The Model Home Restoration Agreement is a City of Cape Coral, Florida agreement, prepared by the Department of Development Services, that an owner signs when a property is used as a model home. It is an agreement, not a Cape Coral permit application: the owner deposits funds to guarantee that the site is restored to its zoning district's requirements when the model home use ends. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the City publishes the original PDF at the official link below.
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What is Model Home Restoration Agreement – Cape Coral, FL?
The Model Home Restoration Agreement is an agreement between the City of Cape Coral, Florida and a property owner, under which the owner deposits funds to guarantee the site is restored to its zoning district's requirements when model home use ends.
The printed title of the form is "Model Home Restoration Agreement (Cash Deposit)". It implements Section 5.10.14 of the Cape Coral Land Development Code, which requires the owner to deposit funds or other financial instruments payable to the City of Cape Coral. The form records the date, the owner, the property (lots, block, unit, plat book, page, STRAP# and legal description by metes and bounds, and street address) and the amount deposited as surety. The City retains the funds during the entire term of the model home use.
The City may use the deposit to restore the property if the structure has been abandoned as a model for more than thirty (30) days, if the model home is sold as a residence, or if the time limit for the special exception use as a model home has expired. Unused money is refunded to the owner. The agreement is to be recorded in the real estate records of the Clerk of Circuit Court in Lee County, Florida, so prospective purchasers have notice of the restoration and escrow requirement. The form lists an escrow account number on its last page.
Who needs to file Model Home Restoration Agreement – Cape Coral, FL?
The owner of real property that is used as a model home signs this agreement with the City of Cape Coral. The form says the owner, or the owner's lessee or sub-lessee, is using the property as a model home pursuant to law, and that Section 5.10.14 of the Cape Coral Land Development Code requires the owner to make the deposit.
- Property owners: the owner is the party to the agreement and signs in the OWNER block with a printed name, signature and title.
- City representative: the Development Services Director or a designee signs for the City of Cape Coral.
- Lessees and sub-lessees: they are not parties to the agreement, but their abandonment of the model, or their full restoration of the property at their own expense, triggers the terms on use and refund of the deposit.
- Prospective purchasers: they do not complete the form; the recording requirement exists to give them notice.
This version is titled "(Cash Deposit)" and states that the owner has deposited funds with the City. The Land Development Code section also mentions other financial instruments, so ask the Planning Division about the document for any other type of deposit.
When to file Model Home Restoration Agreement – Cape Coral, FL
The form prints no filing deadline. It is tied to the model home special exception use: the City retains the deposit during the entire term of that use, and the agreement is recorded with the Lee County Clerk of Circuit Court. Complete and sign it when the property is set up as a model home and the deposit is made.
Later events are also stated on the form. The owner must notify the City before any sale, lease or other transfer of ownership or possession of the model home. The City may use the deposit if the model is abandoned for more than thirty (30) days, the home is sold as a residence, or the special exception time limit expires.
Documents you need
- Identification for the notary, if the person signing is not personally known to the notary: the owner's notary block says the signer is personally known or has produced identification, and the form leaves the type of identification blank.
How to fill out Model Home Restoration Agreement – Cape Coral, FL
Enter the agreement date and owner
In the opening paragraph, fill in the day, month and year the agreement is made and the name of the OWNER that appears after "CITY OF CAPE CORAL, FLORIDA."
Describe the platted property
Enter Lots, Block, Unit, Plat Book and Page, and the STRAP# of the property used as a model home.
Add legal description and address
Write the legal description by metes and bounds and the street address of the model home.
Enter the deposit amount
Fill in the amount in the sentence stating that the OWNER has deposited funds with the CITY as surety to guarantee restoration of the site.
Review the restoration terms
Read the three events that let the City use the deposit, the refund of unused money, the duty to notify the City before a sale, lease or transfer, and the recording requirement.
Complete the City signature block
The Development Services Director or designee signs and prints a name under THE CITY OF CAPE CORAL.
Complete the OWNER block
Type or print the owner's name, print the name of the signer, and have the signer sign beside "By:" with a title.
Complete the notary statements
For each STATE OF FLORIDA, COUNTY OF LEE block, check physical presence or online notarization and fill in the dates, the signer's name and, for the owner, how the signer was identified. The notary signs and prints a name.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check every blank, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and handle signing, notarization, recording and delivery as described under How to submit.
How to submit Model Home Restoration Agreement – Cape Coral, FL
The form does not print a submission channel. It prints these details: the City's Department of Development Services, P.O. Box 150027, Cape Coral, Florida 33915, as preparer, and an escrow account number on the last page. It also says the agreement is to be recorded in the real estate records of the Clerk of Circuit Court in Lee County, Florida.
- Planning Division: the Planning Division's applications page encourages applicants to submit online through the CSS online portal. For help, write to [email protected]. Confirm with the Division how it wants this agreement delivered.
- Payment: the Planning Division states that applications are reviewed for completeness and invoiced, and that the City never requests payment by electronic funds transfer, wire transfer or third-party payment apps such as Venmo, Cash App, PayPal or Zelle. The form gives the deposit amount on a line the owner fills in; the City does not state it elsewhere.
- Signatures and notary: have both the City and OWNER notary blocks completed before delivery.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving the deposit amount blank in the sentence stating that the OWNER has deposited funds with the CITY as surety.
- Omitting part of the property description: lots, block, unit, plat book, page, STRAP#, the metes and bounds legal description or the address.
- Skipping the notary blocks or leaving the physical presence and online notarization boxes unchecked.
- Signing the OWNER block without a printed name or without the signer's title next to the signature.
- Leaving the City block unsigned; it calls for the signature and printed name of the Development Services Director or designee.
- Selling, leasing or otherwise transferring the model home without first notifying the City, which the agreement requires.
- Assuming the deposit is returned while the model home use continues; the agreement says the City retains the funds during the entire term of that use.
- Paying by wire, electronic funds transfer or a third-party payment app; the Planning Division says the City never requests payment that way.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Model Home Restoration Agreement in Cape Coral?
It is an agreement between the City of Cape Coral and a property owner. The owner deposits funds as surety that the site will be restored to its zoning district's requirements when the model home use ends. It carries out Section 5.10.14 of the Cape Coral Land Development Code.
Is the Model Home Restoration Agreement a Cape Coral building permit?
No. It is a restoration agreement with a cash deposit, not a permit application. It refers to the model home special exception use and Section 5.10.14 of the Land Development Code. Other Planning Division applications are listed on the City's Planning Division Applications and Documents page.
When can the City use the model home deposit?
The City may use the deposit to restore the property if the structure has been abandoned as a model for more than thirty (30) days, if the model home is sold as a residence, or if the time limit for the special exception use as a model home has expired.
Do I get the model home deposit back?
Yes, any unused money is refunded to the owner, either after the owner or a lessee fully restores the property at its own expense, or after the City restores it and funds remain. The City holds the deposit during the entire term of the model home use.
Does the agreement have to be notarized and recorded?
The form has notary blocks for the City and for the owner, each with physical presence or online notarization boxes. It also states that the agreement is to be recorded in the real estate records of the Clerk of Circuit Court in Lee County, Florida, so prospective purchasers have notice.
Do I have to tell the City before selling a model home?
Yes. The agreement says the owner shall notify the City prior to any sale, lease or other transfer of ownership or possession of the model home. A sale of the model home as a residence is also one of the events that lets the City use the deposit.
Who signs the Model Home Restoration Agreement for the City?
The Development Services Director or a designee signs for the City of Cape Coral and prints a name beneath the signature. The owner signs separately in the OWNER block with a printed name and title.
Can I fill out the Model Home Restoration Agreement online?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not file or record the agreement or accept the deposit; follow the City's channels for that.
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