Cape Coral city leaders are considering regulations for storm shutters after complaints from neighbors about homeowners leaving them up all year, which can pose a fire hazard.
Many residents in Cape Coral are not present during hurricane season, leading them to install shutters before heading north.
City leaders noted that addressing the issue would be challenging, with strong opinions on both sides.
Logan Tennant, a Cape Coral resident, said, "My husband and I are back and forth all year long or in the summer, and it's really a (expletive) to put those things up."
Tennant keeps her shutters up year-round, recalling the impact of Hurricane Ian.
"We've been through tornadoes in Minnesota, so I was never worried about the storms, until the water came up," she said. "For us, it's ease and peace of mind knowing they're there. So if we're gone, we don't have to fly back here. Get them up. You know, same with, you know, a lot of people, you know, especially older people."
Clark Shimp, another resident, said, "It takes five minutes for us. It takes five minutes to do that. All the way around the house."
He and his wife, Anna, prefer to remove their shutters for the view. Anna Shimp added, "It's best to have them up during hurricane season if you're not going to be here. Yes, I understand that. You don't want your windows broken, and you're not here to see the damage, so you need to know it's safe. But if you're here, there's no reason for them to be up all winter long."
During a meeting, city leaders proposed creating a city-wide policy or enforcing a timeline for shutter removal.
Currently, city code does not penalize homeowners for leaving hurricane shutters up. The Cape Coral Fire Department presented images of homes where shutters hindered emergency response, labeling them a serious safety concern.
However, seasonal residents argue that shutters provide necessary protection.
After a lengthy discussion, city leaders decided to study legal parameters and review Florida building codes before revisiting the storm shutter debate.
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