The Model Home Conversion Form, printed on the PDF as the Model Home Conversion to Residency Form, is issued by the City Planning Division of the Department of Development Services in Cape Coral, Florida. It is used when a model home site that has operated as a business is turned back into a residence. The conversion work needs permits issued through the city's Customer Service-Permitting Division, so the form sits inside the wider Cape Coral permit process. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the city publishes the original at the link below.
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What is Model Home Conversion Form – Cape Coral, FL?
The Model Home Conversion Form is the City of Cape Coral form for converting a model home site from commercial use back to residential use. It lists the work and inspections that must be completed before the City Planning Division formally closes the conversion.
The PDF is titled MODEL HOME CONVERSION TO RESIDENCY FORM and carries the heading of the Department of Development Services, City Planning Division. The top block records the date, the location (unit, block, lot(s) and zoning), the site address, the business name and business owner, the mailing address, and the business phone and fax.
The form then states the conversion requirements. Permits must be issued through the Customer Service-Permitting Division, and the form lists six steps: removing paving from the parking area, restoring the swale area, resodding the lot, removing partition walls and installing an operational garage door, removing sidewalk over the septic system drain-bed area where applicable, and installing a driveway with a hammerhead or turnaround as required.
After the final inspection of those permits, the City Planning Division inspects the site, which converts the commercial use back to residential. An Authorized Representative signs the form. The Office Use Only block, with Planning Staff and Health inspection lines and Director Approval for Development Services, is completed by the city.
Who needs to file Model Home Conversion Form – Cape Coral, FL?
The form is for the business that has used a model home site in Cape Coral and now needs the site converted to a residence. It asks for the business name and business owner, and it is signed by an Authorized Representative, who also prints a name beside the signature.
The groups the form addresses are:
- The business owner of a Model Home site who is ending commercial use and moving the property to residential use.
- The Authorized Representative who signs for the business.
The form warns that any residential use of a Model Home site before the conversion requirements are completed may result in Code action against the property owner. It names no other eligibility rule and sets no exclusions. The Office Use Only block is for city staff, so applicants do not complete it. Questions about whether the form applies to a particular site go to the Planning Division at (239) 574-0597 or (239) 573-3077, the numbers printed on the form.
When to file Model Home Conversion Form – Cape Coral, FL
The form belongs at the start of a model home conversion, before anyone uses the site as a residence. It states that permits must be issued through the Customer Service-Permitting Division before the conversion, and that any residential use before the conversion requirements are completed may result in Code action against the property owner.
The form prints no filing deadline. The process runs in a set order: the permitted work is finished, the permits receive their final inspection, and the City Planning Division then inspects the site, which converts the commercial use back to residential. Before that division's final sign-off, all signs, commercial flags and construction debris must be removed from the site.
How to fill out Model Home Conversion Form – Cape Coral, FL
Enter the date
Write the date on the DATE line at the top of the form.
Enter the site location
Under LOCATION, enter the UNIT, BLOCK, LOT(S) and ZONING of the model home site.
Enter the site address
Write the SITE ADDRESS of the model home that is being converted.
Enter business name and owner
Fill in the BUSINESS NAME and the BUSINESS OWNER for the site.
Enter the mailing address
Write the MAILING ADDRESS, then the CITY, STATE and ZIP CODE on the line below it.
Enter business phone and fax
Fill in the BUSINESS PHONE and FAX numbers.
Read the conversion requirements
The form lists six steps, from paving removal and swale restoration to the driveway with a hammerhead or turnaround. Permits must be issued through the Customer Service-Permitting Division, and items marked as applicable apply only where they fit your site.
Sign, print name and date
The Authorized Representative signs, prints a name and enters the date on the signature line.
Leave the Office Use Only block blank
Planning Staff Insp, Health Insp and Director Approval (Development Services) are completed by the city.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check the location, address and signature, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and submit it as described under How to submit.
How to submit Model Home Conversion Form – Cape Coral, FL
The form prints no submission instructions of its own, so confirm the channel with the City Planning Division before sending it. The channels the city makes known are:
- Online: the Planning Division's applications page says applicants are encouraged to submit online using the CSS online portal.
- Email help: for assistance with an application, contact [email protected].
- Phone or fax: the form's heading lists Tel. (239) 574-0553 and Fax (239) 574-0591; questions about the conversion go to (239) 574-0597 or (239) 573-3077.
- Mail address printed on the form: City Planning Division, P.O. Box 15 0027, Cape Coral, FL 33915-0027.
The permits for the conversion work are a separate step: the form says they are issued through the Customer Service-Permitting Division. The Planning Division's page also says that, once an application is received, it is reviewed for completeness and invoiced. It adds that the city will never request payment by electronic funds transfer (EFT), wire transfer or third-party payment apps such as Venmo, Cash App, PayPal or Zelle. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using the model home site as a residence before the conversion requirements are completed; the form warns this may result in Code action against the property owner.
- Starting the conversion work before permits are issued through the Customer Service-Permitting Division.
- Leaving partition walls in place or installing a garage door without the 14' x 20' unobstructed area the form requires for a garage.
- Leaving signs, commercial flags or construction debris on the site before the City Planning Division's final sign-off.
- Skipping the removal of sidewalk over the septic system drain-bed area where it applies.
- Writing in the Office Use Only block; Planning Staff, Health inspection and Director Approval lines are for the city.
- Submitting the form without the Authorized Representative's signature, printed name and date.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Model Home Conversion Form in Cape Coral?
It is the City Planning Division form, printed as the Model Home Conversion to Residency Form, used to convert a model home site from commercial use back to residential use. It lists the permitted work and inspections required before the Planning Division formally completes the conversion.
Do I need permits to convert a model home to a residence in Cape Coral?
Yes. The form states that permits must be issued through the Customer Service-Permitting Division before the conversion. The form itself is not the permit; the work it lists is carried out under permits and then inspected.
What work must be done before a model home is converted?
The form lists six steps: remove paving from the parking area, restore the swale area, resod the lot, remove partition walls and install an operational garage door, remove sidewalk over the septic drain-bed area, and install a driveway. Several apply only where relevant to the site.
How big must the garage be in a model home conversion?
The form requires a 14' x 20' unobstructed area for a garage. Partition walls must be removed and an operational garage door installed as part of the conversion work.
Can I live in the model home before the conversion is finished?
No. The form warns that any residential use of a Model Home site before the conversion requirements are completed may result in Code action against the property owner.
What happens after the permits pass final inspection?
The City Planning Division inspects the site, which converts the commercial use back to residential. Signs, commercial flags and construction debris must be removed before that division's final sign-off, which formally completes the conversion.
Can I fill out the Model Home Conversion Form online?
You can complete the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of the City of Cape Coral and does not file the form; you submit it through the city's channels.
Who do I call with questions about the model home conversion?
The form says to call the Planning Division at (239) 574-0597 or (239) 573-3077. The division's heading also lists Tel. (239) 574-0553 and Fax (239) 574-0591.
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