ended after the magistrate said, "Seeing nothing, we stand adjourned."