Expediting of permits also taking place
Both City of Sarasota and Sarasota County Government staff members are expediting building permits for property owners who suffered damage from Hurricane Milton, as their staff members have reported.
In an Oct. 24 email she sent to Deputy City Manager Patrick Robinson that night, Lucia Panica, director of the city’s Development Services Department, wrote that staff also has waived all permit fees for action related to the hurricane recover.
“We have authorized the removal of up to four feet of drywall in all single family homes with no limit on square footage,” she continued. Any owner of commercial projects must apply for a permit “with an asbestos survey to remove finishes,” Panica did point out.
“Once an application has been made work may start for all of the above,” she continued.
“Tree permits are waived during the length of the Emergency Declaration,” Panica added.
“Our website contains more details regarding permitting requirements/allowances for work associated with hurricane damage,” Panica continued: https://www.sarasotafl.gov/government/development-services/building-permitting
“We are doing our best to review and issue hurricane related permits as quickly as possible,” she wrote.
During their regular meeting on Oct. 22, held in Venice, the county commissioners adopted a resolution that ratified County Administrator Jonathan Lewis’ Oct. 11 direction to county staff to suspend “certain permit fees for work to repair documented damage from Hurricane Milton and extend the suspension through May 22, 2025,” as the agenda item put it.
The suspension was effective as of Oct. 14.
The fees apply to the following, the formal resolution pointed out:
• Re-roofing or recovering homes.
• Doors (size for size replacement).
• Windows (size for size replacement).
• Interior repair needed because of water intrusion.
• Minor electrical repairs.
• Electrical service changes.
• Miscellaneous/repair.
• Tents.
• Temporary Use Permits.
• Pool cage repair.
• Air conditioning change out
• Mobile home demolition.
• Residential demolition.
• Replacement — new mobile home.
• Replacement ductwork.