ANNA MARIA – Fifty-one Anna Maria property owners recently received letters from the city regarding their efforts to receive hurricane-related property tax relief without applying for building permits from the city.
The letters pertain to property tax relief sought for properties for which the city has no record of any hurricane repair-related building permits being obtained. The letters inform property owners they have until Aug. 15 to obtain their needed permits, including permits for previously completed repairs. Thirty-six letters reference properties owned by individuals, married couples and trusts and 15 letters reference properties owned by corporations and LLCs. (see the complete list here)
According to the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office, “A homeowner may be eligible for a refund of a portion of property taxes paid for the year in which the catastrophic event occurred if the property was uninhabitable for at least 30 days due to a catastrophic event.
“To be eligible for a partial property tax refund, the property appraiser must determine the residential property was ‘uninhabitable,’ ” according to the property appraiser’s office. State law defines “uninhabitable” as “the loss of use and occupancy of a residential improvement for the purpose for which it was constructed resulting from damage to or destruction of, or from a condition that compromises the structural integrity of, the residential improvement which was caused by a catastrophic event.”
A copy of the letter obtained from the city’s clerk’s office says, “The city of Anna Maria has received information from the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office indicating this property was uninhabitable for a period of at least 30 days, resulting in a claim for property tax relief as stipulated in Florida Statute 197.319. This relief is based on a claim that significant damage or destruction occurred as a result of a catastrophic event, in this case either due to Hurricane Helene or Milton.
“According to building department records, we have no information indicating you have submitted permit applications for any work on your property subsequent to Hurricanes Helene and Milton relating to building repairs, rebuilds, renovation or demolition. Florida building codes and city of Anna Maria ordinances require building permits be issued for any repair, rebuild, renovation or demolition work prior to such work being performed,” according to the letter. “If work was performed, or is being performed, on this property that required building permits under Florida Statutes or city codes, the city requests such permits be applied for by August 15. An eligible property owner or the contractor that performed any such work may apply for the permits. Permit fees based on the city’s fee schedule will be assessed for all permit applications submitted, including penalties for work previously performed or work currently in progress.”
The letter states that if no work was performed that would require building permits, the property owner is asked to submit an email that includes a statement of the property owner’s intent to perform or not perform any hurricane-related repair work.
“Under city ordinances, any non-conforming property must be repaired and all work completed and inspected within one year after an event causing damages. If the work is not complete by that time, and the city commission has not granted a time extension waiver to complete the work, the property must be brought to conforming status,” according to the letter.
