Building permits in Duval County, Florida
Find the right authority before you build. Duval County permitting follows Florida law — here is exactly who issues the permit and where to start.
Cities issue permits
City of Jacksonville Planning and Development — Building Inspection Division
Duval County and the City of Jacksonville are consolidated, so building permits for most of the county are issued by the City of Jacksonville Building Inspection Division (via the JaxEPICS portal). The separate municipalities of Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Baldwin run their own building departments.
Open the official permit portal →
Electronic permit submission is required for all permit types through JaxEPICS.
Check a home project's permit in Duval County, Florida
Select a project to see its Florida permit rule. Whether the county or your city issues it depends on incorporation status — see the authority note above.
Florida
Exact permit fees are set by the local building department. WikEst shows the published or code-based range where one exists, linked to its official source — verify the final amount at the source before budgeting.
🏠 Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) permit fee in Florida
Permit requiredRestrictedcity authority
Permit fee range
Permit and plan-review fees set by the city. Verify with the local building department.
Typical timeline
Varies by city; 2–8 weeks.
Setback
Per local zoning.
Exempt if
Allowed where local zoning permits (e.g., Miami 21, Orlando, Tampa).
Exempt criteria: None — where allowed, ADUs require a permit.
Florida has no statewide by-right ADU mandate; ADUs are allowed only where the local ordinance permits, with size/setback set by that ordinance.
Official sources: City of Orlando — Permits & Inspections · City of Miami — Building & Permitting (iBuild)
Representative cities for Florida: Miami, Orlando, Tampa.
All 20 project fee ranges in Florida
Official-source ranges where published; “By local jurisdiction” means no flat fee is published and the amount is set case by case.
| Project | Permit? | Authority | Fee range | Go / no-go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏠 Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) | yes | city | Permit and plan-review fees set by the city. Verify with the local building department. | restricted |
| 🪵 Deck / Porch | conditional | city | Set by the city — typically a flat plus valuation-based fee. Verify with the city building department. | allowed |
| 🧱 Fence / Wall | conditional | city | Usually no building permit under the height threshold; zoning setback rules apply. Verify locally. | allowed |
| 🛖 Shed / Outbuilding | conditional | city | No fee under the exemption; a permit fee applies if over the threshold. | allowed |
| 🪜 Basement Finish | yes | city | Valuation-based building permit fee. Verify with the city building department. | allowed |
| 🚗 Garage / Carport | yes | city | Valuation-based fee. Verify with the city building department. | allowed |
| ☀️ Rooftop Solar PV | yes | city | Electrical permit fee set by the city. Verify with the city building department. | allowed |
| 🌡️ HVAC Replacement | yes | city | Mechanical permit fee set by the city. Verify with the city building department. | allowed |
| 🍳 Kitchen Remodel | yes | city | Building + electrical + plumbing permit fees. Verify with the city building department. | allowed |
| 🛁 Bathroom Remodel | yes | city | Building + plumbing + electrical fees. Verify with the city building department. | allowed |
| 🏗️ Room Addition | yes | city | Valuation-based building permit; impact fees may apply. Verify with the city building department. | allowed |
| 🪟 Window / Door Replacement | conditional | city | Permit fee if changing the opening; in-kind swap is often exempt. | restricted |
| 🏘️ Roof Replacement | yes | city | Roofing permit fee set by the city. Verify with the city building department. | allowed |
| 🅿️ Driveway / Parking Pad | conditional | city | Private flatwork generally needs no building permit; right-of-way/curb cut needs a separate permit. | allowed |
| 🏊 Swimming Pool / Spa | yes | city | Building permit + electrical; fee set by the city. Verify with the city building department. | allowed |
| 🧱 Retaining Wall | conditional | city | No fee under the exemption; a permit applies if over the threshold. | allowed |
| 💥 Demolition / Teardown | yes | city | Demolition permit fee set by the city/county building department; verify locally. | allowed |
| 🚰 Septic System | yes | county | Septic permit fees set by the county health department; verify locally. | allowed |
| 🔌 EV Charger | conditional | city | Electrical permit fee set by the city; verify locally. | allowed |
| ⚡ Standby Generator | yes | city | Electrical (and often mechanical/gas) permit fee set by the city; verify locally. | allowed |
Permit cheat-sheet (Florida rules)
| Project | Permit? | Authority | Typical fee | Timeline | Go / No-Go | Key notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏠 Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) | Permit required | city | Permit and plan-review fees set by the city. Verify with the local building department. | Varies by city; 2–8 weeks. | Restricted | Florida has no statewide by-right ADU mandate; ADUs are allowed only where the local ordinance permits, with size/setback set by that ordinance. Exempt: Allowed where local zoning permits (e.g., Miami 21, Orlando, Tampa). |
| 🪵 Deck / Porch | Conditional | city | Set by the city — typically a flat plus valuation-based fee. Verify with the city building department. | 1–4 weeks. | Generally allowed | Attached or raised decks need a building permit. Exempt: Decks >30 in above grade or attached require a permit (FBC R105). |
| 🧱 Fence / Wall | Conditional | city | Usually no building permit under the height threshold; zoning setback rules apply. Verify locally. | Same day / Over-the-Counter where required. | Generally allowed | Height/setback set by local zoning; HOA rules may also apply. Exempt: Typically no building permit under ~6 ft (zoning). |
| 🛖 Shed / Outbuilding | Conditional | city | No fee under the exemption; a permit fee applies if over the threshold. | Same day / Over-the-Counter where required. | Generally allowed | Larger or serviced sheds need a building permit. Exempt: One-story detached accessory structure ≤120 sq ft is exempt (FBC R105.2). |
| 🪜 Basement Finish | Permit required | city | Valuation-based building permit fee. Verify with the city building department. | 2–6 weeks. | Generally allowed | Uncommon in Florida; finishing a basement requires egress and permits. Exempt: N/A |
| 🚗 Garage / Carport | Permit required | city | Valuation-based fee. Verify with the city building department. | 2–8 weeks. | Generally allowed | A new garage requires a building permit under the Florida Building Code Residential. Exempt: N/A |
| ☀️ Rooftop Solar PV | Permit required | city | Electrical permit fee set by the city. Verify with the city building department. | 2–4 weeks. | Generally allowed | Rooftop PV requires an electrical permit; products in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (Miami-Dade, Broward) require Florida Product Approval / NOA. Exempt: N/A |
| 🌡️ HVAC Replacement | Permit required | city | Mechanical permit fee set by the city. Verify with the city building department. | 1–2 weeks. | Generally allowed | Furnace, AC, or heat-pump replacement requires a mechanical permit and inspection. Exempt: N/A |
| 🍳 Kitchen Remodel | Permit required | city | Building + electrical + plumbing permit fees. Verify with the city building department. | 2–6 weeks. | Generally allowed | Moving plumbing/electrical or walls triggers permits. Exempt: N/A |
| 🛁 Bathroom Remodel | Permit required | city | Building + plumbing + electrical fees. Verify with the city building department. | 2–6 weeks. | Generally allowed | Plumbing/electrical relocation requires permits. Exempt: N/A |
| 🏗️ Room Addition | Permit required | city | Valuation-based building permit; impact fees may apply. Verify with the city building department. | 3–8 weeks. | Generally allowed | Expanding the footprint requires FBC plan review and zoning compliance. Exempt: N/A |
| 🪟 Window / Door Replacement | Conditional | city | Permit fee if changing the opening; in-kind swap is often exempt. | Same day / Over-the-Counter where required. | Restricted | In the HVHZ (Miami-Dade, Broward) windows within 1 mile of the coast must be impact-rated / Florida Product-Approved. Enlarging openings needs a permit. Exempt: In-kind same-size replacement generally needs no permit. |
| 🏘️ Roof Replacement | Permit required | city | Roofing permit fee set by the city. Verify with the city building department. | 1–3 weeks. | Generally allowed | Re-roofing requires a roofing permit; the HVHZ requires product-approved materials. Exempt: N/A |
| 🅿️ Driveway / Parking Pad | Conditional | city | Private flatwork generally needs no building permit; right-of-way/curb cut needs a separate permit. | Varies. | Generally allowed | A curb cut or work in the public right-of-way requires a separate permit from the city / public works. Exempt: N/A |
| 🏊 Swimming Pool / Spa | Permit required | city | Building permit + electrical; fee set by the city. Verify with the city building department. | 3–8 weeks. | Generally allowed | Pools require a permit and barrier per FBC Section 454 / R4101 (self-closing gate, alarms, entrapment protection). Exempt: N/A |
| 🧱 Retaining Wall | Conditional | city | No fee under the exemption; a permit applies if over the threshold. | 2–4 weeks if required. | Generally allowed | Taller or surcharge-supporting walls need design and a permit. Exempt: Retaining walls ≤4 ft (bottom of footing to top), not supporting a surcharge, are exempt (FBC R105.2). |
| 💥 Demolition / Teardown | Permit required | city | Demolition permit fee set by the city/county building department; verify locally. | — | Generally allowed | A full teardown or major strip-out requires a demolition (building) permit from the city or county building department under the Florida Building Code. Demolition permits commonly require utility disconnects and, for older homes, asbestos/lead clearance before work begins. |
| 🚰 Septic System | Permit required | county | Septic permit fees set by the county health department; verify locally. | — | Generally allowed | New or replacement onsite wastewater (septic / OSTDS) systems require a permit from the county health department (or, in 16 designated counties, the FL Dept. of Environmental Protection) under the Florida Administrative Code. Engineered design and a site/soil evaluation are typically required. |
| 🔌 EV Charger | Conditional | city | Electrical permit fee set by the city; verify locally. | — | Generally allowed | A home EV charging station needs an electrical permit (dedicated 240V circuit and wall unit) issued by the city under the Florida Building Code. Florida has no single statewide EV-permitting fast-track, so review time varies by city. Work must meet the NEC. |
| ⚡ Standby Generator | Permit required | city | Electrical (and often mechanical/gas) permit fee set by the city; verify locally. | — | Generally allowed | A permanently installed standby generator with a transfer switch and fuel (gas/propane) line requires electrical and often mechanical/gas permits, plus inspection. Setback, noise, and carbon-monoxide rules may apply, and HOAs may restrict installation. Verify with the city building department. |
Frequently asked questions
Who issues building permits in Duval County, Florida?
City of Jacksonville Planning and Development — Building Inspection Division is the permitting authority for Duval County. Permits are issued by the incorporated cities; the county handles only unincorporated areas. Start at the official portal linked above.
Do I go to the county or my city for a building permit in Duval County?
Permits are issued by the incorporated cities; the county handles only unincorporated areas.
What home projects need a permit in Duval County?
The same project types shown in the cheat-sheet above (ADU, deck, fence, shed, solar, and more) — rules follow Florida state law. Whether the county or your city issues it depends on your property's incorporation status.
How do I apply for a permit in Duval County?
Use the official permit portal linked above. Most offices accept online submissions; have your plans, site information, and contractor details ready before applying.