All You Need to Know About Martin County Building Permits

The state of Florida has very stern rules regarding building permits. In fact, it may take you more time to plan and get a permit for your project than it takes to finish it. The permitting process isn't straightforward, and many homeowners begin to suspect their contractors at this point. But this isn't just in Martin County, people in Los Angeles, Palm Beach County, Sarasota County, and Chicago, and other major cities complain about this all the time.

If you're struggling to get a for your upcoming construction project, read this guide as we discuss how to get a building permit faster .

Reasons to Get a Building Permit in Martin County

You may wonder why you need a building permit for a construction or renovation project, especially when it's in your home. However, there's one key reason why the Martin County Building Department stipulates building permits: safety. For this reason, they can stop your work process, order the work to be redone, or fine you for working without a permit.

Additional reasons for getting a include:

It can help protect your property value if you decide to move.
It saves you money as you avoid redoing work or getting fined.
You can get insurance and loans.

How to Get a Building Permit in Martin County

Construction planning and permitting mostly happen in three phases: the plans production phase, the review and preparation phase, and the permitting phase.

Planning

This is where you hire a registered architect to draw up your construction plans or do them yourself if you're skilled in the art. The architect may require you to see the construction site or to build an as-built plan if you're doing renovations. They'll give you plans and layout documents that you need during your building permit application.

Review and Preparation

In this phase, you may need to visit the Building Department with your plans and layouts to inquire about the permits you need to continue with your construction. They may require a plot plan, a sketch of your house, your house design, and your location.

Permitting

Once you know what permits to apply for, follow this process to get a building permit:

Visit Martin County's online permit system or the Accela Citizen Access portal and register for or log in to your account.
Download the application form, print it out, and fill in your information appropriately.
Some information you may need to fill in includes property identification, the nature of the work being done, and the category of permit you need.
You contractors may be required to sign the application form and fill in their respective details such as registration number, etc.
Submit your application through the portal or visit the building department to submit it in person.
Pay the upfront non-refundable fee of 50% of the building plan fee or $200 depending on what they ask you.
Wait for two days for your application to get processed. If there's an issue, you'll receive a notification prompting you to make the necessary changes.
When the application is processed, you'll receive a notification. Pay the permit fee and download it for printing. If you opt to get in in-person from the building department, remember to note down your processing number as they may require it.

What Fees Are Associated With Getting a Permit?

The common fees associated with residential houses in Martin County include a non-refundable permit submittal: the plan review fee of half the building fee, and permit issuance fees, which include:

Processing or site compliance fee of $200
Building permit fees, which include the cost of all sub-permits registered under this permit
County impact fees
The state of Florida surcharge, which is 1.5% of the total building fee or $2
The state of Florida DBPR, which is 1.0% of the total building fee or $2
Road assessment, which is 0.1% of the construction value

Next Steps for Getting a Building Permit in Martin County if You Can't Do It Yourself

Although the process of getting a building permit in Martin County is tedious, don't start building without one. Owners who work without a permit can get a fine of up to $250, have their permit fees doubled, or get forced to redo the work. If you're struggling with the process, it's and you might end up saving time and money in the process.

Getting a Building Permit Fast in Martin County Using DoNotPay

If you want to apply for a building permit in Martin County but don't know where to start, DoNotPay has you covered. Create your own application letter in 6 easy steps:

Go to the Planning Permissions product on DoNotPay.
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
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.
Indicate whether you're hiring a contractor and include the estimated start date and the timeline for the project.
Indicate whether any public sidewalk/street space will be used during construction.
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 to Get a Building Permit in Martin County

DoNotPay is a trusted product with a long track record of happy clients. With DoNotPay, you can get your building permit quickly and with ease. We're proud of our record of providing seamless and stress-free services to everyone across a wide variety of problems. From legal issues to getting those pesky building permits, we can make almost any process faster and easier.

What Else Can DoNotPay Do?

Besides helping you get a building permit faster, DoNotPay can help you solve many legal issues in the US. Here are additional resources you might be interested in:

The process of getting a building permit doesn't have to give you a headache. With DoNotPay, you can easily streamline the process, and get your building permit without a hassle. Sign up here to start your building permit application process.