Repairing Damage After Hurricanes: Understanding FEMA’s 50% Rule

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (Oct. 18, 2024) - As residents begin repairing their homes after the damage caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Charlotte County Community Development urges homeowners to be aware of FEMA's 50% Rule when assessing and planning repairs to their damaged properties. This rule helps homeowners decide how to move forward with repairs and stay within local and federal guidelines.

1. Before starting any repairs, make sure you obtain a full estimate of how much it will cost to fix the damage to your home.
2. You need to know your home's current market value (excluding land value). If you have had a private appraisal within the past 12 months, that assessment can be used. If not, contact the Charlotte County Property Appraiser at 941-743-1498 to find out the building's value.
3. Once you have both your repair estimate and your home's market value, determine whether the cost to repair is less than 50% of your home's market value.
   • If the cost is less than 50%, you can hire a contractor or pull permits to start repairs.
   • If the cost is more than 50%, call Charlotte County Community Development to discuss your repair options.
   • If you've made improvements to your home in the past year, this could affect the 50% calculation. Contact Community Development if this applies to you.

For more information, call Community Development at 941-743-1201. Every homeowner's situation is different, so it is important to get help that applies to your specific case.

For recovery information, call the Charlotte County Emergency Operations Center at 941-833-4000 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday or visit www.CharlotteCountyFL.gov/storm.

Follow Charlotte County Emergency Management for important emergency information at www.charlottecountyfl.gov/em, www.facebook.com/oemcharlottecounty, and www.x.com/ccoem.

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