As Pinellas County residents continue to rebuild after hurricanes Helene and Milton, a troubling issue in Collier County is a stark warning: widespread permit fraud could leave property owners facing costly and complex consequences. 

In Collier County, officials revealed that at least 400 single-family homes and commercial buildings were issued certificates of occupancy using fraudulent architectural seals, compromising assurances of safety and structural integrity. The fraud, uncovered in 2023, involved firms like Dave Wainscott Designs and ASSA, who allegedly misused seals from architects, including one who had died. Homeowners now face stop-work orders, revoked certificates, arbitration, lawsuits, or code violations to rectify the damage. 

Collier County’s Growth Management Director, Jamie French, told commissioners on March 25 that the county verifies licenses as required by state law but cannot be held liable for fraudulent seals validated by the state. This leaves property owners to bear the burden of resolving issues, a process French described as a “daunting task.” The county is reviewing 200,000 permit applications dating back to August 2022 and has upgraded software to prevent future fraud.

Pinellas County residents should exercise caution when hiring contractors for hurricane repairs as the same could easily happen here. Hurricane recovery brings out opportunists. So, property owners need to verify licenses directly with the state and ensure their contractor’s credentials are legitimate.

The fraud in Collier County has led to at least one revoked certificate of occupancy and numerous stop-work orders, with investigations ongoing. Pinellas County homeowners are advised to:

• Confirm a contractor’s license through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) website.
• Request proof of architectural or engineering seals and verify them independently.
• Be wary of firms pressuring quick decisions or offering unusually low bids.
• Monitor permit applications through Pinellas County’s online portal to ensure accuracy.

Local resident Maria Gonzalez, who rebuilt after Hurricane Helene, expressed concern. “You trust people to help you recover, but now I’m double-checking everything. It’s scary to think your home might not be safe.”

Pinellas County has a permit review process, but homeowners and project managers share responsibility for due diligence. The DBPR has involved the FBI in Collier County’s investigation, signaling the severity of such fraud. 

For those affected by hurricanes, Pinellas County offers resources at www.pinellascounty.org/build to verify contractors and track permits—don’t let desperation lead to deception. Owners should protect their properties by staying vigilant.

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