Lee County to host temporary permitting office for Fort Myers Shores, Olga and Alva residents

11/07/2024

The Lee County Department of Community Development will open a temporary, remote permitting office to serve residents from Fort Myers Shores, Olga and Alva.

The office will be open:

  • 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Olga Community Center, 2325 S. Olga Drive.

These temporary offices have proved successful in assisting residents in unincorporated Lee County to apply for permits to repair existing buildings damaged by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.

In addition, the temporary, remote office on Pine Island will be open:

  • 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for three consecutive Fridays, Nov. 8, Nov. 15 and Nov. 22 at the Pine Island Public Library, 10701 Russell Road, Bokeelia.

These remote locations have staff readily accessible to help residents navigate the permit process. The last customer sign-in for each location is at 2:30 p.m.

The county may add additional temporary, remote permitting offices in other unincorporated Lee County locations as needed. Monitor www.leegov.com/storm. Other recently completed sites include Island Park, Captiva and Boca Grande.

Residents must live in these areas to use the temporary locations. Residents acting as their own contractor can submit permit applications, have them reviewed and – in some cases – issued from the remote office. The applicants need their address, a description of the damage, estimated cost to repair, material cost documentation, and, if available, a floor plan.

Hired contractors are asked to continue to use the existing electronic permitting process. Residents seeking a full demolition or complete replacement of a structure will need to visit the main Department of Community Development permitting office at 1500 Monroe St., Fort Myers, FL 33091, for a permit.

Lee County Government is reminding residents in unincorporated areas to pull permits for work on their homes to repair storm damage caused by Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Milton.

Any unincorporated Lee County residents or businesses within the Special Flood Hazard Area with any damage to their homes or businesses, including water intrusion and all drywall repairs, must obtain a permit for all repairs. Email [email protected] for assistance with permit requirements and resources, and be sure to include the following information:

 

  • Contact information
  • Property address
  • Type of damage
  • Height of the water that entered the home

 

Residents also can find more information at www.leegov.com/dcd/BldPermitServ/disaster-recovery. Or they can call 239-533-8948.