Legislative Updates - Building

Single-Family Permit Expiration

Building permits issued for single-family dwellings now expire one year after the permit is issued, or on the effective date of the next edition of the Florida Building Code, whichever is later.

This is different from the prior shorter expiration period. The Building Official may still extend a permit beyond the expiration date at their discretion.

Certain work valued at less than $7,500 on a single-family dwelling may be exempt from the requirement to obtain a building permit.

This exemption does not apply to:

• Work on property located partially or entirely in a flood hazard area.
• Electrical work.
• Plumbing work.
• Structural work.
• Mechanical work.
• Gas work.

A project may not be divided into smaller projects to avoid permitting requirements. To qualify, the owner or contractor must submit a written exemption request with documentation showing the nature and value of the work. To learn more, visit the Building Permit Exemption Approval Process for Residential Properties page. 

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: 

• An approved permit exemption means only that a building permit is not required for the specific scope of work described in the approved exemption request.
• Your building permit exemption does not relieve you from complying with all applicable laws and ordinances, including Floodplain, Zoning, Planning, Public Works, and Historic Preservation requirements. The property owner or contractor remains responsible for obtaining any other departmental approvals or permits beyond a building permit.

Certain temporary hurricane and flood protection walls or barriers may be exempt from the requirement to obtain a building permit if all required conditions are met.

To qualify, the wall or barrier must be nonhabitable and non-load-bearing, installed on a single-family dwelling, two-family dwelling, or townhouse, and intended to help prevent storm surge or floodwater from entering a structure or property. The wall or barrier must also be installed by a licensed contractor and must comply with applicable zoning, drainage, easement, and setback requirements.

This exemption does not apply to property located partially or entirely in a flood hazard area. The owner or contractor must submit a written exemption request with documentation showing the nature of the work. To learn more, visit the Building Permit Exemption Approval Process for Residential Properties page. 

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: 

• An approved permit exemption means only that a building permit is not required for the specific scope of work described in the approved exemption request.
• Your building permit exemption does not relieve you from complying with all applicable laws and ordinances, including Floodplain, Zoning, Planning, Public Works, and Historic Preservation requirements. The property owner or contractor remains responsible for obtaining any other departmental approvals or permits beyond a building permit.

For certain permit applications involving existing single-family residential dwellings, the local government must act within five business days after receiving a complete and sufficient application.

This applies when the value of the work is less than $15,000 and the permit is for one of the listed categories, including structural, accessory structure, alarm, electrical, gas, irrigation, landscaping, mechanical, plumbing, or roofing work.