Special Magistrate Jamie Barrow on Oct. 15 presided over a Fort Pierce special-magistrate hearing that produced a string of orders requiring property owners and businesses to correct code violations, with compliance deadlines ranging from seven to 45 days and fines that will start if owners do not comply.

The hearing addressed dozens of matters including lot-clearing and nuisance-abatement orders, certificate-of-use enforcement for small businesses, sign-repair orders after a June storm, a parking citation, a nonoperative-vehicle matter and two contested financial orders: a Massey hearing that reduced a vendor/abatement charge to $5,101.13 and a lien-reduction request in which the magistrate waived fines because of the owner’s documented medical emergency.

Why it matters: the magistrate’s rulings determine whether the city will assess daily fines, move to abate nuisances at property owner expense, suspend utilities for unpermitted businesses, or accept reduced payment agreements. Several orders also give property owners short windows to obtain building permits or to complete repairs before fines begin.

The court repeated the standard finding used through the session. "It is this court's finding that a violation does exist and that the following be ordered," Barrow said repeatedly when announcing rulings.

What the magistrate ordered (highlights)
- Sign repairs after storm damage: At 5750 Orange Avenue (case CE-2025-335, owner Palm Way Investments LLC) the magistrate found a sign-maintenance violation and ordered the owner to repair the business sign or obtain the required permit within 30 days; failure to comply will trigger a $250-per-day fine and a 30-day appeal period. A separate, similar sign case at 6000 Orange Avenue (CE-2025-336, owner SECP-FTP LLC / National Registered Agents, Inc.) drew a 14-day compliance deadline for sign repair.

- Lot clearing / landscape orders: Multiple parcels were ordered into compliance under city landscaping standards (section 24-19). Typical orders gave owners seven days to cut grass, trim trees/shrubs and remove debris; failure to comply will result in $100-per-day fines. A nonexhaustive list of properties ordered to bring landscaping into compliance includes 3325 South U.S. Highway 1 (LTCL-2025-255), 613 N. 20th First St. (LTCL-2025-294), 2608 South U.S. Highway 1 (LTCL-2025-257), 1314 N. 20th Fifth St. (LTCL-2025-220), 107 S. 20 Third St. (LTCL-2025-286), 1822 S. 30 Second St. (LTCL-2025-273), Orange Avenue parcel LTCL-2025-285, and others.

- Vacant-building boarding and resecure orders: The board ordered re-securing of openings for a boarded vacant building at 2608 South U.S. Highway 1 (NUIS-2025-23), giving 10 days to resecure doors and windows with painted exterior-grade plywood or similar material; failure to comply will trigger $100-per-day fines.

- Certificate-of-use enforcement for small businesses: The magistrate ordered that two businesses obtain the required certificate of use or cease operations. Orange Corner Food Mart at 1301 Orange Avenue (CE-2025-353) was given 30 days to obtain a certificate of use or stop business activity; utilities may be suspended per city ordinance 22-28 if the violation continues. Fona Fashion Plus LLC at 1305 Orange Avenue (CE-2025-355) was given 20 days to complete their certificate-of-use application with fire-department sign-off.

- Nuisance abatements and trash/parking violations: Orders included a 45-day schedule for a large lot at 3325 S. U.S. 1 (LTCL-2025-255) to address flooding and invasive growth; a 10‑day order at 208 Maple Avenue (CE-2025-445) to stop parking in the front yard; and a 10‑day order at 2050 S. U.S. Highway 1 (CE-2025-301) to remove trash, cover open signboards and clear foliage debris. Daily fines for these matters were set at $250 per day where specified.

- Nonoperative vehicle: At 1505 Citrus Avenue (NOOP-2025-217), the court found a nuisance and ordered the owner to make a black trailer road-safe and legal within seven days, or the city may tow the vehicle; the owner has 30 days to appeal.

- Parking citation: Brightstar Expedite LLC was assessed $78 for an improper-parking citation at JC Park (PK-2025-296); payment was ordered and failure to pay within 15 days will forward the citation to county court; the party has 30 days to appeal.

- Massey hearing / reduced abatement bill: In a contested Massey hearing (NUIS-2025-3) for property at 101 Seaway Drive, the magistrate reduced the amount owed from $16,200 to $5,101.13 and ordered the reduced payment to be made in 30 days; if not paid the larger $16,200 amount will revert.

- Lien reduction / waiver for owner with medical emergency: In the lien-reduction request for 2614 Avenue I (case 24-294) the magistrate found documented extenuating circumstances (the owner reported a hospitalization and coma) and ordered all fines waived; the magistrate entered an order to that effect.

Other procedural notes: the magistrate granted short continuances where building-permit holds were said to be blocking repairs, and city staff repeatedly noted that some compliance tasks depend on building‑department approvals. Several respondents told the court they had contractors, permits pending or weather/damage-related obstacles; the magistrate adjusted compliance windows in a few cases accordingly.

Looking ahead: most orders set 7–14 days for landscaping and boarding, 20–30 days for business certificates and financial payments, and a 30‑day appeal period unless otherwise stated. The city will pursue abatement and assess costs to properties that remain out of compliance after the deadlines.

Ending: The magistrate closed the docket after noting cases continued or rescheduled for compliance review; property owners with questions were instructed to contact the code-enforcement office for payment links or permit coordination.