Only drywall, baseboards, cabinets and finished flooring was damaged in our home. Do I need a building permit and repair/improvement cost form to repair these damages?

Estero Island falls entirely within a special flood hazard area on the flood insurance rate map. Section 6-441 of the Land Development Code requires the following:

Any property owner or property owner's authorized agent who intends to undertake any development activity within or partially within any flood hazard area (including buildings, structures and facilities exempt from the Florida Building Code) must first make application to the floodplain administrator, and the building official, if applicable, and must obtain the required permits and approvals. No such permit or approval will be issued until compliance with the requirements of the floodplain ordinance and all other applicable codes and regulations has been satisfied. 

More information can be found in the floodplain ordinance:

https://library.municode.com/fl/fort_myers_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIICOOR_CH6MACOBUCOCORE_ARTIVFLRE_DIV4PE

For NFIP compliance measures, the Town requires a completed repair/improvement cost form (with the total cost, labor and materials, itemized for all repairs needed to bring the building back to its pre-damaged condition). Please include the completed form packet, along with required accompanying documentation, when submitting your building permit application using the IWorQ online permitting system request portal.

The repair/improvement cost form is found at the Building Services Applications and Forms page:

https://www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov/1069/Building-Services-Applications-Forms

https://www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/16198/Form--Repair-Cost-form-2020

Only after issuance of a permit may construction commence. The permit applicant is responsible to request the applicable inspections using the IWorQ online permitting system during the construction process to confirm code compliance, when each phase of construction is complete, prior to concealing the work. 

Each of the inspections must be passed by the inspector (deemed to be a code compliant installation) before the permit applicant may conceal the work (e.g. by pouring concrete, applying drywall, installing finished roofing material over the secondary water barrier, etc). 

Show All Answers

1. Am I in the jurisdiction of the Town of Fort Myers Beach if I have a Fort Myers Beach U.S. postal service address?
2. How long is my permit good for?
3. When is a permit required?
4. What happens if I choose not to obtain the required permits?
5. How do I submit my paperwork for a rebuild and obtain an issued permit?
6. Glass windows and doors--what is the requirement for replacement of windows and doors? Is there a requirement for a certain level of "hurricane" glass?
7. Where can I find the forms to submit a building permit application?
8. What is the current review period for building permits and how do I contact my reviewer?
9. PERMITS GENERAL (category)
10. How do I check the status of an existing building permit?
11. What are the requirements for a site plan?
12. Which permit do I get for a temporary power pole?
13. Where can I send my general building permit questions? (i.e. fence, remodel, single family home, etc.)
14. How do I extend my permit that is issued but about to expire?
15. Do I need a permit to Erect/ Replace a fence?
16. How much do permits cost?
17. How do I pay for my building permit?
18. How can I respond to a rejection letter that I received from one of the reviewers about my building permit application?
19. How can I submit my building permit application paperwork?
20. What happens if my permit expires?
21. What is a Notice of Commencement (NOC), do I need to file one, and how do file my NOC?
22. Should we get this far, what is the anticipated time frame for obtaining a building permit?
23. Are you currently issuing permits for repair of hurricane damaged homes, or will there be a delay before you begin to issue permits?
24. How close can a pool enclosure/pool be to a seawall?
25. Do I need a permit for a deck?
26. Do I need a permit for a Chickee hut?
27. Only drywall, baseboards, cabinets and finished flooring was damaged in our home. Do I need a building permit and repair/improvement cost form to repair these damages?
28. APPRAISALS (category)
29. Given that the appraisal is higher than the tax assessed value, will this trigger a requirement for a second appraisal?
30. Will an AVM "appraisal" be an accepted alternative appraisal method?
31. CONDOS (category)
32. What do I need if I live in a condo and want to replace my windows?
33. The bottom level of our building was severely damaged by the hurricane. Can ground level areas be rebuilt?
34. What is needed for minor Condo Renovations?
35. CODE (category)
36. How close can you get to a non-seawalled natural body of water (Rip Rap)?
37. What are the code requirements for construction in Fort Myers Beach?
38. What are the rules for swimming pool barriers in Florida and what are my responsibilities as a property owner?
39. CONTRACTORS (category)
40. Does the town have a list of registered contractors?
41. Do I need a contractor? What does it mean to be an "owner builder?"
42. Can you recommend an engineer/architect/contractor?
43. How does a contractor get registered with the Town of Fort Myers Beach?
44. DEMOLITION (category)
45. I’ve decided to demolish my building as it was substantially damaged. Will the city be removing my home?
46. How do I acquire a demolition permit?
47. I’ve decided to demolish my home. What is my next step?
48. ELEVATION (category)
49. Where do I find the elevation of my home?
50. Is it possible to elevate my existing building?
51. What is the “lowest floor” of a building and what is the elevation reference point which must be elevated above the minimum elevation?