City of Arcadia

Arcadia's Unified Land Development Code states no building or structure, or part of one, may be erected, altered, moved, or repaired unless a building permit is first obtained, except for minor repairs or changes not involving listed regulated features.

Note: Arcadia does not publish a separate exempt-work handout for general building permits. Zoning certificate materials note that zoning certificates are typically required when a building permit is not needed for certain minor, low-intensity development activity, so some minor projects may still require city zoning approval even if no county building permit is needed. Floodplain ordinance separately regulates development in flood hazard areas, including some structures exempt from the Florida Building Code.

Building code

Arcadia is subject to the mandatory statewide Florida Building Code, 2023 Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (effective December 31, 2023). Floodplain regulations expressly require compliance with the Florida Building Code.

Permit validity

Arcadia code states unfinished construction may not remain incomplete for more than six months after construction begins unless the enforcing official allows additional time. Floodplain permits become invalid if work is not commenced within 180 days after issuance or if work is suspended/abandoned for 180 days after commencement, subject to extensions.

Owner-builder

Florida Statute 489.103 owner-builder rules apply. Owner-builders applying for county building permits must appear in person and cannot file online.

Contractor requirements

Contractors must maintain current DBPR license, government-issued photo ID, general liability insurance, and workers' compensation coverage or exemption. If using the county's online portal for building permits, CSS acknowledgment is required.

Source: City of Arcadia Planning and Zoning / Building and Planning ↗

1. 01
   Confirm the property is inside Arcadia city limits rather than unincorporated DeSoto County.
2. 02
   Contact Arcadia Planning and Zoning to identify which city-side approvals apply (site development review, zoning certificate, sign certificate, right-of-way construction certificate, floodplain approval, Certificate of Appropriateness for historic district work).
3. 03
   Prepare the city application package with property information, owner/applicant details, site plans, project description, and supporting materials for the specific approval type.
4. 04
   Obtain required city approvals. Multiple city forms state city approval is required in addition to a DeSoto County building permit where applicable.
5. 05
   Submit the building-permit application package to the DeSoto County Building Department with city approval documents included when required.
6. 06
   Respond to city and county review comments, pay applicable city and county fees, and obtain permit issuance before starting work.
7. 07
   Schedule required county inspections and satisfy any city-side final review conditions tied to zoning, floodplain, historic-preservation, signage, or right-of-way approvals.

Typical processing time: Processing times vary by permit type and approval complexity. Contact Arcadia Planning and Zoning or DeSoto County Building for specific timeframe estimates.

Source: City of Arcadia Planning and Zoning / Building and Planning ↗

City fee schedule not consolidated in single published document. County building-permit fees apply for permits issued by DeSoto County Building Department. Contact Arcadia Planning and Zoning for complete fee information.

• DeSoto County Building - 863-993-4811 (for building inspections) (phone)
• DeSoto County Citizen Self-Service portal (online)
• Arcadia Planning and Zoning for city-side compliance (email)

Inspection hours

Arcadia Planning and Zoning: Monday-Friday, standard business hours. County Building: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Typical sequence: Building inspections for county-issued permits are handled through DeSoto County Building Department. City inspections for floodplain compliance and local code enforcement are handled separately by Arcadia.

Source: City of Arcadia Planning and Zoning / Building and Planning ↗