Task force created, office shuts down to handle backlog of building permits in Cape Coral

There has been a backlog of building permits in Cape Coral, and now a task force has been initiated to help with that backlog.

Right now, City of Cape Coral employees are focusing their work entirely on reducing the amount of it. The nine-day period of doing so started on Saturday. So far, they’ve processed 1300 permits, but these employees aren’t even close to being done.

If you want to build an addition to your house or make a major repair, you probably need a permit for that. But, in Cape Coral, the city is not issuing work permits this week, except in cases of emergency. They are set to resume on Monday.

Instead, the city has a task force of trained employees working full-time on the backlog of building permit applications.

Paul Barnes is the owner of the Hawaiian Handyman LLC. and he says this isn’t good news. “Why didn’t we try this system out before we started it,” Barnes said.

The delays and the week-long shutdown are costing him jobs and money. “I can’t apply for permits for at least three jobs that I have right now. I mean, I’m a small builder; I’m not big. Even if someone contacts me and wants a garage site changed out, I can’t even start it until I apply for the permit,” said Barnes.

“So, once I take your deposit, I have to start work within 30 days. So every day the city is shut down, and if I can’t do my job in 30 days I gotta refund the money,” Barnes said.

The city says the backlog is the result of its conversion to a new computer system. Vince Cautero is the Services Director for Cape Coral. WINK News reporter Asha Patel asked Cautero what he tells angry contractors and homeowners who are upset about the pause.

“If we do this and you don’t come in for five days, that’s going to save you 3 or 4 weeks in the future on getting a permit,” Cautero said.

The City of Cape Coral said the development services desk would reopen on Monday, and they’re confident this brief pause will get them back on track.