Building & Code Regulation Division urges consumers to be cautious and be sure to hire licensed individuals and companies to handle post-hurricane repairs, clean-up, tree removal, etc. Following a disaster, we recognize the urgent need to handle post-hurricane repairs, which may or may not require a building permit. Under the Florida Building Code (105.2), certain work is exempt from obtaining a permit after the event.

Guidelines for Permitting Post Storm/Disaster

General Information:

Post storm recovery efforts can be a challenging and difficult time for many residents within the county. This guideline serves to ensure expeditious recovery of the community, resulting in a safer environment for the public post disaster event. Below are the steps necessary to ensure permits are expedited appropriately following a disaster event.

 Work Requiring Permits and Exempt from Permitting:       

Following a disaster event, and in accordance with the Florida Building Code Chapter 1 Administrative Amendments, minor repairs that do not affect the structural integrity, means of egress, fire resistance, and/or rating of any walls, with a repair value less than $2,500, do not require a permit.  This work includes, but is not limited to:

• Temporary tarping of roofs
• Window glazing repairs (not replacement of the whole window)
• Debris removal
• Minor cosmetics (paint, carpet, etc.)
• Fence panel reattachment (no posts)

More information on exempt work can be found in Section 105.2 of the St Lucie County Florida Building Code Administrative Amendments, as amended. You can find the latest copy of the amendments here, Section 105.2.

All other standard work that does not include exempt repairs will require permitting as regularly required by the Florida Building Code and can be applied for using the link below for the County’s Customer Self-Service portal or visiting the County’s Building Division in person.

•  https://stluciecountyfl-energovpub.tylerhost.net/Apps/SelfService#/home
• Administrative Annex Building – 2300 Virginia Ave. Fort Pierce FL 34982

 NOTICE: Exemption of a permit does not mean exemption of utilizing a properly licensed contractor. 

 Locations for Permitting Services:

Permitting services and assistance are available at the St Lucie County Administrative Annex in accordance with our regularly scheduled business hours following a disaster event.  In a situation where the building becomes damaged or inaccessible the Planning and Development Services Department will announce an alternative location for residents and staff to safely apply for permits.

During this time our online permitting system ( https://stluciecountyfl-energovpub.tylerhost.net/Apps/SelfService#/home ) will be operational, and the preferred method of processing permits for expedited processing. If our system is down, applications may be submitted in-person and staff will transfer these applications to our online permitting system when it is functional.

Steps for Expediting repair permits:

1. Applicants shall include in the work description that the submitted application includes repairs from damage related to the applicable disaster event and check the box during the application process that the repairs are disaster related.
2. This will trigger staff to assign the project to the post disaster event project with an expedited review time of 3 days.
3. Please make sure if any corrections are requested, they are resubmitted in a timely manner to avoid delays in permit issuance.

Requirements for Reconstruction in the Special Flood Hazard Area

As a participant in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), any structures that are substantially damaged within the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) will be required to meet the requirements of the assigned flood zone at the time of the application to repair.  Letters for properties deemed substantially damaged/improved are available for review at https://stluciecounty.withforerunner.com/

Necessary Backup for Operations

St. Lucie County has contracts that are maintained with outside agencies that are trained and licensed for Building Division services, including building plan review and building inspections. This staff can be utilized if the Building Division needs to ensure adequate customer service and keep up with the influx of workload following an event. 

A training session and utilization of how-to manuals will be conducted with these contracted employees upon the discovery or expectation of an overflow of work to ensure smooth operations and no delays in permit processing.  Due to the licensing requirements of plan reviewers and inspectors, including a consistent State Building Code, training would not be required for the technical aspects of the job.

 Fees

 Permit fees will be charged according to the most recently adopted fee schedule, unless otherwise amended or suspended by the Board of County Commissioners.

Prioritization

Prioritization for the first few days following the event will be given to the following:

• Completing damage assessment throughout the County
• Expediting reviews and inspections for roofs/AC/Structural repairs.

Annual Update and Publication

                This guide will be published and updated annually by May 1.

Please contact the Permitting Department at 772-462-1553 for more information. 
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Letter To The Construction Industry,

The Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1st. While we remain hopeful that we will not experience a hurricane, it could happen, and we must be ready. We are subject to fast-approaching storms that form with little or no notice. St. Lucie County wants to remind contractors to undertake reasonable preparations for any storm that might cause flying debris. We must remain diligent in our preparations for any storm event. Please ensure that your job sites are prepared for a storm.

 St. Lucie County Building Department requests that when the National Weather Service issues a tropical storm or hurricane warning/watch for our area, immediate action be taken to secure a construction project site from the potential effects of a storm event.  

 Thank you in advance for protecting your project and our community from damage due to flying debris.

 Be safe.

**MORE UPDATES TO COME**