Rebuilding for Tomorrow: Hillsborough hurricane repair help for homeowners

Does it matter whether you live in Tampa, Temple Terrace, Plant City or an unincorporated area?

Not for this program. Hillsborough County says applicants “can live anywhere in Hillsborough County, including in the City of Tampa, Temple Terrace, or Plant City.” The whole county is the eligible area. That covers unincorporated communities such as Brandon, Riverview, Ruskin, Apollo Beach, Town ‘n’ Country, Valrico, Gibsonton, Wimauma, Sun City Center, Seffner, Thonotosassa, Progress Village and Carrollwood.

Your city or unincorporated status still decides who issues your building permits and which ordinary repair programs you can use. Homes in a regulatory floodway or a Coastal Barrier Resources System unit are not eligible. Lutz and Odessa addresses span Hillsborough and Pasco; parcels on the Pasco side use Pasco County’s program instead (see the Tampa Bay directory). City of Tampa residents can read our Tampa page for city-specific details.

Is it open right now?

Yes, as of October 19, 2026. The county’s portal says the program “is now accepting applications.” It opened May 1, 2026 and the county says it “will remain open until all funding is obligated.” There is no fixed deadline. Because money is limited, check the Rebuilding for Tomorrow site before you wait.

Households at or below 80% of area median income are served first. In the county’s September 2026 status report, 147 applications (83 repair and 64 reimbursement) were “On Hold – Over 80% AMI.” The county’s August 2026 status report listed 1,708 applications.

Who may qualify

The program’s policies list detached homes, manufactured homes and duplexes to fourplexes; condominiums are not listed. Ask the call center before applying for a condo unit.

What the help covers

The county “will not” pay repair or reconstruction money directly to homeowners. You cannot pick the contractor. During construction, the county pays to store belongings but does not pay for moving or temporary lodging; an action-plan amendment approved by county commissioners in July 2026 would add relocation help for approved older and disabled applicants, but it is not in the current program rules.

Income limits

The program’s website shows an income table without a year; its figures match 2025 HUD limits. The county’s October 1, 2026 announcement uses HUD’s fiscal year 2026 limits, effective June 1, 2026, such as $110,100 for a two-person household at 120%. The table below is HUD’s FY2026 table for the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area. Confirm which table the program is applying when you call.

How to apply, step by step

1. Apply online at housing.rebuildingfortomorrow.hcfl.gov (you create an account), by phone at 813-540-7767, or in person at the service center, a community resource center or a pop-up event.
2. A case manager is assigned and collects your documents.
3. The program decides eligibility, then inspects the home to value the damage.
4. Environmental review and a duplication-of-benefits review follow.
5. You receive an award letter. Within 30 days, sign the homeowner grant agreement or appeal.
6. For repair or reconstruction: utilities must be current, the program handles permits and design, you move out within 30 days of the pre-construction meeting, and the contractor builds.

The county estimates two to six months from application to award, and three to seven months from permitting to completion. Reimbursement awards are estimated at up to six months.

After the work, you must own and live in the home for three years. If you sell or move out early, the county recaptures 100%, 66% or 33% depending on the year. Awards of $15,000 or more carry a lien. In a special flood hazard area you must buy flood insurance before you get the keys and keep it, and a flood-insurance covenant is recorded on the property.

Already repaired, or already received other aid?

Use the reimbursement pathway if the work is finished and permitted; see reimbursement for completed repairs. Do not start new work after you apply. The county subtracts insurance, FEMA, SBA and other aid paid for the same repairs; see how disaster aid stacks. Applicants are expected to have filed an insurance claim if they had coverage.

Other Hillsborough help

We found no hurricane homeowner program run by Temple Terrace or Plant City; Plant City’s community services page points residents to the county’s home repair programs.

Help from a person

If you are denied or disagree

Submit a written appeal within 30 calendar days of the decision through the program portal, by email to RFT.Housing@HCFL.gov, or by mail to 1029 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa. You can appeal eligibility, a duplication-of-benefits gap, the award type, the scope of work or a recapture. The county’s appeals coordinator aims to decide within 10 business days.

Background: the money

HUD allocated $709,324,000 to Hillsborough County for Helene and Milton in January 2025. The county’s website describes more than $211 million for single-family housing; its third action-plan amendment lists $218,839,196. These are program budgets, not household awards. For statewide programs, see Florida programs and the recovery assistance hub.