St. Augustine, FL — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

City of St. Augustine Planning and Building Department

Street address

75 King Street, Lobby B, 4th Floor, St. Augustine, FL 32084

Phone

(904) 825-1065

buildingpermits@citystaug.com

Coverage

All properties within the incorporated City of St. Augustine city limits. The city runs its own building permit, plan review, and inspection program.

Online portal

City of St. Augustine Permit Portal

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for St. Augustine

Permits are required for most construction projects, including renovations, additions, new construction, pools, fences, windows/doors, docks, driveways/patios, demolitions, and accessory structures.

Scope of work

Permit?

Interior painting

Exempt

Minor repairs

Exempt

Interior decorating

Exempt

Exempt Interior painting
Exempt Minor repairs
Exempt Interior decorating

Note: St. Augustine has extensive local review overlays including historic preservation, archaeology, floodplain, tree regulation, and right-of-way requirements. Applicants should not assume that a state-level permit exemption eliminates all local approvals; verify any claimed exemption with the city.

Required documents

Building permit application
Construction plans and drawings
Engineering/mechanical/electrical/plumbing sheets
ISR worksheet
Product approval list
Property survey (where required)
Truss engineering (where required)
Permit-type-specific submittals

Building code: 2023 Florida Building Code, 8th Edition; applications and plans are reviewed for compliance with FBC, ADA accessibility standards, and FEMA flooding standards
Permit validity: Permits become null and void if work is not commenced within 6 months or if work is suspended or abandoned for 6 months after commencement.
Owner-builder: Florida owner-builder rules apply; the city portal materials are built around contractor-file matching and city review of project documentation.
Contractor requirements: Permit portal registration guidance states contractors should use the same email listed on the contractor file to avoid errors and delays.

Source: City of St. Augustine Planning and Building Department ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Timeline varies by project complexity and local review requirements; the city provides a portal guide and instructional video for registering, applying, and scheduling inspections.

01

Confirm the parcel is inside St. Augustine city limits.
02

Check whether the project triggers local review layers such as Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB), archaeology, tree removal, floodplain review, or right-of-way permitting.
03

Gather the required permit-type documents listed on the city's building permit information page and electronic submission standards.
04

Create a Permit Portal account and submit the application online.
05

Monitor status in the portal, answer review comments, and upload revisions as needed.
06

Pay permit fees through the portal.
07

Schedule inspections through the portal and obtain final approval.

Typical processing time: Timeline varies by project complexity and local review requirements; the city provides a portal guide and instructional video for registering, applying, and scheduling inspections.

Source: City of St. Augustine Planning and Building Department ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Effective January 1, 2016 (file posted; confirm with city for any updates)

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

$50

Plan check fee

One-half of permit fee

Permit fee formula

Minimum $50 for the first $1,000 plus $5 for each additional $1,000 or fraction of valuation

Reinspection fee

$50 per inspection

Penalty (no permit)

Double the permit fee for work started without a permit

Permit extension $50; transfer to new contractor $50; demolition $100; after-hours inspection $200; temporary certificate of occupancy residential $75, non-residential $150. Public works permit fees, DRC review fees, tree-related charges, and archaeology review fees may apply depending on project type.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ (effective January 1, 2016 (file posted; confirm with city for any updates)) before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

Permit Portal (online)
buildinginspection@citystaug.com (email)

Typical sequence: The Building Department performs inspections throughout the city and issues a certificate of occupancy after final approval.

Source: City of St. Augustine Planning and Building Department ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about St. Augustine permits

01 Do I need a building permit in St. Augustine, FL? ▸

Permits are required for most construction projects, including renovations, additions, new construction, pools, fences, windows/doors, docks, driveways/patios, demolitions, and accessory structures.

02 How much does a building permit cost in St. Augustine, FL? ▸

Building permit fees in St. Augustine, FL are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $50. Fees are calculated as: Minimum $50 for the first $1,000 plus $5 for each additional $1,000 or fraction of valuation. Plan check fee: One-half of permit fee.

03 How do I apply for a building permit in St. Augustine, FL? ▸

To apply for a building permit in St. Augustine, FL, follow these steps: 1. Confirm the parcel is inside St. Augustine city limits. 2. Check whether the project triggers local review layers such as Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB), archaeology, tree removal, floodplain review, or right-of-way permitting. 3. Gather the required permit-type documents listed on the city's building permit information page and electronic submission standards. 4. Create a Permit Portal account and submit the application online. 5. Monitor status in the portal, answer review comments, and upload revisions as needed. 6. Pay permit fees through the portal. 7. Schedule inspections through the portal and obtain final approval.

04 How long does it take to get a building permit in St. Augustine, FL? ▸

Building permit processing times in St. Augustine, FL typically run Timeline varies by project complexity and local review requirements; the city provides a portal guide and instructional video for registering, applying, and scheduling inspections.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 What work is exempt from building permits in St. Augustine, FL? ▸

Not all construction work requires a permit in St. Augustine, FL. The following work is generally exempt: Interior painting; Minor repairs; Interior decorating. Note: St. Augustine has extensive local review overlays including historic preservation, archaeology, floodplain, tree regulation, and right-of-way requirements. Applicants should not assume that a state-level permit exemption eliminates all local approvals; verify any claimed exemption with the city. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.

06 How do I schedule a building inspection in St. Augustine, FL? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in St. Augustine, FL via: Permit Portal, buildinginspection@citystaug.com.

last verified April 2026 source City of St. Augustine Planning and Building Department ↗ entry id permits/florida/st-johns/st-augustine

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with City of St. Augustine Planning and Building Department before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

City of St. Augustine

Other jurisdictions in St. Johns County.