Fla. Stat. § 252.381 — Florida Code / Title XVII / Chapter 252 / Part I / Section 252.381
252.381 Information related to natural emergencies; poststorm county and municipal permitting; operations.
Status: in_force

(1) Each county and municipality must post on its publicly accessible website: (a) A frequently asked questions web page related to natural emergency response, emergency preparedness, and public relief for residents following an emergency. The web page must answer questions concerning resident evacuations; safety tips; generator, food and drinking water, and wastewater and stormwater safety; damage assessment; debris cleanup; accessing assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and this state; building recovery; natural emergency guidance; applicable laws; and what to do before, during, and after an emergency. (b) A disaster supply list and a list of emergency shelters. (c) Links to information about flood zones. (d) A checklist for residents explaining next steps to take during postdisaster recovery. (e) Information specific to persons with disabilities, including, but not limited to, guidelines for special needs shelter registration; an explanation of how to register for special needs shelters and where to obtain assistance with that process; guidelines as to the level of care that is or is not provided at a special needs shelter as well as situations when either a general population shelter or hospital should be considered; and any other postdisaster assistance or resources available to affected persons with disabilities impacted by a disaster.

(2)(a) Each county and municipality shall develop a poststorm permitting plan to expedite recovery and rebuilding by providing for special building permit and inspection procedures after a hurricane or tropical storm. The plan must, at a minimum: 1. Ensure sufficient personnel are prepared and available to expeditiously manage postdisaster building inspection, permitting, and enforcement tasks. The plan must anticipate conditions that would necessitate supplemental personnel for such tasks and address methods for fulfilling such personnel needs, including through mutual aid agreements as authorized in s. 252.40; other arrangements, such as those with private sector contractors; or supplemental state or federal funding. The plan must include training requirements and protocols for supplemental personnel to ensure compliance with local floodplain management requirements that apply within the county or municipality. 2. Account for multiple or alternate locations where building permit services may be offered in person to the public following a hurricane or tropical storm during regular business hours. 3. Specify a protocol to expedite permitting procedures and, if practicable, for the waiver or reduction of applicable fees in accordance with and in addition to the procedures and waivers provided for under s. 553.7922. The plan must identify the types of permits that are frequently requested following a hurricane or tropical storm and methods to expedite the processing of such permits. 4. Specify procedures and resources necessary to promote expeditious debris removal following a hurricane or tropical storm. (b) Each county and municipality shall update the plan no later than May 1 annually.

(3)(a) By May 1 annually, each county and municipality shall publish on its website a hurricane and tropical storm recovery permitting guide for residential and commercial property owners. The guide must describe: 1. The types of poststorm repairs that require a permit and applicable fees. 2. The types of poststorm repairs that do not require a permit. 3. The poststorm permit application process and specific modifications the county or municipality commonly makes to expedite the process, including the physical locations where permitting services will be offered. 4. Local requirements for rebuilding specific to the county or municipality, including elevation requirements following substantial damage and substantial improvement pursuant to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and any local amendments to the building code. (b) As soon as practicable following a hurricane or tropical storm, a county or municipality within the area for which a state of emergency pursuant to s. 252.36 for such hurricane or tropical storm is declared shall publish updates on its website to the information required under paragraph (a) which are specific to such storm, including any permitting fee waivers or reductions.

(4) For 180 days after a state of emergency is declared pursuant to s. 252.36 for a hurricane or tropical storm, a county or municipality within the area for which the state of emergency is declared may not increase building permit or inspection fees.

(5) On or before May 1, 2026, each county and municipality must provide an online option for receiving, reviewing, and accessing substantial damage and substantial improvement letters. The county or municipality must allow homeowners to provide an e-mail address where they can receive digital copies of such letters.

(6) As soon as reasonably practicable following the landfall and passage of a hurricane or tropical storm, each county and municipality that has experienced a direct impact from a natural emergency must use its best efforts to open a permitting office at which residents can access government services for at least 40 hours per week.

History: s. 16, ch. 2025-190.