Ultimate Guide for Santa Rosa County Building Permits Application

How to Get Santa Rosa County Building Permits

A new home expansion might be one of the most significant and costly modifications to your home, but it can also give you and your family delight and satisfaction. Whether building a new patio, setting up a new pool, adding extensions, or converting garages into guest rooms, all Santa Rosa residents have to seek to modify their homes.

Home construction and improvement projects often rear up the unsettling mandate of planning permissions. No one appears to have had an easy way through the building approval process.

While the exercise is known for being demanding and time-consuming, your amount of preparation will usually determine the end result. However, don't worry. DoNotPay's planning permissions product has an easier way to go about it all.

Reasons to Get a Building Permit in Santa Rosa County

Any renovation project that involves altering the structure of your home usually demands acquiring construction permits from your city or county. Even basic alterations, such as putting up a fence, require permits in many locations. While many homeowners and even some building professionals ignore these rules, doing so is pretty risky because violations of building permits result in steep fines. The next purchaser of your property may sue you for prohibited construction if you ever get to sell it.

Other reasons for getting a permit include

1. To ascertain Contractor's Work Standard

Aside from a reduced property value, the building itself could be your most significant risk. If your contractors don't have the proper permits, there's no guarantee that they'll do a good job. The ramifications might be disastrous. For instance, if you list your home for sale, those inadequate adjustments could raise issues during the home inspection.

2. Unauthorized repairs may Void Homeowners Insurance

Any unpermitted alterations may not be covered by your HOA insurance and may be unlawful. It's especially concerning if an accident or disaster has occurred in that section of your home. If a house fire is triggered by defective wiring due to substandard electrical installation, you may find yourself in a precarious financial position. In this situation, claiming an insurance settlement may be futile as your coverage is unlikely to cover the damage, and you could be facing protracted, costly litigation.

You will likely need a building permit to:

Change room uses.
Bring down a section of your home.
Install Solar Panels.
Install a pool.
Renovate your roof.

How to Get a Building Permit in Santa Rosa County

What are the required documents for a Santa Rosa County Building permit?

Technical reports.
Photographs
Site Survey Report.
Maps/Survey Plan
HOA approval.
Development blueprints.
Contractor Certification.

Who do I contact to get a building permit?

You will have to contact your Santa Rosa County Planning Committee physically at their offices or online through the planning web portal.

What does the process look like for getting a permit?

1. Provide your project details to the Santa Rosa planning department. If permission is required, you will be given an application form as well as specific approval requirements.

2. Complete the application form and attach all relevant sketches, drawings, plans, and additional items.

3. Pay any fees owed and obtain your building permit.

What Fees Are Associated With Getting a Permit in Santa Rosa County?

Building permit request fees are paid at the time the application is filed. The city charges are payable to the Department of Planning and Economic Development, City Hall Room 3, 100 Santa Rosa Avenue. Checks should be addressed to the "City of Santa Rosa." The fees for a building plan review in the City of Santa Rosa are computed depending on the square footage of the structure and the intended use. Some of the charges include (All charges per sq.Ft):

Interior Remodel (General)	$60.00
Kitchen Remodel	$120.00
Bathroom Remodel	$90.00
Covered Porch / Deck	$16.30
Uncovered Wood Deck > 6' above F.G	$18.00
Patio Cover (attached or detached)	$15.00
Trellis (attached or detached)	$15.00
Concrete Retaining Wall	$15.00
Masonry Retaining Wall Sq. Ft.	$10.00

The entire fee schedule can be found here.

How to Apply for a Building Permit Easily in Santa Rosa County With DoNotPay

If you want to apply for a but don't know where to start, DoNotPay has you covered. Create your cancellation 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 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 Apply for Your Building Permit?

Fast --You won't have to make endless trips to the planning office as we guide you through the requisite documentation and help you file them.
Easy --You don't have to struggle with back and forth as we get your documents in order.
Successful -- Our team of professionals will work hard to get your building permit issued.