Lien Services

Under Florida law, information regarding properties owned by certain individuals is subject to strict confidentiality. No information is available for confidential properties and lien search fees are not refundable.

How to search liens for a confidential property

A lien search for a confidential property can be requested once a consent form is completed and notarized by the owner of the property. Please contact Lien Services to receive the consent form.

Rush Service cannot be requested for a confidential property. Do not pay the $160 non-refundable rush fee before confirming a property is confidential.

Check public records of St. Lucie County for all recorded liens.

City of Port St. Lucie records may not have all liens or assessments on a property. A lien search will not show cross-attaching liens that encumber a property under Chapter 162, Florida Statutes.

The City imposes liens on properties for issues such as water and sewer capital payment agreements, code violations and nuisance properties. When customers needed to determine what City liens were on a property, multiple departments would receive calls, including Legal, Building, Finance and Code Compliance. For the sale of properties with outstanding City liens, the realtor, seller, and buyer could also call different departments.

In 2017, staff created a "one-stop shop" for all City liens. The centralized Lien Division is now responsible for answering all questions on City liens, such as pay-off amounts, vacate and modification requests, and a written document for banks and realtors. Service is significantly improved by providing one point of contact for customers seeking information about liens.

Code Liens: Code liens are for blighting and maintenance issues. Examples include high grass and weeds, open storage, inoperative vehicles, and mold/mildew.

Vacant Property Registration (VPR) Liens: VPR liens are for blighting, maintenance, and improper registration of vacant homes. Upon filing a lis pendens and/or any action to foreclose upon a mortgage or similar instrument, all mortgagees must register with the City.

Building Liens: Building liens are for work done without proper permits. Examples include AC change out without a permit or porch addition with electricity but no electric permit.

Nuisance Abatement Liens: Nuisance abatement liens are assessed whenever the city council agrees there is an immediate threat to life, limb, health, welfare, or property. Examples include a dilapidated roof, falling pool enclosure, or abandoned vandalized property.

Unimproved Real Property Liens: Unimproved real property liens (vacant lot liens) are liens for the clearing of a vacant lot. Vacant lots adjacent to a residential dwelling must not allow vegetative matter to grow to a height of more than 24” within 10' of the side and rear lot lines.

Delinquent Utility Usage Liens: Utility usage liens are for regular water and sewer usage that has gone unpaid and accumulated over $250.

Utility Capital Charge Liens: Utility capital charge liens are for hookups of residential or commercial properties to City water, sewer, or both. The cost of this hookup can be amortized through a 10-year interest-free loan, which becomes the utility capital charge lien.

Contractor's License Liens: Contractors license liens are for contracting work done without a contractor's license. An example includes someone installing AC systems without an AC license.

Community Services Liens: Community service liens are from the SHIP or NSP program the City offers to first-time home buyers. The City offers to pay a defined mortgage amount, providing the residents meet certain criteria. This amount is recorded as a lien, so if the residents fail to meet the criteria, the amount must be paid back.

Solid Waste Liens: Solid waste liens are placed on a property for the cost incurred by the City to correct violations of the City code for residential curbside collections.