Fort Pierce special magistrate upholds code violations, grants several lien and fine reductions

Special Magistrate Jennifer Peschke on May 8 found multiple building- and property-code violations at a series of Fort Pierce addresses and set compliance deadlines, while also approving several reductions of fines and liens for property owners who came into compliance or demonstrated extenuating circumstances.

The city presented evidence and photographs for each matter, with inspectors testifying to unpermitted work, unsafe structural conditions, open permits and other International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) and Florida Building Code (FBC) violations. Peschke issued written orders at the hearing that largely gave respondents 60 days to obtain required permits and to schedule reinspection; one case received 120 days to complete the permitting process. Several owners asking for lien or fine reductions received partial relief limited to the administrative costs the city documented.

Why this matters: the rulings affect tenants and neighborhood safety and establish enforceable timelines to bring buildings, pools and electrical work into code compliance. The lien reductions also affect the city’s ability to collect long‑running penalties and the property owners’ prospects for selling or refinancing.

Most urgent findings

- The magistrate found that violations exist at multiple rental properties where inspectors documented structural decay, unsafe stairways, missing or broken windows and evidence of pest infestation. Those owners were ordered to obtain permits within 60 days and to secure all required inspections; fines of $100 per day were scheduled to resume for remaining violations if compliance is not achieved.

- In a case at 1804 Havana Ave., the hearing record shows the owners had ongoing permit-review work and medical and logistical hardships. Staff recommended 60 days but, after testimony, the magistrate extended the time to 120 days for the owners to obtain and finalize required permits and inspections.

- The owner/operator of a child‑care facility at 464 North Ninth Street testified…