St. Lucie County, FL Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- County section
- Code Sec. 38-28 (Lot cleanup)
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county property
- Time to abate
- 20 calendar days after notice
- Cost recovery
- Non-ad valorem assessment lien
- City rule
- Port St. Lucie Ch. 40 & 41
Summary
In unincorporated St. Lucie County, accumulated trash, junk, debris, stagnant water, overgrowth, and unsanitary conditions are declared a nuisance under the lot-cleanup ordinance and must be abated by the owner.
The purpose and intent of this article is to prohibit the following: Accumulation of trash, junk, or debris, living and nonliving plant material, and stagnant water; Excessive and untended growth of grass, weeds, brush, branches, and other overgrowth; ... and The existence of all other objectionable, unsightly or unsanitary matter, materials, and conditions on property whether improved or unimproved.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 32 | Land Development Code: Supplement 36).
Full Breakdown
St. Lucie County Code Sec. 38-28 (Lot cleanup) prohibits accumulations of trash, junk or debris, living and nonliving plant material, stagnant water, excessive overgrowth, non-weathertight windows and doors, and any other objectionable, unsightly or unsanitary conditions on property, whether improved or unimproved. Code compliance issues a notice giving the owner 20 calendar days to abate. If the county remediates, it recovers the cost of cleanup plus notice, title-search and administrative costs as a non-ad valorem assessment that becomes a lien on the property. Port St. Lucie enforces its own Property Maintenance Code (Ch. 41) and Nuisance Abatement Program (Ch. 40) inside city limits.
Violations & Fines
Notice gives 20 days to abate; county cleanup costs plus notice, title-search and administrative fees are levied as a non-ad valorem assessment lien.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the county maintain blighted property itself?
Who handles blight inside Port St. Lucie?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Lucie County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare St. Lucie County to another location·View the Florida property maintenance overview
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