Cape Coral resumes issuing building permits and applications after pause to clear backlog

Monday was the first day that the City of Cape Coral issued new building permit applications after a nine-day pause.

Cape Coral to go on hiatus for a few days to relieve some of the city’s backlogs regarding permits needing to be approved. So, how successful was the City in decreasing some of that backlog?

Cape Coral says it’s now operating with a clean slate. That is good news for those who tried to go to the city last week, only to be turned away. But they did say the permit pause cost them money they’ll never get back.

Dale Martin came to Cape Coral City Hall last week, and all he wanted was an inspection of his pool. But, the city paused permitting for nine days, which is not what he wanted to hear.

“We can’t do nothing until this is done. I mean, our yard is tore up. Cant water our lawn is burning. Can’t get the sprinkler system up and working because the yard is torn up from the pool going in,” said Martin.

Martin, and many others, returned to City hall on Monday, trying to make up for the lost time. “Me and my wife have done two in-ground pools in Tennessee and built two houses up there, and again I’ve never seen anything like this how the permitting is here,” Martin said.

Cape Coral paused permits for two reasons: there was a massive backlog in permit requests and glitches with the City’s new Energov permitting software.

Vince Cautero is Cape Coral’s development services director. He told WINK News that the city processed 4,848 permits and issued 2,059. “A lot of tension at first and uncertainty, but then they went in with a really good attitude. If we work on this you know our full eight-hour shift, and then overtime, we’re going to be able to get it done in the nine days,” said Cautero.

Now, Martin hopes he doesn’t have to wait any longer. “It probably cost me couple days off of work. Even though I’m self-employed, it cost me a couple of days,” said Martin.

Cautero also said after seeing the early numbers come in Monday and Tuesday. He knew the City was going to clear the backlog. Now, Cape Coral’s IT department is correcting its glitches so that when permits do come in, they can be issued on time.