TAMPA, Fla. — Cities across the Tampa Bay area are helping residents and businesses recover from Hurricane Helen by making it easier to get permits.
Many local agencies announced ways they are expediting permitting and many are waving fees associated with the permits.
Here's what you need to know about permitting in the Bay Area:
St. Pete Beach
The city is putting resources behind providing residents and businesses with expanded operating hours, expedited permitting, limited mobile parking and an increased presence of code enforcement on weekends. Code enforcement will be on hand to arm businesses and residents with knowledge of "unfair, illegal, and dangerous activities."
- Effective October 7, 2024, through November 2, 2024, the hours of operation are as follows:
- Permit Desk: 8:00 - 4:30, Monday through Saturday, closed on Sunday
- Mobile Permitting: 8:00 – 4:30, 7 days per week
- Code Enforcement: 8:00 – 6:30, 7 days per week
- Building Inspections: 8:00 – 4:00, Monday through Saturday
The permit desk is located at 155 Corey Avenue. A permit technician and building official will be stationed there, the city says. A mobile permit technician will also be available.
For more information, tap here.
City of St. Pete
The city said it is waiving application and inspection fees for permits to perform demolition and repair of damaged properties.
Remote permitting sites have also been set up across the city for increased access to the community. The following locations will be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Monday through Friday:
- Azalea Recreation Center (1600 72nd Street North)
- Enoch D. Davis Center (1111 18th Avenue South)
- Roberts Recreation Center (1246 50th Avenue North)
Homeowners can also visit the main permitting office at the City of St. Pete Municipal Services Center, located on 4th Street North:
- Hours of operation:
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday — 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Wednesday — 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
City of Clearwater
The City of Clearwater is waiving building permit fees for residents most impacted by the storm. The city said an estimated 1,200 properties will be eligible for the waivers, which will save each resident about $300.
The waivers will not apply to businesses, according to the city.
Starting Tuesday, Oct. 8, a pop-up permitting site will also be located at the beach so residents can directly speak with employees from the Planning and Development Department:
- Clearwater Beach Recreation Center (69 Bay Esplanade)
- Hours of operation: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Residents can also apply for building permits on the second floor of the Municipal Services Building, located at 100 South Myrtle Avenue. It will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Pasco County
All county fees will be waived for home repair and building permit applications related to Helene.
The county has opened the following pop-up permit locations which will be staffed from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays.
- Gulf Harbors Civic Association (4610 Floramar Terrace in New Port Richey)
- Sea Ranch Civic Association (3711 Veronica Drive in Hudson)
