The city inspector has been in the unit 3 times since I purchased the house (for point of sale inspections and occupancy permit) and this issue has never been mentioned.

(And relatively speaking it was a pretty simple job...no plumbing, wiring, etc.)You have to add budget for all kinds of permits, contingencies and liability protection in case you do something to the neighbor's wall or whatever....a ton of stuff, so I would just be careful.  

I rehabbed it as time permitted, but when I move out making it a rental everything had been redone except the big items (foundation, roof, heater, plumbing (except we did the sewer), and electrical).  

I would be dang careful...HUD does not permit Section 8 tenants to have any side contracts with the landlord. 

Though there were many struggles with this property regarding local permitting issues in the end it was very successful.

Two additional things I would give thought to: first, with a 30 year mortgage you can always decide to make extra principal payments if your circumstances permit and thereby shorten the term, but with a 15 year mortgage you cannot unilaterally reduce payments to lengthen the term if your circumstances require cash flow relief.

I dont know of any real specific costs associated in the tampa area. maybe any tree permits can be one that I would think of in the city of tampa. 

Do I reach out to a contractor, are there permits I need to look into, etc?

Is that fee only permitted for Agents or Brokers?  

@Eric SipeJesus, man, this is not Dune and you do not need to recite the Bene Gesserit mantra against fear:I must not fear.Fear is the mind-killer.Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.I will face my fear.I will permit it to pass over me and through me.And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.Only I will remainYou're gonna screw this up once or twice.