St. Pete Beach Residents Remain Frustrated Over Permit Delays After Hurricane Milton

Two months after Hurricane Milton devastated the Tampa Bay area, many residents of St. Pete Beach are still struggling to rebuild due to delays in obtaining necessary repair permits from the city. Property Owners Left in Limbo Robinson Ang, a local property owner, has been waiting for over six weeks to secure a permit to…

Owen E. Richason IV

December 9, 2024

2–3 minutes

building permits, Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Milton, hurricanes, News, Pinellas County, St. Pete Beach, Tampa Bay

Two months after Hurricane Milton devastated the Tampa Bay area, many residents of St. Pete Beach are still struggling to rebuild due to delays in obtaining necessary repair permits from the city.

Property Owners Left in Limbo

Robinson Ang, a local property owner, has been waiting for over six weeks to secure a permit to repair the roof of his rental duplex. The delay has left his tenants displaced, with one even resorting to living in a tent on the property until city officials threatened fines, forcing her to leave.

“It’s extremely frustrating because the city is not doing [its] part to help us rebuild,” Ang told FOX 13 Tampa Bay.

While Ang has managed to handle some smaller repairs, addressing the large hole in the roof requires city approval. He filed his permit application on October 25 and has a roofing company ready to start work but is stuck waiting for the green light.

“You expect your citizens to comply with the rules and regulations, yet the city isn’t doing anything to expedite this process. This is an abnormal situation that needs extraordinary measures,” Ang said.

Impact on Residents and Neighborhoods

The delays are taking a toll on both property owners and the community. Along Ang’s street, piles of storm debris remain uncollected, and neighbors are also missing out on rental income due to stalled repairs.

“This is a big hardship for the citizens of St. Pete Beach and other beach communities,” Ang said. “They need to find extraordinary measures to alleviate the suffering of the people.”

City’s Response to Backlog

The City of St. Pete Beach has received approximately 600 permit applications related to storm repairs but has issued fewer than 80 permits so far.

In October, the city announced it had hired 18 additional employees to help address the backlog, but progress remains slow.

Ang hopes the city will act swiftly to resolve the issues, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. “I understand this hasn’t happened before, but they need to find a solution,” he said.

For now, residents like Ang remain in limbo, eager to begin rebuilding their homes and lives.

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