Building permits in Orange County, Florida
Find the right authority before you build. Orange County permitting follows Florida law — here is exactly who issues the permit and where to start.
County + cities (mixed)
Orange County Division of Building Safety (Development Services)
The Orange County Division of Building Safety issues building permits for unincorporated Orange County. Within the City of Orlando and other incorporated cities (Winter Park, Apopka, etc.) the city building department issues the permit.
Open the official permit portal →
All new permit applications and inspection requests must be submitted online through the Orange County Fast Track Online Services portal. Remote inspections are offered for select inspection types.
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). |