Main Squeeze: Fort Pierce is reworking its noise ordinance after nearly 2,000 complaints in one year

Fort Pierce received 1,954 noise complaints between April 2025 and April 2026, and city staff came to the commission this week with a detailed proposal to fix the ordinance that has been making enforcement difficult 🔊.

The three main problems with the current ordinance: there are no residential sound limits on Sundays between 1 p.m. and 11 p.m., the language is inconsistent with state statutes, and officers are limited in what they can do when the same location keeps violating within a 24 hour window. Most complaints came in on weekend evenings, particularly Sundays between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.

What staff is recommending:

⏰ Move the end time from 11 p.m. to 10 p.m., or standardize hours to 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week

🚨 Add a no warning required clause for severe violations

📋 Create a chronic violator designation for properties with three or more violations in 30 days

🚗 Add standalone restrictions for vehicle music audible from 25 feet or more

💰 Daily penalties up to $500 for unresolved chronic violations

The commission supported moving forward with the changes 📅.

💬 What do you think about the proposed noise ordinance changes? Tell us right here