Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Code Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Magistrate orders multiple Martin County property owners to clean up or face $100-a-day fines
Summary
At a May 20, 2026 Martin County magistrate hearing, investigators documented trash, overgrown grass and inoperable vehicles at multiple properties and the magistrate ordered owners to comply — mostly by June 30 — or incur $100-per-violation-per-day fines and $575 in county costs; the hearing also approved several lien reductions and stipulations.
The Martin County code enforcement magistrate on May 20 ordered multiple property owners to correct nuisance conditions or face fines of $100 per violation per day and reimbursement of $575 in county investigation costs.
Investigators presented evidence in successive cases, including photographs, notices of violation and records of posting when owners did not respond. "On 02/25/2026, I inspected the property," Code Compliance Investigator Deborah Carrasco testified concerning 1215 Southwest Tropical Terrace, and "observed trash, overgrown grass, and inoperable vehicles." Carrasco introduced the county's photographic exhibits and asked the magistrate to order compliance by June 30, 2026 and to award $575 in costs; the magistrate granted the request and ordered the fine structure if violations continued.
Similar testimony followed in cases across Stuart and surrounding Martin County addresses. Carrasco asked for the same compliance date and penalties for a property at 8491 Southwest 17th Avenue after inspections documented trash, missing site numbers, an inoperable vehicle and a tipped boat trailer. Senior Code Compliance Investigator Maria Espaillat testified that at 5083 Southeast Front Avenue she found scattered trash and high grass through debris; after some weeds were mowed a trash violation remained and the magistrate ordered compliance by June 30 with the same daily fine and costs.
In one matter, investigator Michael Shanahan said the Brooks property at 5341 Southeast 48th Avenue had been inspected repeatedly and that Michelle Brooks told him she would clear violations; Shanahan later reported the Brookses entered a stipulation, paid $350 in costs and agreed to come into compliance by Aug. 31, 2026; the magistrate accepted that agreement and recorded the payment.
The hearing also included several staff-recommended lien and fine reductions for older cases. Rachel Spradley, nuisance abatement coordinator, told the magistrate that estates and current owners who brought properties into compliance had offered reduced lump-sum payments. The magistrate approved reductions including a $7,500 plus $575 settlement in one long‑running Bauer matter, a separate Bauer-related reduction to $600 plus $575, and reductions in other cases range‑checked against assessed values and staff policy under Martin County code section 1.98(b).
Across the docket the pattern was the same: investigators documented violations, staff sought orders requiring correction by specified dates (commonly June 30, 2026), posted properties when certified mail was not returned, and the magistrate entered orders imposing the county's standard $100-per-violation-per-day fine and awarding the county's stated investigation costs when appropriate.
The magistrate noted the next hearing scheduling and adjourned. The record shows multiple orders and stipulations accepted; owners who fail to meet the compliance dates can expect daily fines and the county to seek recovery of investigation costs.
