The City of Sunrise recognizes that improvements to residential properties can deliver significant community-wide benefits, such as:

• enhancing neighborhood aesthetics
• preserving or increasing property values
• encouraging a sense of community pride, and 
• improving residents’ overall quality of life.

In an effort to facilitate residential property improvements and their related benefits, the Sunrise City Commission has allocated federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for the implementation of a Residential Fence Repair Incentive Program. 

This Program is intended to provide homeowners with a financial reimbursement incentive of up to $500 for fence repairs made to their homesteaded residential property in Sunrise. All fence repairs shall conform to the City Code of Ordinances and the Florida Building Code.

SECTION 1: ELIGIBLE IMPROVEMENTS

A homeowner may apply to receive up to a $500 reimbursement for eligible residential fence repairs provided they satisfy all of the eligibility criteria listed in Section 2, below. Eligible fence repairs may include the following:

1. Replacement of fence slats, posts, and other parts of the fence. Expenses that may be eligible for reimbursement include fencing material, concrete, or other supplies necessary to perform such repairs.
2. Painting or staining of an existing fence. Expenses that may be eligible for reimbursement include the paint, stain, and other supplies such as brushes, cloths, tarps, rollers, trays and other supplies necessary to paint or stain the fence.
3. Installation/replacement of any fence hardware such as locks, hinges, and other similar fence hardware.
4. If the Applicant hires a contractor to perform eligible residential fence repairs, such costs are eligible for reimbursement.
5. Please note that some fence repairs require a permit from the Building Division of the Community Development Department. Permit costs are not eligible for reimbursement.

SECTION 2: PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY

In order to qualify for this Program, the Applicant must meet each of the following criteria:

1. Only residential homeowners are eligible to apply.
2. The property must have a current homestead exemption in the name of the Applicant.
3. The Applicant must have purchased eligible items after June 1, 2023, and completed eligible residential fence repairs prior to application submission.
4. Repair work may be performed by the homeowner or a hired contractor.
5. Work performed by a Homeowners Association or within common areas is not eligible for the program.
6. The Applicant must certify to having experienced at least one of the following:
   1. Unemployment during the public health emergency of COVID-19.
   2. Experienced increased food or housing insecurity during the public health emergency of COVID-19.
   3. Qualify as low-to-moderate income per the latest Federal income guidelines.
   4. Qualify for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, Childcare Subsidies through the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) Program—such as Early Learning Coalition or Head Start Programs—or Medicaid.
7. The Application and all supporting documentation must be submitted no later than December 1, 2024.

SECTION 3: PROGRAM APPLICATION PROCEDURES

In order to qualify for this Program, the Applicant must meet each of the following criteria:

1. The Applicant must submit an application with the following information:
   1. A completed COVID-19 Eligibility Self-Certification Form.
   2. Itemized, dated receipt(s) clearly identifying the purchase of Eligible items related to the eligible residential fence repairs from Section 2, above. If work is performed by the homeowner, then itemized receipts shall be for materials only. If work is performed by a contractor, then itemized receipts must be provided for all materials and associated labor for each Eligible Improvement. The receipt/invoice must show “Paid” and should include – (1) Vendor’s/Contractor’s Name, (2) Date of purchase or service, (3) Amount of Payment, and (4) Method of Payment. Quotes, invoices before payment, or a receipt that does not have method of payment listed without supporting documentation cannot be accepted.
      • Receipts/invoices paid by card must have at least the last 4 digits of the card on the receipt. If this is not shown on the receipt, please attach pictures of the transaction from your bank/financial institution.
      •  Receipts/invoices paid by check must include copy of the cancelled check or, an image from your bank/financial institution showing the check and the funds for the payment withdrawn.
      •  Receipts/invoices paid by money transfer (e.g. Zelle, Venmo, CashApp, etc…) must include an image of the transaction from your app or bank/financial institution identifying who paid and who the money was transferred to. If this information is not available, an image from your bank/financial institution should be included showing the funds for the payment withdrawn.
      •  Receipts/Invoices paid by cash, must show “paid in cash” clearly indicated on the document. 
   3. Pictures identifying the completed Eligible residential fence repair.
   4. Proof of closed building permit, if applicable.
2. The  City reserves the right to inspect the homesteaded property to verify the Eligible residential fence repairs have been completed.
3. The City of Sunrise reserves the right to make changes to the Program or to close the Program at any  time, at the City's sole discretion, as it deems appropriate.
4. The Residential Fence Repair Incentive Program is offered to eligible Applicants on a first come, first served basis. Since this Program is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, once funding is no longer available, the Program will be closed.

NEXT STEPS

If you have determined that you are eligible for the Residential Fence Repair Incentive Program, please complete and submit the following online:

• COVID-19 Self-Certification Form (This is a fillable PDF form that must be downloaded, filled out, and then uploaded into the program application in the bullet below.)
• Residential Fence Repair Incentive Program Application (Before you fill out the application, be sure to have all of the items referenced in Section 3 - Item 1, above.)

For more information, or to request a printed application, please call (954) 746-3430 or email jcastro@sunrisefl.gov.