Hurricane Helene & Milton - Permitting Information

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This information page will be continue to be updated as new information becomes available. For all storm-related information, please visit the Hurricane Helene Information Page and Hurricane Milton Information Page.

UPDATED APRIL 16, 2025

Office Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday - 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Wednesday - 8:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Closed all Federal Holidays and Epiphany

Post Hurricane Permitting - No Cost Permits Expiration on May 13th 2025

As of May 13, 2025, the City of Tarpon Springs will cease its local state of emergency declaration, ending no-cost storm-related building permits. The no-cost building permit process was implemented directly after Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024 to help with rebuilding process in our city. Our residents are to be commended for their remarkable job of recovering and returning Tarpon to its pre-storm beauty. We still have work to do, so please obtain a building permit if you are making any type of storm repairs to your home. Any building permits applied for up to and including May 13th, 2025, before the end of business will still be accepted as a no-cost building permit.

Please contact the Building Department with any questions at 727-942-5617 or by email at dsinfo@ctsfl.us.

Important Permitting Highlights

  • A permit must be obtained for all construction in flood zones, including storm damage repairs.
  • We will walk you through every step of the permitting process to make it as quick and easy as possible.
  • Visit the Hurricane Helene/Milton Substantial Damage page for more information on substantial damage letters.
  • You can apply for your permit online, free of charge (through May 13, 2025), and remain compliant with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulations.

Deadline Extended for Storm-Damaged Properties

Tarpon Springs has extended its compliance deadline for property owners who received notice that their property was substantially damaged by recent storms. The new deadline is June 1, 2026. The extension is part of the City's ongoing effort to support those impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton and ensure residents have adequate time to fulfill recovery requirements. The filing deadline for residents seeking to have their initial substantial damage determination potentially reversed through a reassessment is May 31, 2025. Requests for this can be made through dsinfo@ctsfl.us.

Property owners are encouraged to work with their insurance providers, licensed contractors, and the Building Development Department to stay on track with their recovery plans. For more assistance with the compliance process, contact the Building Development Department at dsinfo@ctsfl.us or 727-942-5617.

The City of Tarpon Springs understands residents' challenges and will continue to support and guide them throughout the recovery and mitigation process.

Code Provision Enforcement Changes - UPDATED 04/16/2025

To assist residents in post-Helene and Milton recovery efforts, the City, under the emergency declaration, is suspending enforcement of the following code provisions and providing expedited permitting assistance.

  • The minimum 6-week lease for tourist homes/short-term rentals is waived. - EFFECTIVE UNTIL MAY 13, 2025
  • RV's and travel trailers and other similar units may be used for temporary living. The RV/travel trailer must be on private property and not within the public right-of-way (streets and sidewalks).
    • Applies only to properties with a permanent residential structure and the resident of the permanent structure must live in the temporary structure.
    • The temporary structure is allowed to remain while repairs/replacements are underway and until a Certificate of Occupancy is issued OR up to 3 years from the date of the state's emergency declaration (whichever is less).
    • The temporary structure should be on the property where storm damage occurred, however, exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis for vacant properties in close proximity under the same ownership.
  • PODs for storing personal items onsite can be located on private property longer than 90 days and do not require a temporary use permit. - EFFECTIVE UNTIL MAY 13, 2025
  • Mobile food trucks may operate in any zoning district if they comply with the remaining requirements of LDC Section 56.05, excluding subsection (F). - EFFECTIVE UNTIL MAY 13, 2025

For more information on these provisions click here.

Required Electrical Safety Inspections

It has come to our attention that in some instances the power company (Duke Energy) is not restoring power to homes and businesses that were affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton until an electrical safety inspection has been accomplished and approved. The City of Tarpon Springs does not offer this service. A licensed electrician will be required to complete the inspection and provide the results to the City of Tarpon Springs. Upon results being forwarded to the City, we can provide a release to Duke Energy.

Under the current conditions, the City, will be offering a “no cost” permit for this situation. The licensed electrical contractor will still need to be registered with the City of Tarpon Springs and provide insurance certificates and workers comp or workers comp exempt as normally would be required. The permitting process will be standard with the exception that the permits will be at no cost, and we are expediting the application times for these applications.

These permit applications will not require an in-person inspection from our staff to help expedite the turnaround times for these applications.

Please click here to download the form and email the completed form to dsinfo@ctsfl.us.

Additional Building Permit Information:

This information page will be continue to be updated as new information becomes available. For all storm-related information, please visit the Hurricane Helene Information Page and Hurricane Milton Information Page.

UPDATED APRIL 16, 2025

Office Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday - 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Wednesday - 8:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Closed all Federal Holidays and Epiphany

Post Hurricane Permitting - No Cost Permits Expiration on May 13th 2025

As of May 13, 2025, the City of Tarpon Springs will cease its local state of emergency declaration, ending no-cost storm-related building permits. The no-cost building permit process was implemented directly after Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024 to help with rebuilding process in our city. Our residents are to be commended for their remarkable job of recovering and returning Tarpon to its pre-storm beauty. We still have work to do, so please obtain a building permit if you are making any type of storm repairs to your home. Any building permits applied for up to and including May 13th, 2025, before the end of business will still be accepted as a no-cost building permit.

Please contact the Building Department with any questions at 727-942-5617 or by email at dsinfo@ctsfl.us.

Important Permitting Highlights

  • A permit must be obtained for all construction in flood zones, including storm damage repairs.
  • We will walk you through every step of the permitting process to make it as quick and easy as possible.
  • Visit the Hurricane Helene/Milton Substantial Damage page for more information on substantial damage letters.
  • You can apply for your permit online, free of charge (through May 13, 2025), and remain compliant with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulations.

Deadline Extended for Storm-Damaged Properties

Tarpon Springs has extended its compliance deadline for property owners who received notice that their property was substantially damaged by recent storms. The new deadline is June 1, 2026. The extension is part of the City's ongoing effort to support those impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton and ensure residents have adequate time to fulfill recovery requirements. The filing deadline for residents seeking to have their initial substantial damage determination potentially reversed through a reassessment is May 31, 2025. Requests for this can be made through dsinfo@ctsfl.us.

Property owners are encouraged to work with their insurance providers, licensed contractors, and the Building Development Department to stay on track with their recovery plans. For more assistance with the compliance process, contact the Building Development Department at dsinfo@ctsfl.us or 727-942-5617.

The City of Tarpon Springs understands residents' challenges and will continue to support and guide them throughout the recovery and mitigation process.

Code Provision Enforcement Changes - UPDATED 04/16/2025

To assist residents in post-Helene and Milton recovery efforts, the City, under the emergency declaration, is suspending enforcement of the following code provisions and providing expedited permitting assistance.

  • The minimum 6-week lease for tourist homes/short-term rentals is waived. - EFFECTIVE UNTIL MAY 13, 2025
  • RV's and travel trailers and other similar units may be used for temporary living. The RV/travel trailer must be on private property and not within the public right-of-way (streets and sidewalks).
    • Applies only to properties with a permanent residential structure and the resident of the permanent structure must live in the temporary structure.
    • The temporary structure is allowed to remain while repairs/replacements are underway and until a Certificate of Occupancy is issued OR up to 3 years from the date of the state's emergency declaration (whichever is less).
    • The temporary structure should be on the property where storm damage occurred, however, exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis for vacant properties in close proximity under the same ownership.
  • PODs for storing personal items onsite can be located on private property longer than 90 days and do not require a temporary use permit. - EFFECTIVE UNTIL MAY 13, 2025
  • Mobile food trucks may operate in any zoning district if they comply with the remaining requirements of LDC Section 56.05, excluding subsection (F). - EFFECTIVE UNTIL MAY 13, 2025

For more information on these provisions click here.

Required Electrical Safety Inspections

It has come to our attention that in some instances the power company (Duke Energy) is not restoring power to homes and businesses that were affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton until an electrical safety inspection has been accomplished and approved. The City of Tarpon Springs does not offer this service. A licensed electrician will be required to complete the inspection and provide the results to the City of Tarpon Springs. Upon results being forwarded to the City, we can provide a release to Duke Energy.

Under the current conditions, the City, will be offering a “no cost” permit for this situation. The licensed electrical contractor will still need to be registered with the City of Tarpon Springs and provide insurance certificates and workers comp or workers comp exempt as normally would be required. The permitting process will be standard with the exception that the permits will be at no cost, and we are expediting the application times for these applications.

These permit applications will not require an in-person inspection from our staff to help expedite the turnaround times for these applications.

Please click here to download the form and email the completed form to dsinfo@ctsfl.us.

Additional Building Permit Information:

Page last updated: 16 Apr 2025, 05:37 AM