Special Magistrate Jamie Barone on March 12, 2025, ordered owners and business operators at multiple Fort Pierce properties to correct code violations — from overgrown hedges to missing business registrations and a short-term-rental registration — setting deadlines, daily fines and appeal periods.

The hearing, held in Fort Pierce municipal chambers and live-streamed, included cases brought by city code-enforcement staff and testimony from property owners and business representatives. Barone repeatedly emphasized that his role was to apply the city code; he told one respondent, "I don't have the power to change the law," when a resident asked for a permanent exception to a 4-foot-front-yard height limit.

Why it matters: The orders affect residential property maintenance and small businesses along U.S. Highway 1 and other Fort Pierce corridors. Several business rulings require certificate-of-use renewals or risk suspension of utility services; one short-term rental advertisement violation carries a potential $5,000 fine if not corrected.

Court findings and key orders (Votes at a glance)

- 517 S. Eighth St. (Case CE-2025-41517). Owner Santos Ramos Aguirre was found in violation of Fort Pierce Code § 1-25-322(c)(1) for front-yard hedges exceeding the 4-foot height restriction. Barone ordered Aguirre to trim hedges to 4 feet within 30 days; failure to comply will incur a $100 per day fine. Thirty days to appeal was noted.

- 3821 S. U.S. Hwy 1 / Gold Coast Automotive (CE-2024-152). Owner/operator Jason Santiago told the court he had applied to renew the business’s certificate of use and was awaiting a fire-department inspection. The magistrate ordered the business to obtain a certificate of use or cease business activities within 10 days; failure will result in a $250 per day fine and, per city ordinance §22-28, suspension of utility services while the violation continues. Thirty days to appeal was noted.

- 3801 S. U.S. Hwy 1 / Joseph Miller Trust (CE-2024-150). The court found sign-maintenance violations (fading, rust, warped panels) and ordered the property owner to clean, paint or repair sign poles and panels within 30 days; failure will incur a $250 per day fine. Thirty days to appeal was noted.

- 1717 S. U.S. Hwy 1 Unit 6 / Discount Cigarettes (CE-2025-11). Owner Amy Cheatham said she experienced technical problems submitting a certificate-of-use renewal. The magistrate ordered 10 days to obtain a certificate of use or cease business activities; failure will result in a $250 per day fine and possible utility suspension under §22-28. Thirty days to appeal was noted.

- 403 East Wetherby Rd. (CE-2024-14503). Owners Sylvester Taylor and Martha Toombs faced International Property Maintenance Code citations (protective treatment and emergency escape openings). The magistrate ordered 20 days to pressure-wash the home, driveways and walkways, paint discolored bare wood where not already addressed and remove or open shutters; failure will result in a $150 per day fine. Thirty days to appeal was noted.

- 4051 S. U.S. Hwy 1 / Sharome Investments (telephonic; CE-2024-148). Jerome Joseph Shingari reported he had selected a sign company and paid a deposit to replace missing sign panels. The magistrate granted 30 days to repair or replace the missing sign panel; failure will result in a $250 per day fine. Thirty days to appeal was noted.

- Parking citation PK-2024-164 (South Causeway Park). Vehicle owner Latrice Browner was assessed a $78 administrative fine for restricted parking; failure to pay within 15 days will send the citation to county court. Thirty days to appeal was noted.

- Parking citation PK-2025-15 (J.C. Park). The respondent was assessed a $78 fine for parking in a boat/trailer-only space; failure to pay within 15 days will send the citation to county court. Thirty days to appeal was noted.

- 21408 N. U.S. Hwy 1 / Sir King Autos (CE-2025-28). The court found the business lacked a required certificate of use and ordered 10 days to obtain a certificate of use or cease business activities; failure will result in a $250 per day fine and potential suspension of services under §22-28. Thirty days to appeal was noted.

- 3120 S. U.S. Hwy 1 (CE-2024-131). The court found sign-panel, outside-storage/nuisance and accessory-structure violations (vacant storefront, debris, damaged dumpster fencing). Owners were ordered to replace the marquee sign panel, remove clothing/trash and repair or remove the broken racks and leaning fencing within 30 days; failure will result in a $250 per day fine. Thirty days to appeal was noted.

- 24 S. Ocean Dr., Unit (short-term rental) / Carlos Russo (CE-2025-2). Code enforcement presented advertisements found on Airbnb and other services; the magistrate ordered the owner to obtain a short-term rental/vacation registration and correct the advertised listing(s) within 10 days. The order states failure to comply will result in a $5,000 fine, payable within 30 days; 30 days to appeal was noted.

- 3347 S. U.S. Hwy 1 / Rancer LLC (CE-2024-154). The court ordered 30 days to paint rusted/discolored pole-sign areas and replace vacant sign holders with blank-face signs; failure will result in a $250 per day fine. Thirty days to appeal was noted.

What was argued and how the court decided

City code-enforcement officers presented photographs and the notices of violation for each case. Respondents and property representatives described steps taken or planned (for example, arranging sign replacement, requesting inspections, or pruning and pressure-washing). Where owners reported steps in progress, the magistrate frequently granted short windows to complete corrective work and emphasized the availability of extensions if respondents communicated with city staff.

Assistant City Attorney Felicia Holloman and code-enforcement staff explained statutory and code citations in several instances, including that exceptions to the 4-foot front-yard landscape height generally require written authorization from a city engineer and that utilities may be suspended under §22-28 while certificate-of-use violations remain unresolved.

Quotes

"I don't have the power to change the law," Special Magistrate Jamie Barone said when a homeowner requested an extended or permanent exception to the 4-foot landscape height requirement.

"They are on order," Jerome Joseph Shingari told the magistrate of the replacement sign panels for his business; he said he had paid a deposit and was working with the sign company.

What happens next

Each order includes the magistrate-set deadline and a noted appeal period (generally 30 days). City staff indicated they will accept documentation of compliance (inspection reports, certificates of use, invoices or photos) and can consider short extensions if respondents initiate contact before deadlines. For unpaid administrative fines, the magistrate noted standard collection or referral to county court procedures.

Ending

The hearing covered a mix of residential and commercial maintenance issues, multiple parking citations and several certificate-of-use matters. City code-enforcement staff said they will continue monitoring compliance and work with respondents who contact the department before deadlines to document progress or request extensions.