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Fort Pierce special magistrate orders repairs, abatement and fines for multiple properties
Summary
At a Sept. 10 special magistrate hearing, Magistrate Jamie Burrow found violations at more than a dozen Fort Pierce properties and ordered staggered compliance deadlines, potential city abatement and daily fines for noncompliance.
Special Magistrate Jamie Burrow on Sept. 10 found code violations at multiple Fort Pierce properties and issued orders requiring owners to correct conditions within deadlines ranging from seven to 45 days, with daily fines or city abatement for failures to comply.
The rulings came during a consolidated code-enforcement hearing in Fort Pierce’s Commissioner Chambers. City attorneys and code-enforcement officers presented photographic evidence; property owners or their representatives were given an opportunity to speak. Burrow pronounced findings of violation and set compliance deadlines, assessed potential fines and reminded respondents of a 30-day window to appeal most decisions.
Why it matters: The orders affect dozens of residential properties across Fort Pierce and give the city authority to seek compliance directly or abate nuisances at owners’ expense. The cases cover outdoor storage, nonoperable vehicles, overgrown vegetation, loose or indoor furniture stored outside, exterior building deterioration and related property-maintenance violations.
Key orders and deadlines
Votes at a glance (case number, address — ordered remedy; compliance deadline; fine or penalty on noncompliance; appeal period):
- CE2020-5217, 823 East Wetherby Road — Remove prohibited storage container; cut grass and weeds; trim trees/shrubs; remove trash/debris; paint and obtain needed permits. 45 days to comply. Fine: $250 per day. 30 days to appeal.
- CE2025-218, 4601 Pine Tree Drive — Cut grass/trim landscaping; remove indoor-style furniture and loose items; repair rotting siding/soffit and window frames; pressure-wash/paint as needed; obtain permits. 45 days to comply. Fine: $250 per day. 30 days to appeal.
- CE125-320 (also cited as CEDash125Dash320), 2603 Jersey Avenue — Ensure vehicles are roadworthy/registered; remove trash/debris; repair fascia/soffit. 45 days to comply. Fine: $100 per day. 30 days to appeal.
- CE2025-263, 202 Hialeah Avenue — Remove loose items from outside the home; refrain from parking in front yard; store waste containers to side/rear. 30 days to comply. Fine: $100 per day. 30 days to appeal.
- CE2025-231, 2102 Gulfview Court — Pressure wash discolored areas or paint. 30 days to comply. Fine: $100 per day. 30 days to appeal.
- CE2020-5324, 3001 Dunbar Street — Cut grass and trim landscaping to present a neat appearance; remove plastic bags, trash and concrete blocks; pressure wash/paint where chipping/discoloration appears; repair roof area under tarp; obtain permits. 15 days to comply. Fine: $250 per day. 30 days to appeal.
- Lock Clearing 2025-202614, North 20 Fifth Street — Cut grass and weeds; trim trees, shrubs and bushes; remove trash/debris. 7 days to comply. Fine: $100 per day; city may abate and assess abatement costs to the property. 30 days to appeal.
- Lock Claim 2025-180, 1318 Boston Avenue — Cut grass and weeds; trim vegetation; remove trash/debris. 7 days to comply. Fine: $100 per day; city may abate and assess costs. 30 days to appeal.
- LTCL2020-5185, 1314 Boston Avenue — Cut grass and weeds; trim trees/shrubs; remove trash/debris. 7 days to comply. Fine: $100 per day; city may abate and assess costs. 30 days to appeal.
- Lot Clearing 2025-5187, 1312 Boston Avenue — Cut grass/weeds; trim vegetation; remove fallen tree and other debris; remove trash/debris. 7 days to comply. Fine: $100 per day; city may abate and assess costs. 30 days to appeal.
- Lot Clearing 2025-5233, Delaware Avenue — Cut grass/weeds; trim vegetation; remove trash/debris. 7 days to comply. Fine: $100 per day; city may abate and assess costs. 30 days to appeal.
- Lot Clearing 2025-5210, 1008 Avenue G — Cut grass/weeds; trim vegetation; remove trash/debris. 7 days to comply. Fine: $100 per day; city may abate and assess costs. 30 days to appeal.
- Lot Clearing 2025-5213 (referred in hearing as at 1013 or "10:13") — Cut grass/weeds; trim vegetation; remove trash/debris. 7 days to comply. Fine: $100 per day; city may abate and assess costs. 30 days to appeal.
- Lot Clearing 2025-5225, Avenue G — Cut grass/weeds; trim vegetation; remove trash/debris. 7 days to comply. Fine: $100 per day; city may abate and assess costs. 30 days to appeal.
- Lot Clearing 2025-5231, 1208 Avenue G — Cut grass/weeds; trim vegetation; remove trash/debris. 7 days to comply. Fine: $100 per day; city may abate and assess costs. 30 days to appeal.
- Lot Clearing 2025-5239, 1004 Avenue G — Cut grass/weeds; trim vegetation; remove trash/debris. 7 days to comply. Fine: $100 per day; city may abate and assess costs. 30 days to appeal.
Details and procedure
City attorneys and code-enforcement officers entered photographic exhibits for each case and testified the photos fairly and accurately depicted observed violations. Property owners or respondents were given an opportunity to review exhibits, offer testimony and ask questions about the city’s position. In multiple cases the magistrate extended the city’s recommended compliance period (for example, the city recommended 15 or 30 days in some matters; Burrow granted 45 days in several cases to allow owners time to comply).
Where owners failed to comply by the deadline, the magistrate warned the ordered fines would begin to accrue daily and repeated that the city may abate nuisance conditions and assess abatement costs to the property. Burrow also repeatedly noted respondents have 30 days to appeal the magistrate’s decision.
A list of additional cases that had been noted as ‘‘in compliance’’ or rescheduled was read aloud near the end of the session; the magistrate also explained the city’s standard mailing and posting procedure for hearing notices, describing certified mail, affidavit-of-mailing and posting when green cards are unreturned.
Ending
The hearing concluded after the magistrate read multiple compliance and rescheduled case lists and the chamber was formally adjourned. Respondents who wish to appeal have 30 days from the decision, and owners seeking more time were directed to the city’s code-enforcement office to request extensions.
