General Codes
All grass must be mowed below 12 inches on all improved property (with a structure built upon it).
For safety purposes, all buildings must have the address posted on the front of the structure, in contrasting colors to the building, and be visible from the roadway.
Each homeowner is responsible for regularly mowing and removing debris, litter, and obstructions from the swale area and liner.
Approved fencing materials must be used and kept in good repair.
Pools must be maintained and secured either by a pool enclosure or by a barrier at least 4 feet high with self-closing or self-latching mechanisms on gates or doors.
Only store outside patio furniture, grills, or household items designed for outdoor use (e.g., outdoor rug, planter). All other items must be stored in an enclosed structure with four walls and a roof.
The exterior of all dwellings and structures shall be maintained to be free of broken glass, torn screens, rotted wood, mold and mildew, missing roof shingles, soffit and fascia in disrepair, etc.
Common Code Violations Infographic
Download Common Code Violations Infographic(PDF, 834KB)
Vehicles must be road-ready, including current tags/registration, to be considered operative. No inoperative motor vehicle shall be parked, kept or stored on any premises, unless in an enclosed structure.
Commercial vehicles are prohibited from being parked or stored in all residential areas except while working at a job site.
Parking is prohibited on the wide part of the front lawn, upon any federal, state or local public right-of-way within the City or on any unimproved property.
Vehicles can be parked on neighboring swales with the property owner's permission. If the vehicle is in the swale, it must be parked with the flow of traffic and 12 inches from the pavement.
Vehicles registered as motor homes, recreational vehicles, campers, travel trailers, boats, etc., are prohibited from being parked on the front and or in the swale.
Placement of signs is not allowed in the city right-of-way or medians within the city. Signs in residential zones must be on private property and not to exceed 16 square feet.
Guide for Temporary Signs
In response to the United States Supreme Court decision, Reed v. Town of Gilbert, the City amended its temporary sign code regulations on Sept. 10, 2018, to provide uniform sign criteria that regulate the size, height, and placement of temporary signs within the City. Temporary signs placed on City-owned or maintained property, swales, road right of way, etc., may be removed. Typical temporary signs include: garage sales, open houses, sports teams sign-ups and promotional signs.
Election Guide & Letter to Political Candidates:
Do's and Don'ts
DO
- Obtain permission of the property owner to place temporary signs on private property.
- On commercial property, set the sign back at least 10 feet from the property line.
- On residential property, set the sign back at least 3 feet from the property line.
- Utilize the City's online garage sale and open house maps instead of using temporary signage.
DON'T
- Do not place temporary signs in the swale, road right-of-way and on public property. The swale is a shallow channel with sloping sides designed for water run off.
- Do not attach temporary signs to poles or street lights.
- Do not use display lighting.
Commercial Signs
A temporary sign is any sign exempt from the permitting procedure.
| Use |
Max. S.F. per single sign
|
Max. height
|
Min. setback from prop. line
|
|
< 3 acres
|
32
|
10’
|
10’
|
|
3 - 4.9 acres
|
60
|
10’
|
10’
|
|
5 - 9.9 acres
|
100
|
10’
|
10’
|
|
10 – 19.9 acres
|
150
|
15’
|
10’
|
|
> 20 acres
|
200
|
20’
|
10’
|
Download Sign Code Flyer(PDF, 357KB)
(PDF, 357KB)
Except during the period from Jun. 1–Nov. 30, hurricane protective devices are not permitted to be in the closed/secured position.
Installing and removing storm shutters is just a part of living in Florida during hurricane season, June 1 to Nov. 30. When there's an imminent threat of a hurricane, shutters protect our homes from wind, rain and flying debris.
After a storm passes, first responders ask that you take down your shutters as soon as you feel your area is safe. Storm shutters must be removed 14 days after a named storm leaves the area. It may be tempting to keep your hurricane shutters all year. However, hurricane shutters, designed to protect your home and family during a storm, can be unsafe and even deadly when left on your windows for the rest of the year.
If a fire were to break out, how would you get out of your home, and just as importantly, how would firefighters get in? Maybe the door is an option, but if the fire is between you and the door, your only way out is the window.
"Firefighters can defeat the shutters blocking the window, but it will take precious time," states Chief Nate Spera, St. Lucie County Fire District. "As time passes, the chances of smoke inhalation or burns increase if someone is trapped inside."
Every second counts when a home is on fire. Removing hurricane shutters could make a huge difference when lives are at stake. Hurricane shutters are designed to protect your home and family during a storm, and even though it may be tempting to keep them up all year, hurricane shutters can be unsafe and even deadly when left on windows during the rest of the year.
Hurricane shutters should never be used as a security device. A boarded-up home can attract burglars instead of deterring them because they think no one is home.
Please be aware that individual homeowners' associations have specific rules for when you should remove shutters to avoid fines. Check with your city or HOA.
Every second counts. Plan two ways out!
Storm Shutter Regulations
Sec. 41.10 (m) Storm shutter regulations:
- Storm shutters placed on structures certified for occupancy. Protection from windborne debris is encouraged for all structures certified for occupancy in the city. Storm shutters, or hurricane protection devices, shall be designed and installed in conformance with the Florida Building Code in effect at the time such hurricane protection was permitted by the permits division of the building department of the City of Port. St. Lucie.
- Except during the period from June 1st through November 30th each calendar year, hurricane protective devices are not permitted to be in the closed/secured position unless there is a hurricane or tropical storm watch outside of the designated hurricane season. Placement of storm shutters during the allowed period shall be as provided in subsection (3), below.
- Storm shutter placement. Hurricane protective devices that impede egress, light, and/or ventilation in a closed/secured position on occupied buildings must be removed no later than fourteen (14) days after the termination of a hurricane event (watch, warning, or actual hurricane or tornado) unless:
- A hurricane or tropical storm watch occurs in the fourteen (14) day period, at which point the fourteen (14) day period begins a new the day after the hurricane or tropical storm conditions have subsided; orb.
- Hurricane or tropical storm watch conditions are predicted to occur within forty-eight (48) hours after the fourteenth day; orc.
- The structure is used for residential purposes, but no person is in residence.
St. Lucie County Fire Prevention Code