Applying for Leon County Building Permits

If you live in Leon Country, Florida, building permits are required. Period. You may not need a permit for a temporary structure such as a shed, but you must have its location approved before building. Leon County building permits are required for contractors and commercial or industrial construction. For single- family residential construction, you must apply for a permit if the project is:

• New construction
• An addition to an existing structure
• Renovation of an existing structure
• Placement of a mobile or manufactured home
• Residential design for a manufactured home
• Installation of an emergency generator
• Installation of solar panels, swimming pools, or sheds
• Reroofing of an existing structure
• Installation of signage
• Demolition of an existing structure

The county provides information packets for each permit online, or you can request a packet from your city's building department.

How Do You Apply for a Building Permit?

If you plan to apply for a Leon County building permit yourself, get to know this website because it will become your new best friend.

The web page shows the information packets available for each type of permit. When you select a packet, a list of requirements is displayed. Use the following steps to complete the application process.

1. Review Information Packet

This link takes you to the PDF of the building statute which averages between 15 and 20 pages. You can download the document for review or printing. Since you will be referring to it constantly, having a copy is easier than returning to the website to check the details.

2. Review Building Permit Application Form

Although it is too early to complete the application, you should review it for the list of required documents that must accompany the application along with which fees are due at the time the application is submitted.

3. Assemble Required Documents

The last page of the five-page application lists the documents to include with the application. There are over 20 documents listed, but not all apply to every permit. You will need to determine which items apply to your application. For example, you may need a wind analysis, a driveway permit, a floodplain letter, or a soil analysis.

4. Submit Completed Application

Once you have collected all the forms and completed the application, you will need to deliver it to the City Hall along with any applicable fees. The statute lists the various departments that must approve the application.

5. Wait for Approval

You will be notified of your application status. If you are missing information, you will need to provide the necessary documents before the application is approved.

Getting Help With a Building Permit Application

If the building permit process seems overwhelming, you can call your city's building department and wait for an inspector to return your call. Architects may help with the process but usually, charge for the service.

Contractors may help get permits for their part of the work such as electrical or plumbing. However, the overall responsibility resides with the homeowner.

Another option is DoNotPay's online service that can guide you through the building permit process and generate letters on your behalf.

Applying for a Building Permit With DoNotPay

If you want to apply for a Leon County building permit without the hassle, DoNotPay has you covered in six easy steps:

1. Go to the Planning Permissions product on DoNotPay.
2. Choose one of the following options:
   1. Check whether your project needs a building permit or if it's exempt
   2. Generate a permission request letter to send to your HOA
   3. Generate a guide on how to complete the building permit application
3. Choose the focus of your project (new ADU, pool, shed, fence, etc.) and answer a few questions about your plans, including the size of the structure and estimated cost.

   

4. Indicate whether you're hiring a contractor and include the estimated start date and timeline for the project.
5. Indicate whether any public sidewalk/street space will be used during construction.
6. And that's it! DoNotPay will help guide you through the building permit process by checking if your project needs a building permit, contacting any HOAs you're a part of to request building permission, or generating detailed instructions on how to start and complete your building permit application process.

Why Use DoNotPay?

DoNotPay takes the hassle out of applying for building permits through their online services. It offers solutions that are:

Let DoNotPay help with building permits in Leon County and other locations such as:

• Los Angeles
• Sarasota
• Palm Beach
• Chicago

No matter where you're located DoNotPay can help.