After a bit of a slowdown over the holidays, things seem to be picking up. I am hearing from many people going through the single-family home permitting process in Florida. Unfortunately, many of them reach out when they receive a Stop Work Order and find out that there are Gopher Tortoises or Burrowing Owls on their property. Their projects are shut down until a relocation or take permit is obtained and carried out. Disturbed site permits are much more expensive and generally take longer to obtain. I see partially-constructed homes sitting vacant and trusses sitting out in the elements for months on end. Hurricane Ian blew down partially constructed walls because of a Stop Work Order. This is a costly mistake that easily could have been avoided. Having a low-cost environmental inspection and report done before applying for a building permit, or better yet, pre-purchase, will shed light on these issues, and prevent costly surprises.
