A Fort Pierce special-magistrate hearing on March 5 resolved code-enforcement charges for a North Seventeenth Street property that a new owner purchased at tax deed. The magistrate abated the $7,700 in daily fines after the purchaser showed the lot had been cleared and brought into compliance; the owner must pay the vendor invoice and administrative charges totaling $850 within 30 days.

City staff presented a timeline showing the notice of violation was issued in August 2024, an affidavit of noncompliance was issued in September and daily fines began, and a vendor under city contract completed lot clearing in December 2024. The city invoiced the owner $750 for the vendor and $100 in administrative costs; staff recorded a total assessed balance of $8,550 prior to any magistrate reduction.

The respondent, who identified himself as the new owner and stated he purchased the parcel January 13 via tax deed, said he contacted city staff promptly on learning of outstanding issues and had the property cleared. The magistrate accepted city evidence (vendor invoice, photographs and mailed notices), found the property currently in compliance, and abated the $7,700 running fines. The magistrate urged future buyers to perform title searches when purchasing tax-deeded property and set the nonabatable vendor and administrative amount due within 30 days.