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Red, White & Boom: Highlights from Stuart's Fourth of July Celebration

Independence Day in Stuart was filled with history, hometown pride, and plenty of red, white, and blue as residents came together for a full day of festivities.
The morning began at Gazebo Park with a special dedication ceremony hosted by the Halpatiokee Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The group unveiled a new historical marker honoring the men and women who fought for American independence. The marker reads: “Revolutionary War Patriots. This marker commemorates the men and women who achieved American independence. Those Patriots, believing in the noble cause of liberty, fought valiantly to found a new Nation,” along with the dates 1775–1783. It was placed in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Soon after, creativity rolled through downtown as the fourth annual City of Stuart Golf Cart Parade kicked off. Carts—brilliantly decorated in patriotic themes—paraded through the streets with Police Chief Flamur Zenelovic leading the way. Gift bags were awarded to the top decorated carts:
🧨 First place – Kimmie Dobson
🧨 Second place – Tabith Goodman
🧨 Third place – Tod Harper
By late afternoon, Flagler Park was buzzing with children’s activities starting at 4:30 p.m., followed by the 6:00 p.m. showing of Disney’s National Treasure. An unexpected rain shower added a soggy twist, but spirits stayed high as families continued to enjoy a wide variety of food and refreshments from the lineup of food trucks.
Live music set the tone along the waterfront, with Rough Cut and Beck’s Brotherhood performing on the Riverwalk Stage from 5:30 p.m. until after 10:00 p.m.
The day concluded with a dazzling fireworks display that lit up the St. Lucie River, bringing thousands of families, friends, neighbors, and visitors together in celebration of our nation’s history.
A heartfelt thank‑you goes out to everyone who joined us—and especially to our public safety personnel and city staff for their hard work behind the scenes to make the day memorable and safe for all.

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EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026

New Building Permit Exemptions Now in Effect  

A new Florida law, House Bill (HB) 803, introduces limited building permit exemptions for certain small residential projects. While some work may now qualify for an exemption, residents must still receive official exemption approval from the City of Stuart Building Department before starting any exempt project.
What’s Changing?
HB 803 allows certain non-structural home projects valued under $7,500 (including labor and materials) to be completed without a traditional building permit. However, this applies only to single‑family homes and only for specific types of work.
Important: What Is Not Exempt
Even if a project costs less than $7,500, it still requires a permit if it involves:
▪️Homes located in a flood zone or flood hazard area
▪️Electrical work
▪️Plumbing work
▪️Mechanical work
▪️Gas work
▪️Structural work
This means many common home improvements still need permits, including:
▪️Water heater replacements
▪️Water softener installations
▪️Air conditioning or HVAC work
▪️Electrical panel upgrades or rewiring
▪️Plumbing repairs or replacements
▪️Gas appliances
▪️Structural work such as roofing, load‑bearing walls, elevated decks, windows, doors, and storage sheds
State law also prohibits breaking a larger project into smaller segments to avoid permitting requirements.
How to Apply for an Exemption
Residents and contractors must submit a Permit Exemption Application (PDF) along with:
▪️A related permit request
▪️Documentation describing the work
▪️A signed contract with an itemized cost breakdown
This review ensures your project meets the new state guidelines for exemption.
NOTE: No Inspections for Exempt Work
If your exemption is approved, the Building Department will not inspect the project. Property owners and contractors are fully responsible for ensuring that all work complies with building codes, safety standards, and applicable laws.
For more information, please call (772) 288-5326 or visit Building Division on the city's website at https://www.stuartfl.gov/263/Building-Division.

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Sarita Heights, St. Lucie Estates, Broadway Residents: 

Neighborhood Clean-Up Day
Saturday, July 18, 2026

Get ready to declutter and ditch the junk! The next City of Stuart Neighborhood Clean-Up, this one for the Sarita Heights, St. Lucie Estates, and Broadway neighborhoods, rolls in tomorrow, Saturday, July 18, 2026!
WHEN
Saturday, July 18, 2026, 8 a.m - 11 a.m.
WHERE
Sarita Heights, St. Lucie Estates & Broadway neighborhoods, plus the HazMobile stationed at the Sable Club
WHAT
Old furniture, dead electronics, paint cans from who-knows-when, weird stuff under the sink, and more!
Set it all by the curb by 8 a.m. for the sanitation trucks on the hunt for curbside castaways and drop your hazardous items to the HazMobile.
Let's clean up, clear out, and level up your space!
To learn more or to check the schedule for your neighborhood, visit Neighborhood-Clean-Up on the City of Stuart website.

STUART POLICE DEPARTMENT

Mission Ice Cream: Success!

The Stuart Police Department was on a very sweet mission today—spreading smiles, sprinkles, and community spirit across the city!
Officers surprised residents in Flagler Park, Kiwanis Park, and even City Hall with free ice cream treats, delighting kids, grown‑ups, and everyone in between. Nothing brings people together quite like a cold treat on a warm Florida day, and our officers were out making those connections one scoop at a time.
Community engagement never tasted so good!
Want to catch the next surprise? Keep an eye on the Stuart Police Department’s Facebook page for upcoming pop‑up barbecues and more undercover “missions” headed your way.

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Traffic Advisories & Alerts

For the most up-to-date traffic advisories and alerts, visit ROAD / LANE CLOSURES on the City of Stuart website.
🚧TEMPORARY LANE & SHOULDER CLOSURES - Wednesday, June 24 through Friday, July 17, 2026, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Monday through Friday, excluding holidays) on N.W. Dixie Highway, NW Poinsettia Street and N.W. Oleander Street. View traffic control plan.
🚧TEMPORARY LANE SHIFTS - Monday, June 13 through Friday, July 21, 2026, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pike Electric, on behalf of FPL, will be performing the replacement of overhead wood poles. PLEASE NOTE: Weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances may affect the construction schedule. Temporary lane shifts will be managed with flaggers and traffic cones. Motorists and pedestrians should expect delays.
◼️SE Lincoln Ave. between SE Hillcrest Ave. & S.E. Florida Street
◼️SE Madison Ave. between SE 7th Street & SE Dolphin Drive

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Special Notices

 

City of Stuart Commission meetings, conducted in the City Hall Chambers, are streamed live. (View HERE). City Hall Chambers are open to the public during the meetings. 

Agenda for July 13, 2026 City Commission Meeting

ROLL CALL
INVOCATION
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
1. ARTS MOMENT - WILBERT SIMPSON, LOCAL ARTIST
PROCLAMATIONS
2. PARKS & RECREATION MONTH - JULY 2026
PRESENTATIONS
3. SERVICE AWARDS - JULY 2026
4. DOGS IN PARK VIDEO
5. BUDGET SNAPSHOT PRESENTATION
COMMENTS BY CITY COMMISSIONERS
COMMENTS BY CITY MANAGER
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC (Non-Agenda Related, 3 Minutes Maximum)
APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR
6. APPROVAL OF 6/22/2026 CCM MINUTES (RC)
7. BUDGET AMENDMENT #3 TRAM REPLACEMENT (RC):
RESOLUTION No. 47-2026; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING BUDGET AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET; APPROPRIATING AND AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS FOR TRAM REPLACEMENT DUE TO ACCIDENT OF PREVIOUS TRAM THAT WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY INSURER; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
COMMISSION ACTION
8. ROAD CLOSURE FOR THE 53RD ANNUAL STUART BOAT SHOW (RC):
RESOLUTION No. 44-2026; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, APPROVING A ROAD CLOSURE FOR THE 53RD ANNUAL STUART BOAT SHOW FROM 5:30 A.M. ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2027, THROUGH 5:00 P.M. ON MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2027, ALONG NW DIXIE HIGHWAY (FORMERLY SR 707) FROM SW ALBANY AVENUE SOUTH OF THE OLD ROOSEVELT BRIDGE TO NW POINSETTIA STREET TO INCLUDE THE FEC RAILROAD CROSSING OFF NW FERN STREET AND NW DIXIE HIGHWAY, NORTH OF THE ST. LUCIE RIVER DRAW BRIDGE, SUBJECT TO FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION APPROVAL; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
9. REVENUE BOND APPROVAL - 2 FIRE APPARATUS (RC): 
RESOLUTION No. 48-2026; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A NON-AD VALOREM REVENUE NOTE, SERIES 2026 OF THE CITY IN THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT TO EXCEED $1,920,000 TO FINANCE THE ACQUISITION OF FIRE APPARATUS AND TO PAY COSTS OF ISSUANCE THEREOF, AS FURTHER DESCRIBED HEREIN; MAKING CERTAIN FINDINGS OF PUBLIC PURPOSE; MAKING SUCH DETERMINATIONS AS ARE REQUIRED TO AFFORD THE NOTE "BANK QUALIFIED" STATUS; PROVIDING THAT THE NOTE SHALL BE A LIMITED OBLIGATION OF THE CITY PAYABLE FROM NON-AD VALOREM REVENUES BUDGETED, APPROPRIATED, AND DEPOSITED AS PROVIDED HEREIN; PROVIDING FOR THE RIGHTS, SECURITIES AND REMEDIES FOR THE OWNER OF THE NOTE; MAKING CERTAIN COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS IN CONNECTION THERE WITH; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
10. BUDGET AMENDMENT #4: REVENUE BOND APPROVAL - 2 FIRE APPARATUS (RC):
RESOLUTION No. 49-2026; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING BUDGET AMENDMENT No. 4 TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET; APPROPRIATING AND AUTHORIZING THE RECEIPT OF REVENUE AND THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS FOR FIRE APPARATUS; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
ORDINANCE SECOND READING
11. MARINA COVE AT RIVERSIDE RIGHT-OF-WAY ABANDONMENT (RC):
ORDINANCE No. 2554-2026:  AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA PROVIDING FOR THE ABANDONMENT OF CERTAIN PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY WITHIN THE CITY BEING THAT CERTAIN 20-FOOT RIGHT-OF-WAY, AS SET FORTH ON THE PLAT OF RIVERSIDE PARK, AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 4, PAGE 25, ST. LUCIE (NOW MARTIN) COUNTY, FLORIDA PUBLIC RECORDS RUNNING NORTH TO SOUTH, DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT “A” ATTACHED HERETO AND DEPICTED IN EXHIBIT “B” ATTACHED HERETO; PROVIDING FOR PAYMENT OF A PRIVILEGE FEE; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
ORDIANCE FIRST READING
DISCUSSION AND DELIBERATION
12. HANEY CREEK REFERENDUM (Moved to July 27, 2026)
13. SAILFISH BALLFIELDS REFERENDUM (Moved to July 27, 2026)
ADJOURNMENT

Future City of Stuart Meetings

City Commission Meeting
Monday, July 13, 2026 - 4:00 p.m.
Magistrate Hearing
Wednesday, July 15, 2026 - 2:00 p.m.
Joint Community Redevelopment Agency / Community Redevelopment Board / City Commission Meeting
Monday, July 27, 2026 - 4:00 p.m.
City Commission Meeting
Monday, July 27, 2026 - 5:30 p.m.

 

Calendar of Events

Market on Main
Every Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 
Flagler Park, 201 SW Flagler Avenue 
Produced by Stuart Main Street
More Information: (772) 286-2848

Rock'n Riverwalk 
Every Sunday, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Riverwalk Stage, 300 St. Lucie Avenue
Produced by Stuart Main Street and DBA
More information: (772) 286-2848
View all events HERE.

MASTHEAD PHOTO: July 2023 fireworks on the Downtown, Stuart, FL riverfront.