Understanding FEMA's 50% Rule for Post-Hurricane Repairs

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (Oct. 30, 2024) - As residents continue to repair their homes after the damage caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Charlotte County Community Development reminds homeowners to be aware of FEMA's 50% Rule when assessing and planning repairs to their damaged homes. 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.

1. You need to know your home's current market value. The 50% Rule is based on your home's market value - what your building alone (excluding land value) would sell for today between a willing buyer and seller.

• You may use a private appraisal completed in the past 12 months.

• If you don't have a recent appraisal, email the Charlotte County Property Appraiser at [email protected] to confirm your building's market value.

1. Once you have both your repair estimate and your home's market value, determine whether the cost to repair is less than 50%:

• 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%, email [email protected] to discuss your repair options.

• All permits that are related to a single event (hurricane, fire, flood, etc.) are counted together toward the 50% threshold, whether the permits are open or closed. Contact Community Development if this applies to you.

For more information, visit www.CharlotteCountyFL.gov/FEMA50 or email [email protected]. Every property owner's situation is different, so it is important to get help that applies to your specific case.

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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