Fort Pierce city officials are considering tougher noise enforcement that would allow fines of $250 to $500 per day for chronic violators and let the city place liens on properties where violations occur. Law enforcement responded to nearly 2,000 noise complaint calls in Fort Pierce between April 1, 2025 and April 30, 2026, with about one in three complaints coming from the same 14 city locations. Half of all calls currently come in Sundays between 10 p.m. and morning hours.
The proposed ordinance amendments would expand police enforcement authority and allow officers to issue citations without warnings when noise is so loud, excessive or disruptive that it constitutes a clear and substantial disturbance or breach of the peace. District 1 Commissioner Arnold Gaines said chronic noise offenders are using loopholes in current ordinances by continuing to offend until they receive three warnings from police, then turning down their music. Proposed changes would define chronic violations as three or more verified noise complaints at the same location within 30 days, or six or more within 90 days.
Under the proposal, officers would give violators five minutes to comply after the first warning. A citation to appear would be issued if the violation continued another five minutes or if it was a third violation. An arrest would be made for a fourth offense or if another five minutes passed without correcting the current violation. Parents and guardians would be made responsible for penalties levied against juvenile offenders.
If an offender fails to follow a compliance plan or new complaints continue, incidents could be treated as a public nuisance referred to the city's Nuisance Abatement Board where daily fines of up to $250 to $500 can be ordered. If fines are not paid, a lien may be placed on the property where the incident occurs and the city can foreclose to collect the lien after three months. City Clerk Linda Cox said recommended ordinance changes require two public hearings once final ordinance language is drafted.