Mobile building department sites in the Five Towns

From noon to 6 p.m. on Tuesday at the Number Six School at the intersection of Peninsula and Branch boulevards in Woodmere and on Wednesday at the Five Towns Community Center at 270 Lawrence Ave. in Lawrence, the Town of Hempstead will have a walk-in center to help residents.

Specialists from the town's Building Department will assist residents seeking to assist Five Towns residents seeking to rebuild or reconstruct homes damaged or destroyed during Hurricane Sandy.

The specialists will answer questions related to building permits, inspections, construction, Federal Emergency Management Agency-related services, and assist with completing and submitting TOH building permit applications.

To further assist with the rebuilding process, the Hempstead Town Building Department waived permit fees for storm-related structural repairs conforming to original dimensions and specifications, commonly referred to as “in-kind” repairs/replacement.

Building permits are required for all structural repairs and alterations to structures within the Town of Hempstead. By waiving these fees, the town is helping residents save up to $2,500 for a permit. Permit fees have also been waived for temporary housing trailers that are often used in the wake of home fires or similar emergencies.

The fee waiver program is expected to run for six months from the date of the storm (October 29, 2012).

For more information, please call Hempstead Town Councilman James Darcy -- (516) 489-5000, or County Legislator Howard Kopel -- (516) 571-6207.