TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On September 29, 2024, at the direction of Governor Ron DeSantis, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) filed Emergency Order 2024-08 to streamline Hurricane Helene recovery efforts and remove barriers for businesses impacted by the storm.

DBPR Emergency Order 2024-08 provides the following:

Certified and Registered Contractors

• Suspends certain provisions of section 489.113(3), Florida Statutes, to allow certified or registered general contractors, building contractors, or residential contractors to subcontract roofing work for the repair or installation of any roof type.
• Suspends certain provisions of section 489.117, Florida Statutes, to allow registered contractors to work outside of the geographic scope limitations or requirements provided in section 489.117(1)(b) and (c), Florida Statutes, when providing services, subject to additional requirements outlined in the emergency order while the emergency order is in effect.
• Suspends certain provisions of 489.513, Florida Statutes, to allow registered electrical and alarm system contractors to work outside of the geographic scope limitations or requirements provided in section 489.513(5), Florida Statutes, when providing services, subject to additional requirements outlined in the emergency order while the emergency order is in effect.
• Provides that the installation of non-permanent, emergency tarps to relieve damage caused by Hurricane Helene fall within the exemptions listed in section 489.103(6), Florida Statutes.

License Renewals

• Extends renewal deadlines from September 30 and October 1, 2024, to October 31, 2024, for the following licenses:
• Hotels and Restaurants: Public Lodging Establishments, Vacation Rentals, Timeshare Projects, and Public Food Service Establishments.
• Real Estate: Sales Associates, Broker Sales Associates, Corporate Brokers, Partnerships, Corporations, Branch Offices, and associated continuing education as set forth in rule 61J2-3.009(2)(b), Florida Administrative Code.
• Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco: Retail Vendors, Distributors, Manufacturers, Importers, Brokers, Sales Agents, Passenger Common Carriers, and Bottle Clubs.
• Drugs Devices and Cosmetics: All licenses established by sections 499.012(5)(a), 499.028(11)(b), 499.62(6), and 499.832(1), Florida Statutes, and rules 61N-1.015(10)(a) and 61N-1.018, Florida Administrative Code, which includes Prescription Drug Wholesalers, Prescription Drug Wholesalers – Broker Only, and Out-of-State-Prescription Drug Wholesalers.
• Condominium Association Manager licenses and associated continuing education as set for in rule 61E14-4.001, Florida Administrative Code.

Hotels, Restaurants, and Elevator Safety

• Suspends and amends the provisions of section 509.032(3), Florida Statutes, and rule 61C-1.002(3)(a)4., Florida Administrative Code, regarding temporary food service events and licensure of public food service establishments and other food service vendors for temporary food service events, subject to sanitation requirements. Sponsors of temporary food service events must provide advanced notice to the Division of Hotels and Restaurants of the temporary food service event before the event at https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/temporary-food-establishment/.
• Suspends and amends the provisions of section 509.102(1)(b) and 509.102(3), Florida Statutes, and rules 61C-1.002(6)(a)3 and 61C-4.0161(3)(c), Florida Administrative Code, regarding the time that a public food service establishment may operate a temporary commercial kitchen, the location of a temporary commercial kitchen, the requirement that a public food service establishment provide notice of a temporary commercial kitchen, and the requirement that a mobile food dispensing vehicle only serve food in individually portioned and packaged or pre-packaged containers. Public food service establishments operating a temporary commercial kitchen must provide advanced notice to the Division of Hotels and Restaurants of the temporary commercial kitchen before opening at https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/temporary-food-establishment/.
• Waives the $250 fee required by section 399.03(2), Florida Statutes, for installing an elevator.
• Waives the $250 fee required by section 399.03(2), Florida Statutes, for relocating an elevator.
• Waives the $200 fee required by section 399.03(2), Florida Statutes, for altering an elevator.
• Suspends the provisions of section 399.03(4), Florida Statutes, and rule 61C-5.006(1)(c), Florida Administrative Code, regarding the installation, relocation, or alteration of an elevator in specific situations.
• Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco
• Suspends and tolls all time requirements and deadlines for licensees and permitees filing monthly reports and returns as required by sections 210.02, 210.09, 210.55, 561.50, and 561.55, Florida Statutes until October 31, 2024.
• Extends the existing deadline of October 2, 2024, for the 45-day entry period for the quota beverage license drawing, until 5:00 p.m. on October 31, 2024.

Veterinarians

• Suspends the $200 fee for the issuance of a temporary license to out-of-state veterinarians during an emergency described by section 474.2125, Florida Statutes.

Mobile Homes, Residential Condominium Directors, and Homeowner Association Directors

• Suspends and tolls payment of the annual $4 fee per mobile home, as established by section 723.007(1), Florida Statutes, and the $1 surcharge, as established by section 723.007(2), Florida Statutes, until October 31, 2024.
• Suspends and tolls any existing written certification or educational certificate requirements for residential condominium directors, as set for in section 718.112(2)(d)4. b. (II), Florida Statutes, until October 31, 2024.
• Suspends and tolls any existing written certification or educational certificate requirements for homeowner association directors, as set for in section 720.3033, Florida Statutes, until October 31, 2024.

Relocation Fees

• Waives the total relocation fee for Barbershops, Cosmetology Salons, Veterinary Premises, and Veterinary Limited Services permits. The emergency order also waives the fee for adding an additional branch to a preexisting Real Estate Office or Real Estate School.

Departmental Orders

• Suspends and tolls all final orders reflecting agency action until October 31, 2024.
• Suspends and tolls all time requirements, notice requirements, and deadlines for filing responses as outlined in DBPR orders until October 31, 2024, excluding deadlines for filing responses to issues relating to deputy harbor pilot examinations and examination challenges, which shall only be extended by seven days from the date of the original deadline.

For more information, review DBPR Emergency Order 2024-08. To find other DBPR Emergency Orders related to Hurricane Helene, visit the DBPR Emergency Webpage.

Please be advised when the 2023 Florida Building went into effect on Jan 1^st 2024, there were new Flood requirements added in reference to replace equipment and appliances due to flood damage. This would require the exterior replaced equipment and appliances to be placed at or above BFE plus 1 foot or be flood proofed in such a way that flood water would not enter or damage the exterior equipment and appliances that are placed below flood. Please see the following code section from the 2023 Florida Building Code “Existing”

Florida Building Code Existing 2023,

Section 701.3

[BS] 701.3 Flood hazard areas.

In flood hazard areas:

1.Alterations that constitute substantial improvement shall require that the building comply with Section 1612 of the Florida Building Code, Building, or Section R322 of the Florida Building Code, Residential, as applicable.

2.Replacement of exterior equipment and exterior appliances damaged by flood shall meet the requirements of Section 1612 of the Florida Building Code, Building, or Section R322.1.6 of the Florida Building Code, Residential, as applicable.

Together with state and federal partners, FEMA is actively supporting Hurricane Helene response efforts. Continue to follow directions from local officials to stay safe.

Impacted individuals, households, and businesses in the impacted counties are encouraged to apply for federal disaster assistance at https://www.disasterassistance.gov/

• • FEMA - Hurricane Helene

Small Business Administration (SBA) - SBA's Disaster Assistance page outlines types of assistance and resources available to businesses impacted by natural disasters and provides links how to apply for them.

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) – OHSA has published its dedicated Hurricane Preparedness and Response page that includes specific information on job site safety for hurricanes, including OSHA’s Hurricane eMatrix, which features hazards and risks for those working in hurricane response and recovery.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – The EPA’s Hurricane Resource page compiles useful information about housing and construction-related topics such as post-disaster debris removal and toxic hazards.