Residents of Tampa Heights are voicing their frustration after receiving code violation notices from the city regarding damage to their homes caused by recent storms.

Mary Wynn discovered a violation notice on her property Tuesday afternoon, stating that an inspection conducted on February 3, 2025, found necessary repairs to her floors, walls, ceilings, and roof covering. However, Wynn disputes the claim.

“Well, first of all, they’ve never been inside my house, so how would they know anything about my floors? They’ve never seen my ceilings. This would be a lie, that would be a lie, and that would be a lie,” Wynn said.

A tarp still covers the damage from when a tree fell on her home during Hurricane Milton. The notice requires repairs to be completed by February 25, 2025, or she could face legal consequences.

“That’s why you have homeowners insurance—that’s their headache,” Wynn added.

Heather Morrison also received a notice and reached out to WFLA, expressing disbelief that the city would issue violations under such circumstances.

“What upsets me the most is that they’re giving me a violation for something I desperately want to fix but simply can’t,” Morrison said. “There’s no way I can meet that deadline.”

Morrison has been waiting for her insurance claim to be processed so she can afford repairs, primarily to her roof. In the meantime, she’s been unable to live in her home. The notice, she said, only adds to an already overwhelming situation.

“It’s a financial disaster,” she said. “Take this off our plates. Don’t do this to us. We’re already dealing with enough.”

Morrison contacted the city and is awaiting a response. A city worker who placed the notice on her door told her they would be willing to work with her, and she hopes that promise holds true.

“We’re just praying that insurance comes through and reimburses us,” Morrison said. “But for now, we’re just accumulating debt. That’s how we’re living.”

WFLA reached out to the city Tuesday afternoon, inquiring about possible extensions and whether residents had been properly informed of inspections.

The city responded, stating that homeowners can request an extension and emphasizing their goal of working with residents to ensure compliance while maintaining health and safety standards.

“We always do our best to work with homeowners in an effort to achieve compliance and ensure the well-being of our residents,” the city stated.

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(Image credit: WFLA)