Jacksonville, FL Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Jacksonville is the consolidated city-county for Duval County and handles building permitting for the consolidated jurisdiction outside the independent municipal permit programs of Baldwin, Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville Beach, and Neptune Beach.

Department

City of Jacksonville, Public Works, Building Inspection Division

Address

214 N. Hogan Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202

Phone

904-255-8500

Email

BIDDocuments@coj.net

Website

https://www.jacksonville.gov/buildinginspectiondivision

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the property is in Jacksonville's consolidated jurisdiction and not in Baldwin, Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville Beach, or Neptune Beach.
2. Create or use the applicant profile in JAXEPICS.
3. Upload the permit application and all required PDFs to the proper document folders in JAXEPICS.
4. Obtain any prerequisite reviews or outside approvals required by scope or location, including zoning, concurrency, development services, agency reviews, and approvals from other entities such as Historical Preservation, Downtown Investment Authority, or the Health Department.
5. Pay any required plan review fee before Building Inspection Division review begins.
6. Respond to review comments and upload revised documents if required.
7. Pay issuance fees and obtain the permit before starting work.
8. Record and file a Notice of Commencement when required, keep approved documents available on site, and schedule inspections by phone or online.

Typical processing time: Processing time varies based on complexity and required reviews. Plan for 3-6 weeks or longer for projects requiring agency coordination.

Source: City of Jacksonville, Public Works, Building Inspection Division

General Requirements

Jacksonville's Building Inspection Division states it issues building permits and enforces the Florida Building Code and Jacksonville building ordinances. Florida law generally requires permits to be issued to licensed contractors, subject to the owner-occupant exception.

Required Documents

• Completed permit application
• Site plan
• Construction plans and specifications
• Proof of property ownership or authorization
• Applicable agency approvals and reviews
• Notice of Commencement documentation when required

Permit validity

Permit applications expire if the permit is not obtained within specified timeframe. Issued permits expire if no inspection is passed within required period per Florida Building Code.

Building code

8th Edition (2023) Florida Building Code and 2020 National Electrical Code, effective December 31, 2023. Jacksonville also enforces City of Jacksonville building ordinances and fee ordinances.

Owner-builder

Owners may obtain permits in their own name only if they occupy the property for their own use. Properties for sale, lease, rent, investment, or occupancy by others do not qualify. Mobile home move-on permits must be issued to licensed mobile home installation contractors.

Contractor requirements

Contractors must hold a valid Florida license throughout construction. All documents must be PDF. Digitally signed and sealed plans cannot be password protected. Contractor must provide approved documents on site for inspection unless a compliant digital form is used.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$112.50

Plan check fee

Calculated per project type and scope

Permit fee formula

New buildings, shell buildings, accessory buildings, and additions: $6.38 per 100 sq ft for each story up to and including the fourth story above grade, plus resource management fee $1.60, landscape fee 12% of BID permit fee, and development services fee $2.13. Residential C&D debris fee $8.75 per 100 sq ft. Minimum $112.50 or $33.75 per required inspection, whichever is greater.

Trade permit fee

$60.00 minimum (electrical, plumbing, mechanical)

Reinspection fee

$45.00 before requesting final inspection and certificate

Penalty (no permit)

Doubled permit fee for building without a permit

Payment note

Check Jacksonville's fee schedule for current surcharges and payment methods.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective Current).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the City of Jacksonville, Public Works, Building Inspection Division to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• 904-255-8500 option 4 (phone)
• JAXEPICS or inspections website (online)

Scheduling deadline

Requests submitted before midnight are guaranteed for the next business day where applicable. See city guidance for specific inspection type scheduling rules.

Inspection hours

Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Typical inspection sequence: Permit holder is responsible for obtaining all inspections required by law. Inspection sequence and types vary by project scope.

Remote video inspections may be available for certain inspection types at the city's discretion.

Additional Resources

• Building code: 8th Edition (2023) Florida Building Code and 2020 National Electrical Code, effective December 31, 2023. Jacksonville also enforces City of Jacksonville building ordinances and fee ordinances.
• Verify contractor license: Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation License Lookup
• Owner-builder rules: View rules
• Residential Permits
• City Fee Schedule
• License lookup guide: Florida Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Florida Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Florida hub: Florida Contractor License & Permit Hub

Other cities in Duval County