Subject:
Title
Resolution relating to waiving double the normal building permit and floodplain permit fees for storm reconstruction and repair.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval to adopt a resolution waiving double the permit fee for building permits and construction in a floodplain within the unincorporated County and communities of Belleair Beach, Belleair Shore, Indian Rocks Beach, Oldsmar, Kenneth City, and Safety Harbor, submitted from September 19, 2025 through December 31, 2025, for after the fact permits for work already commenced or completed on storm damaged properties directly or indirectly, by Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Milton, subject to the following conditions:
• This waiver is applicable to after-the-fact permits for work to demolish and repair storm damage.
• This waiver is applicable to after-the-fact permits for work to demolish a “substantially damaged” structure as that term is defined in Section 158-182 of the Pinellas County Code.
• This waiver is applicable to after-the-fact permits for work to reconstruct, alter, or modify a structure that sustained such damage to elevate that structure or otherwise bring it into compliance with the County’s floodplain regulations and the Florida Building Code.
• This waiver is applicable to after-the-fact permits to repair a manufactured/mobile home that sustained damage and is required to obtain a Construction in a Floodplain permit in compliance with the County’s floodplain regulations.
• This waiver is not applicable to after-the-fact permits for accessory outdoor amenities including, but not limited to a swimming pool, driveway, patio, screen cage, and shed.
• This waiver is not applicable to after-the-fact permits for new construction unrelated to storm damage.
• This waiver will expire on December 31, 2025.
• While the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Adopted and the FY26 Proposed Budgets of the Building Services Fund in the Building and Development Review Services Department included revenues associated with “double the permit fee” associated with after-the-fact permits; neither budget anticipated an increase due to after-the-fact permits related to storm damage (estimated at $1.9M). Therefore, waiving this doubling of fees will have no fiscal impact in either year. The full permit fee will be collected to fund the work that will be done.
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Strategic Priorities:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.1 Provide planning, coordination, prevention, and protective services to ensure a safe and secure community.
Foster Continual Economic Growth and Vitality
4.4 Invest in infrastructure to meet current and future needs
Summary:
Summary
If demolition, repair, or reconstruction work is performed without permits and inspections required under the Florida Building Code, it will (i) increase the likelihood that the work will fail to comply with the Florida Building Code, thereby reducing the safety and value of the affected property, and (ii) jeopardize the 45% discount on flood insurance currently applied to all residents in the County through FEMA's Community Rating System. Therefore, the risk of such unpermitted, uninspected work poses an immediate danger to the public health, safety, and welfare that requires emergency action.
With more than 5,120 properties in the unincorporated County affected by the Storms and potentially in immediate need of the demolition, repair, and reconstruction work described above, it is necessary to protect the public interest and incentivize the highest degree of compliance with the Florida Building Code and County’s Floodplain Management ordinance by permitting work already commenced or completed by waiving double the normal permit fees for after-the-fact building permits and construction in floodplain permits.
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Background Information:
On September 24, 2024, pursuant to Florida Statutes Section 252.38(3)(a)5 and Pinellas County Charter Section 2.04(k), the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners passed Resolution 24-68 declaring a state of emergency within the boundaries of the County due to Helene (as may be extended or expanded from time-to-time, the Emergency”).
On October 5, 2024, the Governor of the State of Florida issued Executive Order 24-214 to declare an additional state of emergency in certain counties, including Pinellas, due to a tropical weather system then designated as “Tropical Storm Milton” and ultimately designated as “Hurricane Milton” (“Milton”).
The impact of the two storms affected over 8,500 properties in the unincorporated County and the communities of Belleair Beach, Belleair Bluffs, Belleair Shore, Indian Rocks Beach, Oldsmar, Kenneth City and Safety Harbor. Considering the impact of extensive number of damaged properties and the considerations of residents needing to get back in their homes and business owners back operational, the waiving of double the normal fees is necessary to encourage compliance with the Florida Building Code and the County’s Floodplain Management ordinance.
Fiscal Impact:
No impact.
Funding for this resolution is not included in the current-year budget of Building and Development Review Services in the Building Services Fund. The full permit fee will be collected and any additional revenue (the department estimates approximately $1.9M) that would have been collected associated with “double the permit fee” was not a budgeted amount as it is specific to only storm-impacted properties.
Staff Member Responsible:
Kevin McAndrew, Director, Building and Development Review Services.
Partners:
N/A
Attachments:
Resolution