Phoenix residents still recovering from recent floods are getting a break from the city in the form of waived permit fees. The permits usually cost $300, but now they're free for locals rebuilding after storms that hit the area Aug. 12-19 and Sept. 8.
Mayor Greg Stanton and City Councilwoman Kate Gallego requested the move. Gallego said she wants to encourage people to rebuild their homes safely.
"Our inspectors will look and make sure that all of your critical systems are OK, that your wiring isn’t dislodged or damaged, that everything is OK," Gallego said. "And we can prevent fires and other really big disasters that would take this and make it even worse."
Construction fraud is another thing that could make this situation worse. Gallego has recently seen a few instances of it in her district. She recommends people check their chosen contractor’s license and complaint history at the Registrar of Arizona Contractor’s website, www.azroc.gov.
