Substantial damage determination letters begin mailing for unincorporated Pinellas County residents

Substantial damage determination letters begin mailing for unincorporated Pinellas County residents

Residents don't have to wait for letter to apply for permits

• Residents who live in a flood hazard area in unincorporated Pinellas County will soon receive letters informing them of their property's substantial damage determination.
• Residents in unincorporated Pinellas County don't have to wait for their substantial damage letters to apply for permits to repair their homes.
• Be mindful of unlicensed contractors fraud and other risks.

Pinellas County has begun notifying residents in unincorporated Pinellas County whose homes have experienced substantial damage. Residents will soon start receiving letters informing them of their substantial damage determination, but they do not have to wait for their letter before taking action. Mailers will take several weeks to complete and may go on through the end of December.

Pinellas County has been actively processing permits with no fees for most properties in unincorporated Pinellas, with over 700 storm-related permits issued since the hurricanes.

Residents in the flood hazard area don't have to wait for a substantial damage letter if they: (1) have a permit application ready to file and, (2) live in unincorporated Pinellas County. Residents outside of unincorporated Pinellas should contact their city for specific information about their substantial damage program and permitting information.

Residents with properties in unincorporated Pinellas County that had minor damage -less than 12'' of water and below power outlets - can apply for permits now. More information on the storm permitting process can be found at Pinellas.gov/stormpermits.

Residents with more extensive damage can also apply for a permit which will first proceed with a "detailed substantial damage assessment." The review will include an analysis of an itemized repair estimate vs. structure value to determine if it is considered substantially damaged. Permit applications deemed NOT substantially damaged, will move forward with floodplain permit review processes. A full overview of the substantial damage assessment and determination process can be found at Pinellas.gov/sdsi.

Moving forward with unpermitted work can carry significant risks, including shoddy work by unlicensed contractors and the possibility of having to undo the work at your own expense.

When a resident is not intending to "self-perform" repairs, they should be wary of contractors asking homeowners to obtain owner/builder permits. A comprehensive list of licensed and insured contractors can be found online at https://contractorsearch.pcclb.com/. State certified contractor licenses can be verified at www.myfloridalicense.com.

A substantial damage determination means that a property owner's estimated cost to repair their home in a flood hazard area could equal or exceed 49 percent of the Actual Cash Value of the structure. To keep coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program and maintain other federal benefits, the County's building code requires all buildings in flood hazard areas that make substantial repairs or improvements to elevate or rebuild to avoid flooding again.

Residents who received a substantial damage letter can find essential information at www.pinellas.gov/sdsi. They may also call (727) 464-3888, option 5, to speak with an expert.

Residents who received a substantial damage letter and disagree with the initial assessment, can request a reassessment. Learn more at Pinellas.gov/stormpermits.

Pinellas County Building & Development Review Services office at 440 Court Street, Clearwater, is currently open extended hours Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Please note: Building and Development Review Services is closed Thursday, Friday and Saturday for the Thanksgiving Holiday and will reopen Monday, Dec. 2.