Holmes Beach Considers Permit Deadline Extension for Hurricane-Damaged Homes
HOLMES BEACH – City officials in Holmes Beach are proposing an amendment to the city’s Land Development Code (LDC) that would provide relief to property owners with non-conforming structures damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024.
Non-conforming structures are those that were legally built under previous codes but no longer meet current city requirements due to subsequent regulation updates. Many properties sustained significant damage during last year's hurricane season and are navigating insurance claims and contractor shortages.
City code currently allows owners or contractors of non-conforming structures a 180-day window to obtain permits and begin reconstruction. That deadline is approaching fast, with April 9 set as the cutoff. Citing logistical challenges such as delayed insurance responses and contractor availability, city staff recommend a change.
A memo issued on March 18 by Director of Development Services Chad Minor outlines the challenges homeowners face and initially proposed extending the timeframe to 360 days. The proposed ordinance language in the March 25 city commission work session packet recommends a 365-day extension.
To streamline the process, city staff also recommend allowing administrative approval of one-time extensions, eliminating the need for individual commission approvals. This proposed amendment will be discussed at the upcoming work session but cannot be formally adopted until the April 8 city commission meeting.
