[StBernard] Permits and Panic

[Westley Annis]

Craig's Corner
April 3, 2007

Permits and Panic

The mass confusion of late over building permits and deadlines has caused
quite a bit of panic.  The misinformation that spread, partly from within
our own government, extends from an anticipated audit by FEMA of the permit
files in the Office of Community Development.  FEMA has reported that their
interpretation of the Code of Federal Regulations that govern compliance
with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requires every house that
is being repaired after Hurricane Katrina have a Building Permit.  However,
the Code of Federal Regulations also states that compliance with the program
is based on the local ordinance process- St. Bernard Parish has never
required a permit for cosmetic or non-structural construction.  FEMA
representatives have been on-site and present in the permit office almost as
long as permits have been issued since Hurricane Katrina and never
questioned the process until recently.

As the Parish Council has moved closer to adopting the FEMA Advisory Base
Flood Elevations, FEMA representatives began questioning if the electrical,
plumbing, gas or Katrina Rebuilding permit were valid based on the
interpretation of the regulations.  Numerous discussions with FEMA
representatives over this issue indicated that the 8,000 to 10,000 permits
that had been issued over the last 16 months following the storm would be
accepted, but as a compromise any permits that are issued currently would
include a Building Permit and that anyone who already had filed one of the
many permits would be given a Building Permit if an application was filed.
Residents should be reminded that the electrical permits that were filed as
"will call" permits and that were not acted on and are six months old,
should be renewed.

The misinformation that was spread indicated that everyone who had obtained
one of the many permits issued prior to this latest development would be in
jeopardy of having to elevate their house in order to get flood insurance
once the ABFE guidelines were adopted.  Here are the simple FACTS:
.	Anyone who filed a valid electrical, plumbing, gas, or Katrina
Rebuilding Permit is compliant with parish requirements and are not in
jeopardy of having to elevate their house
.	Anyone who has not filed a permit application to date will need to
do so before the implementation of the Advisory Base Flood Elevations
.	If a permit is not filed before the Advisory Base Flood Elevations
are implemented and the property is substantially damaged, then the house
will have to be elevated to the ABFE, if not already at that elevation
.	The implementation date of the ABFE is slated for 60 days after the
April 3 adoption- this means that the Advisory Base Flood Elevations will go
into effect on Monday, June 3, 2007 and residents have until then to file
for the Building Permit if doing so
.	Anyone who had previously filed a permit is being requested NOT
REQUIRED by the Office of Community Development to fill out the new Building
Permit to assist in making the audit process that FEMA will begin shortly a
smooth one
.	Building permits can be downloaded from the www.sbpg.net web site
and then sent or delivered to the Office of Community Development

God Bless,
Craig Taffaro
cptcounseling at aol.com