Lake County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

Permit Authority

Lake County issues permits for unincorporated Lake County.

Department

Lake County Office of Building Services

Address

315 W Main Street, Tavares, FL 32778

Phone

352-343-9653

Website

https://lakecountyfl.gov/building-services

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the property is in unincorporated Lake County and not inside a municipality with its own permitting program.
2. Select the applicable county checklist and assemble the permit application, plans, zoning clearance, subcontractor information, and project-specific supporting documents.
3. Submit through Lake County OPRS; obtain outside approvals first or in parallel, including zoning, septic, public works, floodplain, utility, or agency approvals as required.
4. Record and provide a certified Notice of Commencement for permits with a job value over $5,000 before the first inspection.
5. Respond to plan review comments, pay permit fees and any applicable impact or review fees, and obtain issuance before starting regulated work.
6. Keep approved plans and permit documents available onsite and schedule required inspections.
7. Obtain final approval or certificate of occupancy/completion before use or occupancy.

Typical processing time: Varies by plan complexity and outside agency approval requirements; generally 2-4 weeks for basic submittals.

Source: Lake County Office of Building Services

General Requirements

Permits are required for work regulated by the Florida Building Code and for the listed project types.

Required Documents

• Permit application
• Plans
• Zoning clearance
• Notice of Commencement (for projects over $5,000)
• Product approvals
• Subcontractor list
• Site plan
• Septic approvals (if applicable)
• Floodplain documents (if applicable)

Permit validity

Florida's 180-day permit activity rule generally applies unless a local document states otherwise.

Building code

Florida Building Code 8th Edition (2023)

Owner-builder

Owner-builder rules apply; county reroof checklist requires Owner Builder Disclosure Statement when applicable.

Contractor requirements

Applications must be signed by the license holder or authorized agent; subcontractors are to be listed at issuance where applicable.

Fees

Permit fee formula

Per county checklist; varies by project type

Payment note

Standard building fees apply; separate public works, flood review, solid waste, and impact fee assessments may apply depending on the project.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective 2026-03).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Lake County Office of Building Services to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Lake County OPRS (online)

Additional Resources

• Building code: Florida Building Code 8th Edition (2023)
• Verify contractor license: Florida Contractor License Lookup
• License lookup guide: Florida Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Florida Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Florida hub: Florida Contractor License & Permit Hub