My pool cage was destroyed by Hurricane Ian. Can I rebuild it on the old footprint?

Rebuilding a destroyed enclosure requires a new permit with new PE-sealed engineering designed to current FBC 2023 wind requirements — the old drawings generally cannot be reused. We regularly prepare rebuild packages for Cape Coral and Fort Myers pool cages, often reusing the existing deck where it remains sound.

Is Lee County stricter than other Florida counties on enclosure permits?

Lee County's enforcement and plan review are known to be rigorous, especially since the post-Ian rebuild. Reviewers scrutinize wind design, anchor details and product approvals closely. That is an argument for site-specific sealed engineering, not against it — complete packages move through review far faster.

Serving Lee County — High-Wind-Zone Specialists

Screen Enclosure & Patio Permit Engineering — Lee County, FL

Q: How long do Lee County screen enclosure permits take?

We deliver the PE-sealed engineering package in 5 to 7 business days. Lee County review times have varied since the post-Hurricane Ian rebuild surge — residential accessory structures commonly take a few weeks. We submit for you and resolve any reviewer comments free of charge until the permit is approved.

Q: What wind speed applies to screen enclosures in Lee County?

Lee County sits in some of Florida's highest wind zones — design wind speeds typically range from around 160 mph up to roughly 172 mph (Vult) per ASCE 7-22 depending on how close the site is to the coast. We confirm the exact wind speed and exposure for your address during design.

Q: Do you need to visit my property in Fort Myers or Cape Coral?

No. The process is 100% remote — we engineer from your property survey, photos and dimensions, then submit to Lee County electronically. Many of our Lee County clients are rebuilding remotely from out of state.

Fort Myers and Cape Coral live in some of the toughest wind zones in Florida — and since Hurricane Ian, Lee County reviews enclosure permits with a sharper eye than almost anywhere in the state. We engineer screen enclosures, pool cages, pergolas, lanais and patios for those conditions, seal the package, and submit it to the county for you.

Start Your Project → (848) 666-3407

From $900Flat-rate · PE-Sealed · County Submission Included · Same-Day Proposal

Lee County Coverage

Rebuild-Ready Engineering for Fort Myers & Cape Coral

Few places in Florida lost more pool cages and screen rooms than Lee County did in September 2022 — and few building departments look harder at what gets rebuilt. Cape Coral's canal-front lots and Fort Myers' coastal neighborhoods sit in design wind zones far above inland Florida, which means the aluminum sections, connections and anchors that pass in Orlando simply don't qualify here. Every package we prepare for Lee County starts from that reality: the correct high-zone wind pressures for your specific address, designed to current code.

✓ High-wind-zone structural design for your exact address
✓ Wind pressures per ASCE 7-22 — coastal zones handled correctly
✓ FBC 2023 compliance, including current rebuild requirements
✓ Uplift-critical anchor and connection design
✓ Digital plan sets for Lee County electronic review
✓ Florida Product Approval (FL#) references
✓ Sealed by FL Licensed Engineer #102290
✓ County submission included · 5–7 business day turnaround

Screen enclosure permit engineering in Lee County Florida

County Requirements

What Lee County Requires for Enclosure, Pergola & Patio Permits

Lee County's plan review is among the most demanding in Florida, and for good reason — its structures face the wind loads that prove designs right or wrong. Here is what your application must include.

Sealed, Site-Specific Engineering

Drawings and calculations per FBC 2023 and ASCE 7-22, prepared for your address and sealed by a Florida PE, are non-negotiable. Reviewers trace member sizes and anchor capacities back to the calculated pressures — generic details get rejected.

Electronic Plan Submission

Lee County processes applications electronically with signed and sealed digital plan sets; where paper review applies, two sets are standard. We format, file and track the submission for you.

Wind Speeds: Roughly 160 to 172 mph

Design wind speeds in Lee County typically run from around 160 mph up to roughly 172 mph (Vult) near the coast — among the highest in the state. The exact value for your address is confirmed per site during design, and it drives every element of the structure.

Strict Enforcement, Real Inspections

Post-Ian, unpermitted enclosure work in Lee County gets caught — by inspectors, by aerial imagery reviews, and at resale. A survey-based site plan, FL# product approvals and a complete sealed package keep your project on the right side of that scrutiny.

Rebuilding After a Storm? The Old Drawings Don't Come Back

A destroyed enclosure cannot simply be rebuilt from its original plans. Lee County requires a new permit with new engineering to current FBC 2023 wind requirements — even on the same footprint. We prepare rebuild packages routinely, reusing the existing deck and footings where they remain sound.

Services & Pricing

Flat-Rate Permit Packages for Lee County

High wind zone does not mean high engineering bill. The same flat rates apply in Lee County as everywhere else we work — engineering, seal and county submission included.

Service	Flat Rate
Pool Enclosure (Screen Cage over Pool)	$2,000
Screen Enclosure / Screen Room (No Pool)	$1,500
Lanai Enclosure	$1,200
Covered Patio	$1,200
Pergola	$1,000
Outdoor Kitchen	$900
Concrete Slab	$900
Pool Demolition	$800
After-the-Fact Permit (Unpermitted Structure)	from $1,500

100% Remote Process

Rebuild From Anywhere — No Site Visit Needed

A large share of our Lee County clients manage their rebuild from out of state. Your survey, photos of the site (and of storm damage, if rebuilding) and basic dimensions are all we need to engineer and file the package.

Send Your Details

Address, dimensions, survey and photos — damage photos help for rebuilds

Same-Day Proposal

Flat-rate PDF proposal with scope, price and timeline

High-Zone Engineering

Designed and PE-sealed for Lee County wind speeds in 5–7 business days

County Submission

Filed with Lee County electronically · revisions free until approved

Why Lee County Chooses Us

Why Fort Myers & Cape Coral Contractors and Homeowners Trust Franca Engineering

The rebuild has kept every aluminum contractor in Southwest Florida busy — and made engineering the bottleneck. We clear that bottleneck: correct high-zone design, complete first-pass packages, and a flat rate that lets contractors quote rebuild jobs with confidence.

Designed for 160+ mph, Not Adapted to It

We don't stretch an inland design to survive review. Lee County packages are engineered from the correct coastal pressures up — heavier sections, tighter anchor spacing, connections detailed for uplift that actually occurs here.

Rebuild Experience

Replacement cages on existing decks, partial rebuilds, and after-the-fact legalization of storm repairs — we've packaged them all, and we know what Lee County wants documented on each.

Complete Packages, Fewer Cycles

Strict review punishes incomplete applications with weeks of back-and-forth. Ours ship with the wind analysis, anchor schedules, FL# approvals and site plan the reviewer will ask for — before they ask.

Cleber Franca Neto, PE

Florida Licensed Professional Engineer #102290

High-wind coastal design experience across Southwest Florida
Direct communication from start to finish — no middlemen
Real construction field experience — not just a desk engineer
Same-day proposal · 5–7 day engineering turnaround
Serving all 67 Florida counties remotely

Lee County FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Lee County screen enclosure permits take? ▾

Engineering takes 5–7 business days. County review times have varied since the post-Ian rebuild surge — commonly a few weeks for residential accessory structures. We submit for you and resolve reviewer comments free until approval.

What wind speed applies in Lee County? ▾

Among the highest in Florida — typically from around 160 mph up to roughly 172 mph (Vult) per ASCE 7-22 depending on proximity to the coast. We confirm the exact value for your address during design.

My pool cage was destroyed by Ian — can I rebuild on the old footprint? ▾

Yes, but it requires a new permit with new PE-sealed engineering to current FBC 2023 requirements — the old drawings generally can't be reused. We regularly prepare rebuild packages for Cape Coral and Fort Myers, reusing sound existing decks where possible.

Is Lee County stricter than other counties? ▾

Its plan review and enforcement are known to be rigorous, especially since the rebuild began. Wind design, anchors and product approvals get close scrutiny — which is exactly why complete, site-specific sealed packages clear review faster.

Do you need to visit my property in Fort Myers or Cape Coral? ▾

No. Everything runs remotely from your survey, photos and dimensions. Many Lee County clients manage their entire rebuild from out of state.