§ 8-111. Sinkhole investigation permits.

The following requirements shall apply to all sinkhole investigation permits:

(1)

Applicability. For all investigations of sinkhole activity or ground settlement that occur after the effective date of this division, a sinkhole investigation permit shall be obtained prior to said investigation being conducted.

(2)

Prior to investigating potential sinkhole activity or ground settlement under or upon which a structure or improvement exists, a sinkhole investigation permit shall be obtained by the property owner or duly authorized representative of the property owner pursuant to a written authorization which shall be included as part of the permit application.

(3)

The sinkhole investigation permit shall be valid for a period of one hundred and eighty (180) days from date of issuance. Extensions of time, in no more than ninety-day increments, may be issued by the county building official or his/her designee in his or her discretion based upon just cause. A maximum of two (2) extensions may be approved after which a new application shall be required.

(4)

The sinkhole investigation may only be performed under the direction or supervision of a Florida licensed professional engineer or a Florida licensed professional geologist.

(5)

The sinkhole investigation permit application shall consist of all of the following:

a.

Identification of all owner(s) of the land(s) on which the investigation shall be conducted;

b.

Listing of the Hernando County Property Appraiser's parcel identification number(s) of the land(s) upon which investigation shall be conducted;

c.

The county registration number of the Florida licensed professional engineer or Florida licensed professional geologist performing the investigation (for persons not currently registered with the county, then this would entail registration with the county building department and payment of the county's registration fee); and

d.

Payment of the sinkhole investigation permit application fee to the county building department. The sinkhole investigation permit application fee and the fee for subsequent inspections shall be established by the county building official.

(6)

In order for the sinkhole investigation permit to be considered complete, an original written post-investigation report shall be submitted to the county building department within thirty (30) days of completion of all investigation activity. This post-investigation report is in addition to, and not in lieu of, any report which may be prepared in connection with any insurance claim, or pursuant to chapter 627, Florida Statutes, or required under any other applicable state law. The post-investigation report required by the county shall, at a minimum, include all of the following:

a.

Hernando County Property Appraiser's parcel identification number(s):

b.

Property address(es);

c.

Listing all owners of the land;

d.

Hernando County sinkhole investigation permit number;

e.

Listing all date(s) of investigation/testing and listing the entity conducting same;

f.

Listing all investigatory findings;

g.

Listing all physical and structural damage observed (if no damage was observed, then state same);

h.

Listing the type or types of testing conducted to support the investigatory findings and summarizing the results of all such testing;

i.

Summary of all conclusions as a result of the sinkhole investigation;

j.

Recommended remediation, if any, of sinkhole activity or ground settlement for stabilizing the land and building and for making repairs to the foundation, including quantities of materials anticipated to be used, estimated costs, and proposed means and methods to be used;

k.

Total number of pages of attached to this report; and

l.

The post-investigation report shall include a certification of the report signed and sealed by a Florida licensed professional engineer or Florida licensed professional geologist.

(7)

A copy of the above referenced post-investigative report (sized on 8½" × 11" paper) shall be recorded in the public records of Hernando County within thirty (30) days of the report's completion. The cost of recording said documents shall be paid by the applicant.

(Ord. No. 2011-7, § I, 5-10-11)