Hurricane Ian Updates From The Town of Fort Myers Beach

From The Town of Fort Myers Beach

Updated 9-9-23

Town starting to address unsafe structures damaged by Hurricane Ian

It has almost been a full year since Hurricane Ian damaged structures in the Town and the Code Compliance Division is starting to address unsafe structures that have not been repaired or demolished.

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Want to check the status of your permit? These are the ways.

Permitting is obviously a hot topic with all of the rebuilding that is happening as we continue recovery from Hurricane Ian. We’ve condensed all of the website links and email contacts here.

Town participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

The Town of Fort Myers Beach is a participating community in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP works with communities to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations that help mitigate flooding effects. Property owners, renters, and businesses in NFIP participating communities are eligible to purchase flood insurance, helping them recover faster when floodwaters recede.  The Town has earned a class 5 rating in the program, providing all property owners in Fort Myers Beach a 25% discount on flood insurance rates.

IMPORTANT Steps to Register RV on Your Property

STEPS TO FOLLOW:

Step 1:   A “Temporary Use Permit” must be issued prior to placement of these vehicles.  For more information and to apply for Temporary Use Permit, visit the Temporary Use Permit page by clicking on the orange sand dollar icon at the Town homepage (www.fmbgov.com), or by visiting the following direct link: https://www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov/1253/Temporary-Use-Permit

When applying for a temporary use permit you must provide a simple site sketch showing the proposed location and orientation on the site.

Step 2:  Temporary electric and plumbing connections must be secured within 14 calendar days of being issued a Temporary Use Permit. After verifying the availability of temporary power with FPL, and prior to installing a temporary power pole or plumbing connections, your contractor must obtain a “trade permit” for the electrical and plumbing connections through the IWorQ online permitting system at https://portal.iworq.net/FORTMYERSBEACH/new-request/701/3343.  Enter “temporary electric pole” in the “Scope of Work” line of the trade permit application.

Step 3: After having been issued both the Temporary Use Permit and the Trade Permit, arrange with your contractor(s) to have the temporary electric and plumbing connections completed. To finalize and close the trade permit, a building code inspection of the electrical and plumbing connections must be completed by the Town. After the electrical and plumbing connections are completed, request a building code inspection for your trade permit through the IWorQ online permitting system at https://portal.iworq.net/FORTMYERSBEACH/permits/600

Upon passing the electrical and plumbing inspections, Florida Power & Light (FPL) will be notified to activate electrical service to the temporary power pole.

Residential/Business parking permits

Residents who need a new parking pass can come to Town Hall temporary complex at 2525 Estero Boulevard to receive new pass.  Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Cost: Residential – $25; Business – $50 (tax included)

Pool owners please note: safety barriers required

Property owners in Fort Myers Beach need to be aware that their water-filled swimming pools require effective barriers around them. State law requires property owners to maintain barriers if there is water in the pool.

The Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act (Chapter 515, Florida Statutes) requires pool safety measures. It is the intent of the Legislature that all new residential swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs be equipped with at least one pool safety feature. Town ordinance Sec. 34-1176 also applies to swimming pool safety in the Town.

Note also that Florida has an “attractive nuisance” doctrine (Florida Statute 823.08) that holds property owners responsible for a child’s injuries if the child suffered an injury by a feature or object on the owner’s premises that is likely to attract children.

According to Florida Statute 823.08, attractive nuisances to children include the following types of abandoned or discarded items:

  • Washers
  • Dryers
  • Refrigerators
  • Iceboxes
  • Other airtight units that still have the doors intact

Other potential attractive nuisances include swimming pools, trampolines, lawn owners, and even plugged-in power tools.

Contacting the Town

The Town’s main phone line is 239-765-0202. If there is no answer, you can leave a message by pressing “O” when prompted. Email contacts are below:

  1. Building Services – [email protected] 
  2. Debris – [email protected]
  3. Drinking water, sewer, stormwater – [email protected]
  4. General – [email protected]
  5. Visit http://ow.ly/RUKE50MuXWk and read the news items on the homepage, as well as the other info
  6. Follow the Town of Fort Myers Beach, FL on Facebook, Twitter, Instgram, LinkedIn, YouTube
  7. Sign up for text or email alerts – enter your email and cell phone number –https://www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov/list.aspx

How to apply for a temporary electric service pole

If you need temporary electric service for a temporary trailer/RV or for re-construction or renovations, follow these steps to get started:

  1. Visit FPL.com/construction to request a temporary electric service (a Florida-licensed electrical contractor can complete this step for you). Refer to: Creating Project Application One-Pager for Temporary Service Only  and upload your W2 form for billing and invoice purposes.
  2. An FP&L representative will assess the power requirements and provide you or your contractor with the requirements and the cost of installation. You can then make payment for the installation on fpl.com/construction. Refer to Project Portal Paying Construction Invoices Online   for more information.
  3. Obtain a trade permit from the Town of Fort Myers Beach. Before service can be run, a Florida-licensed electrical contractor must acquire a trade permit through the IWorQ online permitting system at http://www.fmbgov.com/building. The trade permit application form is located at the Town of Fort Myers Beach Applications & Forms page at https://www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov/1069/Building-Services-Applications-Forms. After the permit application is approved and the permit is issued, the contractor may install the temporary electric service pole. The contractor must then request a building code inspection from the Town, using their contractor code, through the IWorQ request portal at https://portal.iworq.net/FORTMYERSBEACH/permits/600. Once the inspection is passed, the Town will notify FP&L with authorization to energize the service.
  4. For more details on constructing a temporary electric service, see also the following FPL electric service standards: FPL electric service standards for underground service and FPL electric service standards for overhead service
  5. Once FPL is notified of approval from the Town of Fort Myers Beach work request to install temporary service will be completed within 10 business days.

If you have questions on either this info or any other restoration related concerns, please call 833-FPL-4IAN

CONTRACTORS

Please check the credentials of any contractor you are considering hiring.  It is a felony in Florida to conduct unlicensed contracting during a State of Emergency. Don’t become a victim. Visit MyFloridaLicense.com. You should also read this article from Henderson Franklin Starnes & Holt PA. about unlicensed contractors. The town recommends property owners use locally licensed contractors.