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Pasco Co. homeowner navigates permit process, builds up after home floods during Helene

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Published  December 23, 2024 5:58pm EST
Pasco County
FOX 13 News

Navigating permitting process in Pasco County

Kylie Jones reports

The Brief

    • A Pasco resident was forced to raise his home while rebuilding from Hurricane Helene.
    • Pasco County officials say they have received 2,424 permit applications since the storm.
    • Information on where Pasco residents can find help navigating the damage process and file permit applications process.

HUDSON, Fla. - Almost three months after Hurricane Helene, homes around Tampa Bay are still uninhabitable. 

Homeowners are navigating the permitting process while figuring out how to rebuild their homes.

Cannizzo demonstrates how high the water rose in his Pasco County home during Hurricane Helene.

Cannizzo demonstrates how high the water rose in his Pasco County home during Hurricane Helene.

In Pasco County, officials say they’ve gotten 2,424 permit applications.

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The county says you need a permit for any storm-related building and repairs. 

Officials say the permitting process focuses on ensuring repairs are done safely and that homeowners don’t run into problems in the future. 

Michael Cannizzo lives on one of the canals off Sea Ranch Drive in Hudson. 

He had nearly four feet of water in his home after Helene and had to gut his single-story home.

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"We had to tear everything out all the way to the ceiling," Cannizzo said.

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Hurricane Helene caused damage to Cannizzo's home directly after the storm.

Cannizzo’s home has been gutted to the studs. He had to decide whether to move, rip everything out, and replace it or rebuild higher.

"My wife, I think, said if we flooded again, we're going to have to go up, or we're going to have to move," Cannizzo said. 

Cannizzo, who has a background in contracting and construction, decided to rebuild his home up a level. 

Progress has been made, Cannizzo said, but there will still be six to seven months of work once he obtains building permits.

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"As you can see, there's no walls, there's no electrical, there's almost no plumbing," Cannizzo said.

Inside Cannizzo's gutted home as he waits for Pasco County building permits.

Inside Cannizzo's gutted home as he waits for Pasco County building permits.

Pasco County has opened additional permitting sites to help homeowners navigate the damage process and file permit applications.

The county is waiving all county fees for home repair and building permit applications related to the storm.

If your home is in a flood zone and requires substantial repairs, the county says you must rebuild up to new flood safety standards.

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"Four feet of water in anybody's house is going to be stressful," Cannizzo said. "Trying to figure out what to do next and getting everything taken care of and putting it all back together, that's very stressful." 

Although it’s not an overnight process, Cannizzo says building up will give him peace of mind and save him in the long run.             

"Just the concept of knowing that when I'm all done, knock on wood, as they say, I won't ever have to make a phone call to the flood department again," Cannizzo said. 

You can find more information on the overall permit and rebuilding process here.

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