Hurricane Repair/Improvement Cost Form

 FEMA 50% FAQ

  If your home has sustained damage due to Hurricane Milton or Hurricane Helene, follow these guidelines:

1. Carefully assess the damage to your home and take pictures.
2. Call your insurance agent.
3. Prevent future damage by carefully tarping roof and boarding the windows. There will be no permit required for this work.
4. For Mobile/Manufactured home repair, see the Mobile/Manufactured Home Repair FAQ's and Mobile/Manufactured Home Repair Guidelines.
5. Roof covering repairs up to 1 square (100 square foot area) may be done without a permit.
6. Small sections of siding replacement (considered a “minor repair”) does not require a permit.
7. If the home has sustained structural damage, contact licensed and insured contractors to provide multiple estimates to repair damage.
8. If the home was deemed unsafe by the building department, collect valuables, and seek a temporary place to stay until permits are obtained and repairs are made to make the home safe again.
9. If the home is in a flood hazard area and the cost to repair exceeds 50% of the building value, then the home will need to be elevated to the current flood elevation. The cost of previous reported repairs and improvements will be included in the cumulative total when calculating costs.
10. Should you decide to demolish all or portions of your home a building permit will be required.
11. Engineering plans will be required when getting a building permit for structural repair to foundations, walls, ceiling, rafters, and trusses.
12. If only replacing windows and doors a simple floor pan sketch with Florida product approvals from the supplier will be required to obtain building permits.
13. If replacing only the roof covering (shingles, metal, or tile), a permit can be obtained online or over the counter by contractor.
14. An owner may obtain an owner builder permit if the home is owned and in the owner’s name. It cannot be in a LLC, Corporation or any other business name. The home cannot be currently rented and/or cannot be rented or leased within 12 months of the permit closing.
15. If an owner builder permit is obtained you must sign an affidavit saying you will abide by applicable laws and provide supervision of all work. Anyone hired that is not licensed must be your employee with FICA payroll deductions and proper Workman’s Comp insurance.
16. Avoid a contractor that asks you to obtain an owner builder permit for them.
17. Avoid paying contractors in cash and keep all receipts.
18. Do not pay final installments until all work is complete and a final inspection has been made by the Building Department.

PLEASE NOTE: Now Mandatory - All Re-roof and Window/Door Buck inspections must be scheduled and performed using the VuspexGO offline field report. For further instruction, see the Vuspex Offline Field Report User Guide and Re-roof Offline Field Report Checklist or Window/Door Replacement Offline Field Report Checklist.

State Licensed and Specialty Contractors currently registered with the City of Venice:

State Licensed Engineers currently listed in the City of Venice: