County to open temporary permit office on Captiva
The Lee County Department of Community Development continues to operate temporary, remote permitting offices in the most affected areas. The offices have proved successful in assisting residents in unincorporated Lee County apply for permits to repair existing buildings damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
A new temporary office will open on Oct. 24 at the Sunshine Seafood Cafe, at 11508 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva. Operating hours will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The remote locations have staff readily accessible to help residents navigate the permit process.
Residents must live in the area to use the temporary location. Residents acting as their own contractor can submit permit applications, have them reviewed and — in some cases — issued from the remote office. The applicants need their address, a description of the damage, estimated cost to repair, material cost documentation, and, if available, a floor plan.
Hired contractors are asked to continue to use the existing electronic permitting process. Residents seeking a full demolition or complete replacement of a structure will need to visit the main Department of Community Development permitting office, at 1500 Monroe St., Fort Myers, for a permit.
Lee County Government is reminding residents in unincorporated areas to pull permits for work on their homes to repair storm damage caused by Helene or Milton.
Any unincorporated Lee residents or businesses within the Special Flood Hazard Area with any damage to their homes or businesses, including water intrusion and all drywall repairs, must obtain a permit for all repairs. Email FIRMinfo@leegov.com for assistance with permit requirements and resources and include the following information:
– Contact information
– Property address
– Type of damage
– Height of the water that entered the home
Residents also can find more information at www.leegov.com/dcd/BldPermitServ/disaster-recovery or call 239-533-8948.
Following storm events, it is a priority of the Lee County Board of County Commissioners to help the communities most impacted — and part of commissioners’ goal is to ensure residents understand the National Flood Insurance Program requirements that permits are necessary for even minor repairs. It is particularly critical for residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area, which encompasses much of unincorporated Lee. Pulling proper permits helps ensure the county’s compliance with NFIP, and that in turn ensures residents are afforded the benefits of the program, such as eligibility for federal flood insurance and certain types of federal disaster aid.
The county may add additional temporary, remote permitting offices in other unincorporated Lee County locations as needed. For more information and updates, visit www.leegov.com/storm.