Proposed bill could make hurricane repairs easier for homeowners

Tallahassee, Fla. (WINK) — If you’ve ever had to repair your home after a hurricane, you know the permitting process can be a headache — even for projects like fixing decks, fences, or windows.

A proposed bill in the Florida Legislature aims to ease that burden.

House Bill 1049, introduced by Rep. Tiffany Esposito, R-Fla, who represents Lehigh Acres, would allow homeowners to skip the permit process for certain home repair projects costing less than $7,500.

She pointed to Lee County’s experience after Hurricane Ian as a key reason the legislation was needed.

"Honestly, conversations with constituents of just, when you start hearing stories of government giving people a hard time, whether it's for a pool or, like I said, storm shutters," Esposito said.

In early 2024, FEMA threatened that most of Lee County — and the cities and towns within it — would lose a 25% flood insurance discount. FEMA said the loss was tied to unpermitted work done after the storm.

Lee County later kept the discount, but Esposito says it was a warning sign.

“Lee County has been fantastic in working with me to craft the language so that we make sure that it helps in that case, and it doesn't put us back in that FEMA situation," she said.

Esposito also said her push to change the law comes from personal experience.

“I tried to put storm shutters on my house after Irma, and it took over a year because I couldn't get a permit," Esposito said. "The company couldn't get a permit, so I missed the entire next storm season.”

The bill would eliminate the need to get a permit for a backup generator in the case of a storm as well.

Esposito says the bill would still require permits for electrical work, plumbing, and major structural fixes.

WINK News will continue to update you as this bill makes its way through the legislative process.