Cape Coral rushing to approve permits for Ian recovery

Reporter: Zach Oliveri Writer: Paul Dolan
Published: Updated:

A rush to get permits approved to start work on some projects is happening in Cape Coral after the city closed down the Art Center emergency permitting location last week.

Blue tarps are commonplace in Cape Coral even six weeks after Hurricane Ian.

Blue tarps on a Cape Coral building roof. CREDIT: WINK News

With a lot of work left to be done, the permitting counter at Cape Coral city hall is a popular location.

Your Roofers employee Nikki McKay can’t help people without first getting permits.

“The line is ridiculous, and now they’re not taking any more walk-ins until one o’clock. So I don’t have time for that, you know I’ve got customers that need roofs now, and I got to get my permits,” McKay said.

The city said it is back to the pre-storm policy where appointments and walk-ins are accepted.

“Last week was easier to do. This week it’s a nightmare,” McKay said.

Monday marked the first day Cap Coral would only handle permitting, only at city hall.

After Ian, Cape Coral set up an emergency permitting center at the Cape Coral Art Center.

But, the city explained emergency locations only handled 6% of the permitting demand.

Those in need can also use the Energov Citizen self-service portal, which is on the Cape Coral city website. 

“If the online portal wasn’t open, that would’ve slowed down the day a little bit, but the online submittal is usually my preference anyways,” Lazaro Rodriguez from Cotect Roofing said.

But, when WINK News went on the system, a yellow warning was at the top of the website.

The message said, do not submit Hurricane Ian-related emergency permits… this will delay your processing.

All emergency permits must be applied for in person at city hall, which wasn’t exactly what people waiting in line wanted to hear.

The city did increase its permitting hours of operation, the office is open Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and this Saturday (Nov. 19) from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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