Clay County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

Permit Authority

Unincorporated areas of Clay County. The City of Green Cove Springs FAQ directs properties with county tax jurisdiction 001 to pull permits with Clay County rather than the city.

Department

Clay County Building Division

Address

477 Houston Street, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043

Phone

904-284-6307 or 904-269-6307

Email

permits@claycountygov.com

Website

https://www.claycountygov.com/government/building

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the property is in unincorporated Clay County and not inside Green Cove Springs, Orange Park, Keystone Heights, or Penney Farms.
2. Prepare permit-specific documents. County FAQs indicate submittals may need proof of ownership, plans, flood permit, septic letter, site plan, and project contacts.
3. Complete any required pre-review with Planning and Zoning where applicable. For example, a residential addition or shed requires Planning and Zoning site review first.
4. Submit the application through the CAP portal and upload plans and supporting documents.
5. Record a Notice of Commencement when required by Florida law and county rules.
6. Respond to review comments, pay permit fees, and obtain issuance before starting work.
7. Schedule inspections through the portal and obtain final approval.

Typical processing time: Processing time varies by permit type and complexity. Refer to county FAQs for specific project types.

Source: Clay County Building Division

General Requirements

The county requires permits for work regulated by the Florida Building Code and routes all permit applications through its Tyler CAP system.

Required Documents

• Proof of ownership
• Plans
• Flood permit if applicable
• Septic letter if applicable
• Site plan
• Contractor/owner information
• Energy calculations when required
• Truss details if applicable

Permit validity

Not specified in public materials; contact county for permit validity period.

Building code

8th Edition Florida Building Code and 2020 National Electrical Code

Owner-builder

County FAQ states a mobile home cannot be set by the owner and requires a licensed contractor. Florida owner-builder rules otherwise apply, using the county homeowner-builder affidavit/disclosure.

Contractor requirements

State licensure applies. Contractor licensing and county registration resources are published through the Building Division.

Fees

Plan check fee

Refer to county fee schedule

Permit fee formula

Building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, pool, review, sign, and license fees are listed in the county Building Department section of the FY 2024/2025 fee schedule.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective October 1, 2024).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

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

Inspections

How to Schedule

• CAP/CSS portal (online)
• 904-269-6307 (7:45 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., day of inspection) (phone)

Scheduling deadline

On the day of inspection, applicants can call 904-269-6307 between 7:45 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. to be connected with their inspector.

Additional Resources

• Building code: 8th Edition Florida Building Code and 2020 National Electrical Code
• Verify contractor license: Florida DACS Contractor License Search
• Building Division Main Page
• FAQ Page
• Forms and Reference Information
• License lookup guide: Florida Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Florida Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Florida hub: Florida Contractor License & Permit Hub