Citrus County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

Permit Authority

Unincorporated Citrus County. Applicants must first verify the property is not within Crystal River or Inverness city limits.

Department

Citrus County Building Division

Address

3600 W. Sovereign Path, Suite 111, Lecanto, FL 34461

Phone

352-527-5310

Email

permit@citrusbocc.com

Website

https://www.citrusbocc.com/departments/growth_management/building_division/index.php

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Citrus County and not inside Crystal River or Inverness city limits.
2. Review the county's residential or non-residential permitting materials and gather required forms, plans, contractor registration, and project-specific supporting documents.
3. Submit the application and supporting documents through the Accela portal.
4. Record a Notice of Commencement when Florida law requires it before requesting the first inspection.
5. Respond to plan review comments and secure any outside approvals for floodplain, septic/well, utility, roadway, or other applicable agencies.
6. Pay fees and obtain permit issuance before starting regulated work.
7. Schedule required inspections through the online portal and obtain final approval or certificate of occupancy before use or occupancy.

Typical processing time: Varies; county offers Accela concierge appointments by emailing permit@citrusbocc.com.

Source: Citrus County Building Division

General Requirements

Permits are required so proposed development meets the Florida Building Code and local community standards. Applicants should check with the Building Division before starting work.

Required Documents

• Permit application
• Project plans
• Contractor registration/licensure
• Notice of Commencement
• Product approvals
• Trade- or project-specific forms

Permit validity

Application fee is forfeited if a permit is not issued within 180 days of submittal without good-faith pursuit. Expired permits must be repurchased and reactivated before further inspections.

Building code

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

Owner-builder

Florida owner-builder rules apply. Owner-builder affidavits are used where applicable.

Contractor requirements

State-licensed contractors and related contractor registration/insurance requirements apply.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$50

Permit fee formula

Local modifier of 0.005 times valuation for residential and non-residential permits.

Trade permit fee

$50 minimum for many individual trade permits

Penalty (no permit)

100% penalty on top of normal permit fees for work started before permit approval.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Citrus County Building Division to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Accela portal (online)

Scheduling deadline

Requests must be submitted by 3:30 p.m. for next-business-day inspections.

Inspection hours

Monday-Friday

Additional Resources

• Building code: Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), mandatory statewide effective December 31, 2023.
• Verify contractor license: Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation License Lookup
• Failed Inspection Fees
• License lookup guide: Florida Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Florida Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Florida hub: Florida Contractor License & Permit Hub