Tax Payment Stops Sale of Trash-Filled North Fort Myers Home

A last-minute tax payment canceled the auction of a North Fort Myers property buried in waste. The Lee County Clerk's office confirmed that the payment through a tax certificate stopped the planned September 2025 sale.

The site sits in violation of multiple codes. Mountains of waste, broken items, and unsafe conditions plague the land. While the tax payment keeps the property off the auction block, it doesn't shift responsibility for fixing these issues.

Tim Price, who lives next to the property, was upset about the canceled sale. He told Fox 4 News that "it's caused his wife health issues from toxic burning, sewage leaks, rats, and even seeing someone walking around the yard with what appeared to be a gun."

Tax certificates work as a way to clear unpaid property taxes. After paying taxes for a set time, certificate owners may claim the land.

An August 2025 check found the yard stuffed with waste. The site has drawn waves of squatters through the years, turning into a constant source of worry for those living nearby.

Officials won't name the tax certificate buyer. Questions about the property's status in probate court remain open.

Price had his sights set on buying and fixing the mess next door. Now the site's future sits in limbo, with no clear timeline for cleanup.