Treasure Island residents eager to rebuild their storm-damaged homes are facing significant delays due to a backlog of city permits. Without these permits, many contractors are unable to start reconstruction, leaving residents frustrated. Some have attributed the delays to bureaucratic hurdles and lack of clear communication from City Hall.

At a recent meeting, frustrated homeowners voiced their concerns, prompting the city commission to prioritize clearing the backlog of permits.

Ari Irvings, a resident of Treasure Island, evacuated just before Hurricane Helene struck. Upon his return, he found his home devastated, with water levels reaching 4.5 feet and the front door blown open, destroying his belongings. He has been staying with family in Boston for over a month while waiting for a permit to begin repairs. Despite completing both FEMA and private assessments, his contractor is still unable to proceed.

“I think the city has been nothing short of inhumane,” Irvings told Fox 13 Tampa Bay. “The disorganization and lack of clear communication have been overwhelming.”

Cities have two options for handling permits in post-disaster situations:

1. Require residents to wait for city-performed damage inspections before issuing permits.
2. Issue permits based on assessments submitted by homeowners, allowing repairs to begin sooner.

Initially, Treasure Island chose the first option, though residents preferred the second. Although the city commission recently approved this more flexible approach, the permitting process remains backlogged.

Commissioner Deb Toth acknowledged the issue, stating, “We do have issues with permitting, and we need to address it.”

City staff revealed that, out of 772 submitted permits, only 85 have been approved due to limited staffing. In response, the city is exploring external support to expedite processing and has scheduled a meeting with an engineering firm to consider additional resources.

For Irvings and many others, the delays mean it could take two to four months before their homes are livable. Currently, contractors can only submit permits on Tuesdays and Thursdays, adding to the wait.

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(Image credit: Zillow)