Escambia County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

Permit Authority

All properties in unincorporated Escambia County and the Town of Century.

Department

Escambia County Building Services / Building Inspections

Address

3363 West Park Place, Pensacola, FL 32505

Phone

850-595-3550

Email

buildinginspections@myescambia.com

Website

https://myescambia.com/our-services/building-services

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the site is in unincorporated Escambia County and not inside Pensacola city limits.
2. Obtain any required county zoning, development order, environmental, engineering, floodplain, or right-of-way approvals before building permit issuance.
3. Submit the permit application with plans and supporting documents through the county process and use the fee-estimate/checklist forms where applicable.
4. Record and provide a certified Notice of Commencement when Florida law requires it.
5. Respond to plan review comments and pay permit fees before permit issuance.
6. Post the permit and approved plans at the site and schedule inspections as work progresses.
7. Obtain final inspection approval and the Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Completion.

Typical processing time: Processing time varies by project complexity; county fee-estimate forms are available to help determine timeline.

Source: Escambia County Building Services / Building Inspections

General Requirements

A building permit is required for constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, demolishing, changing occupancy, or regulated electrical/gas/mechanical/plumbing work under Florida Statute 553.79(1) and FBC Chapter 1.

Required Documents

• Permit application
• Plans and technical drawings
• Trade forms
• Product approvals where needed
• Notice of Commencement (for projects costing $5,000 or more, or HVAC changeouts at $15,000 and above)

Permit validity

Permits are valid for six months from issuance or the last approved inspection date; becomes null and void if construction is not started or a passing inspection is not recorded within 180 days.

Building code

Escambia County enforces the mandatory statewide Florida Building Code.

Owner-builder

The county allows owner-builder permits under Florida Statute 489.103(7); the owner-builder disclosure requires the owner to take legal and financial responsibility, provide direct onsite supervision, avoid unlicensed supervision, and complete the disclosure before permit issuance.

Contractor requirements

All contractors must be registered with Escambia County Building Inspections regardless of state or county license.

Fees

Permit fee formula

County publishes fee-estimate forms rather than a simple public text fee table. The final cost is determined during the permit application process.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Portable skid-mounted utility sheds under 120 square feet
• Cosmetic work: painting, wallpapering, carpeting, kitchen cabinets
• Roof repairs under two squares

Important: Zoning, environmental, and engineering rules can still apply even where no building permit is required. Confirm with Escambia County Building Inspections before proceeding.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• County contractor/citizen access portal (online)
• IVR at 850-273-4864 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Online scheduling available until 6:00 a.m. for same-day inspections; IVR same-day requests may be made if called in by 4:30 a.m.

Inspection hours

Office hours vary; check county website for current schedule.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Escambia County enforces the mandatory statewide Florida Building Code.
• Verify contractor license: County Contractor Registration
• Owner-builder rules: View rules
• Building Services FAQ
• Permit Fee Estimate Form
• Perdido Key Beach Mouse Permit
• License lookup guide: Florida Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Florida Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Florida hub: Florida Contractor License & Permit Hub