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Saint Pete Beach hears recovery update as permit processing, appeals and federal programs move forward
Summary
City staff reported thousands of hurricane-related permit applications, ongoing substantial-damage determinations and an active appeals queue; officials urged residents to track Elevate Florida and county CDBG planning meetings.
The Saint Pete Beach City Commission on March 25 heard a detailed Hurricane Helene and Milton recovery update from Laura Canary, the city’s community development director, who outlined permit processing, damage determinations, appeals and available recovery programs.
Canary said the city currently has a permit-fee waiver in effect through April 22 and that the city will send courtesy letters to owners for whom it does not yet have a permit on file. “Beginning with the permit processing, just wanna remind everyone that currently in effect, we have a waiver until April 22 for permit fees,” Canary said.
Why it matters: The pace of permitting, damage determinations and appeals will determine how quickly residents can repair or rebuild, and county- and state-level recovery programs will shape which households and neighborhoods receive funds.
Canary gave the most recent counts: about 3,500 total permit applications have been submitted to date, with roughly 2,563 permits issued, 223 in active review and 213 in a preparatory state. The city reported a daily permit-review average of 32 (the goal is 60) and 68 permits fully closed so far. Inspection capacity was described as averaging about 79 inspections per day. Canary said the city is still awaiting one final batch of damage-assessment data that will allow additional letters to go out.
On substantial-damage (SD) determinations, Canary said 1,512 properties have been deemed non-substantially damaged and 816 substantially damaged; 581 determinations remain pending. The city has received 728 appeals of SD determinations; 86 appeals are in progress and 642 appeals have been approved to date, Canary said.
Canary also summarized historic-preservation activity tied to FEMA rules: as of March 10 the city had received 48 historic-designation applications (36 designated, nine pending, eight needing additional information and three withdrawn). For certificates of appropriateness for demolition the city reported 12 applications, 11 approvals and one pending; restoration project applications totaled three, with two approved and one withdrawn.
Officials and staff also discussed state and county recovery programs. Canary reminded residents about Elevate Florida, a state program taking applications for homeowner assistance; she said the city had been tracking applicants and encouraging residents to contact city staff so the city can add their status to the portal. Commissioner Aaron Marriott told the commission he had attended an Elevate Florida webinar and announced a deadline: “it’s due April 11 at 7 p.m. Eastern time,” he said.
Pinellas County’s community-development block grant (CDBG) disaster recovery funding was a separate topic raised by multiple commissioners. The commission and staff said county public meetings will inform how roughly $813 million in CDBG and related recovery funds are ultimately allocated. Canary encouraged residents to attend the county’s first meeting on April 7 and subsequent public and virtual sessions so local needs—such as infrastructure, resiliency projects or direct homeowner assistance—are voiced during planning.
What was not decided: Commissioners asked staff to continue outreach and to report back on whether the permit-fee waiver should be extended; the commission did not take a binding vote on a longer waiver during the March 25 meeting. Canary said staff will include fee-waiver spending and projections in the April 8 recovery update for commission consideration.
Community context: Canary advised owner-builder applicants must sign permit applications in person and reminded residents that inspectors—whether city employees or contract inspectors—will carry identification. She provided a city contact number for questions: (727) 367-2735.
Ending: Staff said it will continue to publish rolling recovery metrics at future commission meetings, and county- and state-level deadlines (notably Elevate Florida’s) may shift homeowners’ repair decisions in the coming weeks.
