Unincorporated Glades County

A building permit is required for any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change occupancy of a building or structure, or perform regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing, or impact-resistant-covering work.

• Exempt Interior or exterior painting
• Exempt Interior tile work
• Exempt Installation of wood or vinyl flooring
• Exempt Installing cabinets
• Exempt Light-fixture changeout without rewiring
• Exempt Plumbing fixture changeout (faucets, toilets)
• Exempt Certain drain/leak repairs not requiring rearranging or replacing regulated piping
• Exempt Minor repairs not affecting structure, egress, regulated systems, public health, or safety
• Exempt Portable heating, ventilation, cooking, or cooling appliances
• Exempt Temporary motion-picture or television production sets under 180 days
• Exempt Nonresidential farm buildings on farms
• Exempt Installation of playground equipment
• Exempt Above-ground pools under 2 feet tall
• Exempt Paving
• Exempt Fencing
• Exempt Certain utility, railroad, temporary construction, tribal chickee, mausoleum, temporary prisoner housing, and limited hunting-structure situations

Note: Several listed items still require zoning review (marked ZR). Floodplain review may also be required in Special Flood Hazard Areas even when a building permit is not required.

Building code

Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), effective December 31, 2023.

Permit validity

Plans review and inspections are performed every weekday. Inspection requests must be called in by 4:00 p.m. the day before.

Owner-builder

Florida owner-builder rules apply. A trust, LLC, or corporation does not qualify for owner-builder status. Personal appearance/signature required with direct supervision. No build-for-sale-or-lease misuse. $75,000 cap for qualifying commercial owner-builder work.

Contractor requirements

All permit-required work must be performed by a licensed contractor unless the applicant qualifies as an owner-builder. Contractor registration materials must be emailed to county staff; initial county registration fee is $50.00.

Source: Glades County Community Development Department, Building Division ↗

1. 01
   Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Glades County (not inside Moore Haven or Clewiston city limits).
2. 02
   Identify the correct permit package using the county building portal and applications/forms page.
3. 03
   Assemble the permit package with all required documents (application, contractor assignment, plans, site plan, survey if applicable, utility/septic documentation, energy forms if applicable, truss engineering, product approvals, floodplain supplement if applicable, and Notice of Commencement if required).
4. 04
   If plans are 11 x 17 or larger, email a digital copy to county staff before submitting the permit packet.
5. 05
   Submit through the county portal and/or county building office as directed for the permit type.
6. 06
   Pay fees and obtain permit issuance; post any recorded Notice of Commencement if required before requesting first inspection.
7. 07
   Call in inspections by 4:00 p.m. the day before the requested inspection date, or coordinate with the Building Division.
8. 08
   Obtain final inspection approval and certificate of occupancy when applicable.

Typical processing time: Plan review and inspections are performed every weekday; timing varies by project complexity.

Source: Glades County Community Development Department, Building Division ↗

• 863-946-6018 (phone)
• bblankenship@myglades.com; ajones@myglades.com (email)

Scheduling deadline

Inspection requests must be called in by 4:00 p.m. the day before the requested inspection date to be placed on the next-day schedule.

Inspection hours

Monday-Friday (plans review and inspections performed every weekday)

Source: Glades County Community Development Department, Building Division ↗