Port St. Lucie special magistrate sets compliance dates, fines and abatements for dozens of property code violations

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Special Magistrate Keith Davis presiding over the City of Port St. Lucie’s Jan. 8, 2025 special magistrate hearing found multiple properties in violation of city code and set compliance deadlines, daily fines and administrative-cost assessments for unresolved cases.

Davis opened the hearing at about 9 a.m. at City Hall and heard presentations from city code officers and public-works staff before taking testimony from property owners and deciding cases. City staff documented violations ranging from failed culverts and driveway damage to unsecured pools, overgrowth, high grass and open storage. Davis regularly ordered respondents to obtain permits when engineering or culvert replacement would be required, and he authorized administrative costs of $411 in each matter where compliance was not achieved.

Why it matters: Many of the orders address stormwater infrastructure (failed culverts and blocked swales) and public-safety hazards (unsecured pools, obstructed access and excessive overgrowth). City orders may include fines that accumulate daily and — when allowed by statute — city abatement (entering the property to correct the violation and charging the owner under Florida Statute 162.08).

Key outcomes and next steps

- 2417 SW Falcon Circle (Case 24-16762). Respondent listed as Carmel Duplan. Magistrate ordered compliance by March 12, 2025: at minimum, the permit for culvert/driveway work must be issued by that date; if not, the respondent faces $25 per day up to $2,500 and administrative costs of $411. Special Magistrate Keith Davis noted public-works had verified the culvert as failed and that replacement (with permits) was required. City staff: Code Officer Diaz; engineering input: Wesley Armstrong (public works/engineering).

- 1766 SE Aries Lane (Case 23-14895). Respondent Ryan Batista. Magistrate set March 12, 2025 as the compliance date to have a permit issued for culvert/driveway repairs. If not issued, fines of $50 per day (up to $5,000) and administrative costs of $411 will be assessed; Magistrate Davis recorded the original permit issued Nov. 9, 2023 had expired Nov. 9, 2024 and no work was completed.

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