'Don't do this to us': Tampa residents angered by code violation notices for storm damaged homes
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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Tampa Heights residents called 8 On Your Side after getting violation notices from the city about their storm damaged homes.

Mary Wynn saw the violation Tuesday afternoon. It stated that her home was inspected Feb. 3, 2025, and they found repairs needed to be made to her floors, walls, ceilings, and roof covering.

“Well, first of all, they’ve never been inside my house, so how would they know anything about my floors? They never been inside my house, they’ve never seen my ceilings, so this would be a lie, that would be a lie, and that would be a lie,” Wynn said.

The tarp on her roof covers the damage left after a tree fell on her home during Hurricane Milton. The notice says she has to have all of this fixed before Feb. 25, 2025, or she could face legal action.

“That’s why you get homeowners insurance. That’s their headache,” Wynn said.

Heather Morrison called 8 On Your Side when she got the letter. She said she couldn’t believe the city would do this.

“The part of it that upset me the most is that they’re giving me a violation for something I really want to fix and cannot fix,” Morrison said. “There is no way, shape, or form that I could ever meet that deadline.”

Morrison has been waiting on her insurance to help pay for the damages, mainly to her roof. She’s filed claims and tried to get the process moving, all while not being able to live in her home. She said getting this letter adds on to an already rough time.

“A financial disaster,” Morrison said. “Take this off of our plates. Don’t do this to us. We already have enough on our plates.”

Morrison called the city and is waiting to hear back. She said the city worker who put the notice on her door said they would work with her. Morrison hopes that’s true because the letter she got was not comforting.

“Pray that insurance comes through and reimburses us for it but as for now we’re living, building our debt. That’s how we live,” Morrison said.

News Channel 8 On Your Side emailed the city just after 3 p.m. Tuesday asking about extensions, and about residents who say they were unaware of an inspection happening at their home.

The city responded saying we gave them very little notice and that “the owner may certainly request an extension.”

“We always do our best to work with the homeowners in an effort to achieve compliance and ensure the health and safety of our residents,” the city said.

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