Can I occupy a structure and/or connect electric service?

The structures located in the Town of Fort Myers Beach have been severely impacted by Hurricane Ian with widespread visible damage to one or more structural and electrical components. Due to the severity of the storm and with the intent of protecting against further loss of life, it is the position of the Town of Fort Myers Beach that all structures are currently considered unsafe until a certification of safety can be completed for the structure and electrical systems.

Prior to occupying a structure or proceeding with building, renovating, or adding to a structure, a structural inspection and an electrical inspection must be completed. 

The structural inspection must be performed by a professional engineer with structural experience licensed in the State of Florida. Upon completing the inspection, the structural engineer must offer their findings and expert opinion in the form of a post-inspection report. This report must be signed, sealed, and dated by the structural engineer and must certify the following:

1)   The integrity of the structure has been maintained

2)   The structure is currently in a condition to securely withstand the weight of its anticipated loads

3)   The structure will continue to perform safely as intended for the foreseeable future.

The electrical inspection must be performed by either an electrical engineer licensed in the State of Florida or a Florida-licensed electrical contractor. The report must certify that in the expert opinion of the Florida-licensed electrical professional, the electrical system is safe to reconnect to electrical service.

The electrical report must be emailed to the Town of Fort Myers Beach Building Services Division at buildingpermits@fmbgov.com. The format of the report is at the discretion of the contractor, but it must include the contractor’s name, license number, and whether the structure is safe to energize. After submittal and approval of the report by the Town, the information will be forwarded to the electric utility (FPL) for their use in connecting electric to the structure.

After a building is cleared to energize, the Town will notify FPL that the building is safe to energize. FPL has asked the Town to email a daily report to them at 3pm with a list of addresses that have been cleared for reenergizing. A confirmation email is also sent by the Town to the email address on record to notify them that FPL has been notified. Note that FPL is experiencing a high volume of reconnection requests at this time and have notified the Town that it may take up to 7 business days for them to reestablish services to properties after receiving this emailed list.

Note that it is the property owners’ responsibility to arrange for these inspections with the licensed professionals of their choice and to ensure that the documents are submitted to the Town of Fort Myers Beach. A list of contractors registered with the Town of Fort Myers Beach is available at the Town website at http://www.fmbgov.com. However, the property owner may also select a professional that is not currently registered with the Town but is licensed in the State of Florida. The post-inspection reports must be emailed to the Town of Fort Myers Beach Building Services Division at buildingpermits@fmbgov.com. After submittal and approval of the documents, the structure may be legally occupied.

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?