Should the deed be an Enhanced Life Estate Deed?

I don't think it will solve the problem that you have.  A life estate deed vests title in your mother and the remainder (on her death) to you.  This is similar to a trust in that sense.  So your mother would still need to sign off on any improvements.  But I don't understand what the problem is with her signing an application. Better yet, depending on the terms of the trust, she might be able to appoint you as a special trustee, or delegate trustee authority to you for that purpose.  You could also try to see if the building department would accept a power of attorney from her appointing you with authority to deal with the house. This raises several other larger questions as to whether this set up provides the optimal tax benefits and asset protection.  You might want to have your mother have her trust and estate plan reviewed by her counsel. This is specific to Florida law and does not constitute legal advice as the facts presented are anonymous and incomplete. This is intended for general education only and does not create an attorney-client relationship. This should not be relied on and you must seek your own attorney client relationship.