Alachua County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

Permit Authority

Unincorporated Alachua County areas; the county states its Building Division reviews and inspects construction in the unincorporated county and in several municipalities.

Department

Alachua County Growth Management, Building Division

Address

County Annex Building, 10 SW 2nd Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601

Phone

352-374-5243

Email

building@alachuacounty.us

Website

https://growth-management.alachuacounty.us/building

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the project site is in unincorporated Alachua County rather than inside a municipal permit jurisdiction.
2. Review county forms, checklists, and trade-specific requirements before submittal.
3. Submit the permit application through the Citizenserve portal with plans, contractor information, and supporting documents.
4. Record a Notice of Commencement when Florida law requires it.
5. Respond to plan review comments and obtain outside-agency approvals if applicable.
6. Pay permit fees and receive permit issuance before starting work.
7. Schedule required inspections through the active permit record and obtain final approval.

Typical processing time: Timelines per Florida Statute 553.792 apply to local permit review.

Source: Alachua County Growth Management, Building Division

General Requirements

A building permit must be obtained for construction work regulated by the Florida Building Code; accessory structures generally require permits.

Required Documents

• Permit application
• Plans
• Contractor registration/licensure documentation
• Notice of Commencement if required
• Project-specific checklists or affidavits (generators, roofs, pools, flood hazard work, gas, mobile homes, setbacks)

Permit validity

Failure to receive a final inspection within 180 days results in an expired permit and additional renewal fees.

Building code

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

Owner-builder

Florida owner-builder rules apply. The county provides owner-oriented warnings about confirming the contractor is properly licensed and insured.

Contractor requirements

Verify state licensure through DBPR; the county links directly to state contractor verification and unlicensed-activity reporting.

Fees

Permit fee formula

Valuation-based; see fee schedule for current rates.

Payment note

The county publishes a Building Division Fees link on its building pages. Applicants should use the linked fee schedule or portal for current valuation-based and trade permit charges.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-time exemption for a single residential storage shed of 150 square feet or less (using county exemption request form)
• Agricultural structures with agricultural classification assigned by the Property Appraiser

Important: Florida code exemptions do not waive zoning, floodplain, septic, driveway, tree, or other county approvals that may still apply.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Citizenserve permit record (online)
• 352-374-5243 (phone)
• building@alachuacounty.us (email)

Typical inspection sequence: Trade/project checklists published for HVAC change-out, reroof, pool, mobile home, generator, and other project-specific inspection types.

Additional Resources

• Building code: 2023 Florida Building Code, 8th Edition, effective December 31, 2023.
• Verify contractor license: Florida DBPR License Lookup
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Florida Statute 553.792
• Building Permits and Inspections
• License lookup guide: Florida Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Florida Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Florida hub: Florida Contractor License & Permit Hub