Post-recovery Hurricane Ian continues to be incredibly challenging for Floridians. They are getting a first-hand course on the ins and outs of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) rules governing rebuilding, specifically the 50% rule.
See Cameron G. Woodward, a Florida real estate and land use attorney at Woodward, Pires & Lombardo, P.A. (WPL) in Naples, quoted in “Half empty? Florida homeowners facing harsh realities of FEMA’s 50% rule” published on October 19th, 2022 in Insurance NewsNet. The article addresses concerns regarding FEMA’s 50% rule regarding rebuilding homes after natural disasters, and Woodward provides his take on the rule and how it impacts Southwest Florida residents, especially retirees on fixed incomes and those with older properties.
Additionally, Woodward points to Lee County data showing more than 48,500 residential properties damaged by the Category 4 hurricane, with over 5,000 destroyed and another 13,100 with significant damage. As a result, many residents are calling WPL due to significant flood damage and still trying to figure out what to do.
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What is the 50 Percent Rule in Home Remodeling in Florida?
The 50% rule relates to FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Simply put, this rule stipulates that any reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvements of a structure that equals or exceeds 50% of the value of the structure prior to the start of the construction constitutes a “substantial improvement” requiring the structure brought into compliance with current NFIP standards.
About
Cameron G. Woodward, Esq.
Cameron Grant Woodward, associate attorney at Woodward, Pires & Lombardo, P.A., is a Naples native who graduated from Naples High School before attending Stetson University in Deland, Florida and then Ave Maria School of Law in Naples. Cameron proudly joins his father, Mark J. Woodward, Esq., and his uncle Craig R. Woodward, Esq. at the firm and focuses his law practice on real estate law, local government law, evictions and land use & zoning law. Contact Cameron at cawoodward@wpl-legal.com.
Related article: Home Remodeling in a Flood Zone: The 50% Rule