Jacksonville homeowners pouring money into Hurricane Irma related fixes can now get reimbursed for permit fees.
Jacksonville City Councilman Garrett Dennis’ bill setting up the process was unanimously approved by council last week. It’s a change from his original bill that would have exempted people from the fees altogether.
Dennis said under the version that passed, homeowners with storm damage can be refunded for re-roofing and non-structural roof repair permit fees.
“A general contractor would go and pull a permit, complete your roof and property owners are now able to receive a refund of those permit fees can run up to $150,” Dennis said.
Homeowners can also apply for refunds for certain electrical permits. The refunds are only for Hurricane Irma fixes, which will be verified by the Building Inspection Division after the homeowner submits an affidavit.
The city has $749,598 set aside for the refunds, which Dennis said is in a growing subfund that he says needs to be used.
“We have a $15 million reserve in the building inspection department,” Dennis said. “That fund continues to grow and grow and grow and we only can use it specifically as it relates to building inspection operations and fees.”
To get the refund, the permit has to have been pulled between Hurricane Irma hitting Jacksonville on Sept. 11 and before Jan 1. Dennis says the intent is to incentivize the fixes sooner than later.
“We have the potential of [a damaged] property now becoming a blighted property and declining our neighborhoods,” he said.
All requests for a refund should be submitted to the city’s Building Inspection Division on or before Feb. 28 by sending in this form. Any questions concerning the eligibility of a refund can be answered by the city’s Building Inspection Division (904) 630-1100.
Photo used under Creative Commons.
Reporter Lindsey Kilbride can be reached at lkilbride@wjct.org, 904-358-6359 or on Twitter at @lindskilbride.
