St. Petersburg’s Permit Processing Crisis After Hurricane

News Summary

St. Petersburg is grappling with a significant backlog in construction permit processing following a challenging hurricane season. Staffing shortages and a dramatic increase in demand for permits have overwhelmed the planning department. As the city embarks on recovery efforts, efforts are underway to recruit staff and implement new technology to streamline the process. With many residents seeking assistance for storm damage repairs, the city’s timely response to these issues is critical for rebuilding the community.

St. Petersburg’s Struggle with Permit Processing Post-Hurricane

St. Petersburg, a city synonymous with sunshine and beautiful coastlines, is facing a pressing challenge following an unprecedented hurricane season. It seems that the need for construction permits is rising faster than the city can keep up, leading to a significant backlog in the permit processing department. As the city starts to recover from the storms, the situation looks even more daunting.

Permit Processing Backlog Worsens

According to an independent study from 2024, St. Petersburg’s permitting department has been struggling with staffing shortages, which have only worsened in the wake of the destruction caused by the hurricanes. With an increased demand for emergency permits and other construction-related needs, the city’s team has found themselves overwhelmed.

Elizabeth “Liz” Abernethy, the director of planning and development services, addressed this growing concern in a recent city council update. The crux of the problem lies in recruitment; filling vacant positions has historically been difficult, a situation made even trickier by the effects of the recent storms.

A Staffing Solution in Motion

Currently, the construction services team comprises about 90 employees, but there are still 12 open positions that need to be filled. Six plans examiners are slated to start training next week, filling some of the gaps created by the unprecedented demand. Unfortunately, the assistance from six private provider companies, contracted before the storms, did not yield any support when the need was greatest.

The salary offerings for positions within the permitting department are reported to be very competitive; however, the city is in competition with surrounding jurisdictions and private companies for qualified candidates. With the department processing more plans than they can handle daily, it has become evident that an intervention is necessary.

Addressing the Delays

To tackle the current delays, plans are in place to add contractors to support the permit review process. The Matrix Consulting Group, which assessed the department’s needs, recommended a total of 36 actions to address existing deficiencies, although some of these initiatives have been placed on hold due to the post-storm environment. So far, three of these recommendations have been implemented, indicating that steps are being taken toward improvement.

The consulting firm’s evaluation noted the department’s effective data management and strong work ethic but pointed out that many managers face limitations in their training. To bolster the workforce, a recommendation was made to hire 20 full-time inspectors and four chief inspectors, with the latter positions already filled as part of ongoing improvements.

Changes Ahead

In a significant move toward better management, the planning department has been reorganized into two separate entities. Councilmember Lisset Hanewicz praised the director’s ongoing efforts despite the many challenges faced, remarking on the progress made thus far. Notably, Abernethy was recognized as the Outstanding Local Public Official of the Year by the American Planning Association of Florida, further emphasizing her dedication to improving the permitting process.

Pleas from Developers and Proposed Solutions

It’s no secret that developers have voiced concern over the city’s permitting system, with approvals often taking several months. Abernethy has openly acknowledged the systemic issues at play and has proposed a high-tech solution to streamline the process. A new permitting platform named Tyler is set to launch in 2025 to address many of the issues plaguing the current system.

In a typical year, the city issues approximately 30,000 permits. However, this year, with the anticipated storm-related damage, they expect about 12,000 additional permits to be needed. The city’s inspection workload has grown substantially, jumping from 500 to 700 inspections daily since the storms wreaked havoc.

The good news is that the city is easing some of the burden by waiving application and inspection fees for storm damage repairs over the next six months. Plus, remote permitting sites are now available throughout St. Petersburg to assist local residents in getting the necessary permits to start their recovery process. Residents will, however, need to gather various documents, including a summary of their storm damage, as they navigate this essential step forward.

As St. Petersburg strives to bounce back from the hurricane’s impact, its permitting process will be crucial in helping rebuild lives, businesses, and communities. With ongoing improvements and a focus on addressing challenges, many are hopeful that better days lie ahead.

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Additional Resources

• St. Pete Catalyst
• Fox 13 News
• Jax Daily Record
• Florida Politics
• WFLA News
• Wikipedia: Permitting
• Google Search: permitting process
• Google Scholar: permitting systems
• Encyclopedia Britannica: permits
• Google News: permit backlog St. Petersburg