jaspector
§ FL Martin County
County building permits

Unincorporated Martin County

How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Martin County, Florida. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Min. permit fee
$89.50
Last verified
April 2026
On this page 6
§ 01

Permit authority

Martin County Building Department

Street address
900 SE Ruhnke Street, Stuart, FL 34994
Phone
772-288-5916
Coverage
The county Building Department handles permitting, plan review, inspections, contractor licensing, and code enforcement for unincorporated Martin County. Incorporated municipalities in Martin County run their own municipal permit programs.
Online portal
Accela Citizen Access (ACA)
Accela Citizen Access
Website
Department website
Additional resources
§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Martin County

Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change occupancy, or perform regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing work, must first apply for and obtain the required permit.

Painting
Papering
Flooring and similar finish work
Cabinetry
Repair of toilets, sinks, and faucets
Plug-in appliance replacement
Home playgrounds
  • Exempt Painting
  • Exempt Papering
  • Exempt Flooring and similar finish work
  • Exempt Cabinetry
  • Exempt Repair of toilets, sinks, and faucets
  • Exempt Plug-in appliance replacement
  • Exempt Home playgrounds

Note: Ordinary minor repairs may be made only with the approval of the building official and may not include structural, egress, piping, wiring, mechanical, or other public-safety-affecting work. For the full list, refer to FBC section 105.2.

Required documents
  • Permit application
  • Plans
  • Supporting documents
  • Outside-agency approvals required by the site or scope
Building code
2023 Florida Building Code, 8th Edition, effective December 31, 2023
Owner-builder
Florida Statute requires a qualifying owner-builder to appear in person to sign the application and disclosure forms.

Source: Martin County Building Department ↗

§ 03

Application process

Application → plan check → issuance → inspection → final

  1. 01
    Confirm the property is in unincorporated Martin County and not inside Stuart, Jupiter Island, Ocean Breeze, Sewall's Point, or Indiantown.
  2. 02
    Review the county's permit checklists, forms, and any project-specific supporting requirements before filing.
  3. 03
    Create or use an ACA account and submit the permit application online, or appear at the permit counter if using the in-person path.
  4. 04
    Upload plans and supporting documents; if the permit requires plan review, the county routes the submittal to the appropriate review departments.
  5. 05
    If applying as an owner-builder, appear in person at the Building Department to sign the Building Permit Application and Owner/Builder Disclosure before completing the rest of the process electronically.
  6. 06
    Respond to plan review comments, pay fees, and obtain issuance before starting work.
  7. 07
    Schedule inspections through ACA and close out the permit with final approval.

Source: Martin County Building Department ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Effective November 1, 2025

Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
$89.50
02
Plan check fee
Based on construction value percentage
03
Permit fee formula
Based on construction value: under $50,000 = $89.50 plan review + $89.50 permit fee; $50,000-$500,000 = 0.18% plan review + 0.46% permit fee; $500,001-$1,000,000 = 0.17% plan review + 0.42% permit fee; $1,000,001-$1,500,000 = 0.15% plan review + 0.38% permit fee; $1,500,001+ = 0.13% plan review + 0.32% permit fee

County fees do not include required Florida surcharges or other departmental fees. Cost of construction will be the greater of the applicant's stated value or the value established by the most recent ICC building valuation data.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ (effective November 1, 2025) before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

Martin County offers VuSpex virtual inspections for certain permit types, currently including air conditioning, garage door, water heater, and windows and doors.

Source: Martin County Building Department ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about unincorporated Martin County permits

01 Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Martin County, FL? ▸
Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change occupancy, or perform regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing work, must first apply for and obtain the required permit.
02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Martin County, FL? ▸
Building permit fees in unincorporated Martin County, FL are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $89.50. Fees are calculated as: Based on construction value: under $50,000 = $89.50 plan review + $89.50 permit fee; $50,000-$500,000 = 0.18% plan review + 0.46% permit fee; $500,001-$1,000,000 = 0.17% plan review + 0.42% permit fee; $1,000,001-$1,500,000 = 0.15% plan review + 0.38% permit fee; $1,500,001+ = 0.13% plan review + 0.32% permit fee. Plan check fee: Based on construction value percentage.
03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Martin County, FL? ▸
To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Martin County, FL, follow these steps: 1. Confirm the property is in unincorporated Martin County and not inside Stuart, Jupiter Island, Ocean Breeze, Sewall's Point, or Indiantown. 2. Review the county's permit checklists, forms, and any project-specific supporting requirements before filing. 3. Create or use an ACA account and submit the permit application online, or appear at the permit counter if using the in-person path. 4. Upload plans and supporting documents; if the permit requires plan review, the county routes the submittal to the appropriate review departments. 5. If applying as an owner-builder, appear in person at the Building Department to sign the Building Permit Application and Owner/Builder Disclosure before completing the rest of the process electronically. 6. Respond to plan review comments, pay fees, and obtain issuance before starting work. 7. Schedule inspections through ACA and close out the permit with final approval.
04 What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Martin County, FL? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in unincorporated Martin County, FL. The following work is generally exempt: Painting; Papering; Flooring and similar finish work; Cabinetry; Repair of toilets, sinks, and faucets; Plug-in appliance replacement; Home playgrounds. Note: Ordinary minor repairs may be made only with the approval of the building official and may not include structural, egress, piping, wiring, mechanical, or other public-safety-affecting work. For the full list, refer to FBC section 105.2. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
05 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Martin County, FL? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Martin County, FL via: ACA portal after login.
last verified April 2026 source Martin County Building Department ↗ entry id permits/florida/martin/unincorporated
Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Martin County Building Department before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

← Back to Martin County permit guides