Martin County, FL Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Sec. 75 is the general nuisance-abatement trigger for Martin County's Property Maintenance Code: it shall be unlawful to maintain or permit the existence of any unsafe structure, unsafe equipment, a structure unfit for human occupancy or an unlawful structure. An unsafe structure is one dangerous to the life, health, property or safety of the public from damage, decay, dilapidation, structural instability or abandonment (Sec. 1); unsafe equipment covers boilers, elevators, wiring or flammable-liquid containers in a hazardous state of disrepair (Sec. 2); and an unlawful structure is one occupied by more people than the Property Maintenance Code allows or built contrary to law (Sec.

4). Sec. 76 extends the same condemnation authority to a structure vacant or abandoned for more than 180 days and unfit for habitation, regardless of whether it is in danger of structural collapse, letting the Building Official declare it a public nuisance. Once the Building Official condemns a structure, Sec. 77 requires written notice describing the property, stating the violation, ordering a reasonable time to correct it, warning that non-compliance will lead to demolition, and informing the owner of the right to appeal and to file a lien; the notice must be personally delivered, mailed, or, if undeliverable, posted on the structure.

An owner who sells or transfers a condemned property before compliance must first give the buyer a copy of the notice and get a notarized acknowledgment under Sec. C. If the owner still does not correct the violation, Sec. 78 authorizes a 'Condemned' placard, Sec. 80 makes it a violation to occupy or operate placarded premises or equipment, and Sec. 81 lets the Building Official demolish and remove the structure or equipment, billing the cost to the owner as a County lien if unpaid within 30 days.