The town has issued specific instructions on what residents need to do to get their structures electrically safe before it can be occupied. Here’s the full statement from the town…
“Can I occupy a structure and/or connect electric service?
The structures located in the Town of Fort Myers Beach have been severely impacted by Hurricane Ian with widespread visible damage to one or more structural and electrical components. Due to the severity of the storm and with the intent of protecting against further loss of life, it is the position of the Town of Fort Myers Beach that all structures are currently considered unsafe until a certification of safety can be completed for the structure and electrical systems.
Prior to occupying a structure or proceeding with building, renovating, or adding to a structure, a structural inspection and an electrical inspection must be completed.
The structural inspection must be performed by a professional engineer with structural experience licensed in the State of Florida. Upon completing the inspection, the structural engineer must offer their findings and expert opinion in the form of a post-inspection report. This report must be signed, sealed, and dated by the structural engineer and must certify the following:
1) The integrity of the structure has been maintained.
2) The structure is currently in a condition to securely withstand the weight of its anticipated loads.
3) The structure will continue to perform safely as intended for the foreseeable future.
The electrical inspection must be performed by either an electrical engineer licensed in the State of Florida or a Florida-licensed electrical contractor. The report must certify that in the expert opinion of the Florida-licensed electrical professional, the electrical system is safe to reconnect to electrical service.
Note that it is the property owners’ responsibility to arrange for these inspections with the licensed professionals of their choice and to ensure that the documents are submitted to the Town of Fort Myers Beach. A list of contractors registered with the Town of Fort Myers Beach is available at the Town website at http://www.fmbgov.com.
However, the property owner may also select a professional that is not currently registered with the Town but is licensed in the State of Florida. The post-inspection reports must be emailed to the Town of Fort Myers Beach Building Services Division at buildingpermits@fmbgov.com. After submittal and approval of the documents, the structure may be legally occupied.
After submitting the two inspection reports and applying for a building permit, the contractors and design professionals associated with the permit must be registered with the Town of Fort Myers Beach. Note that any person engaging in contracting services in the State of Florida must be currently registered, certified, or possess a certificate of authority through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Under section 489.127 Florida Statutes, anyone providing unlicensed contracting services during a state of emergency commits a felony of the third degree.
Due to structures throughout the Town of Fort Myers Beach being located in the special flood hazard area, the FEMA “50% Rule” for substantial improvement or substantial damage will continue to be enforced during plan plan review. Please consult with your design professional to determine whether this rule will impact the design of your construction project.”
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