Martin County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

Permit Authority

The county Building Department handles permitting, plan review, inspections, contractor licensing, and code enforcement for unincorporated Martin County. Incorporated municipalities in Martin County run their own municipal permit programs.

Department

Martin County Building Department

Address

900 SE Ruhnke Street, Stuart, FL 34994

Phone

772-288-5916

Website

https://www.martin.fl.us/departments/about/about-building-department

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the property is in unincorporated Martin County and not inside Stuart, Jupiter Island, Ocean Breeze, Sewall's Point, or Indiantown.
2. Review the county's permit checklists, forms, and any project-specific supporting requirements before filing.
3. Create or use an ACA account and submit the permit application online, or appear at the permit counter if using the in-person path.
4. Upload plans and supporting documents; if the permit requires plan review, the county routes the submittal to the appropriate review departments.
5. If applying as an owner-builder, appear in person at the Building Department to sign the Building Permit Application and Owner/Builder Disclosure before completing the rest of the process electronically.
6. Respond to plan review comments, pay fees, and obtain issuance before starting work.
7. Schedule inspections through ACA and close out the permit with final approval.

Source: Martin County Building Department

General Requirements

Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change occupancy, or perform regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing work, must first apply for and obtain the required permit.

Required Documents

• Permit application
• Plans
• Supporting documents
• Outside-agency approvals required by the site or scope

Building code

2023 Florida Building Code, 8th Edition, effective December 31, 2023

Owner-builder

Florida Statute requires a qualifying owner-builder to appear in person to sign the application and disclosure forms.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$89.50

Plan check fee

Based on construction value percentage

Permit fee formula

Based on construction value: under $50,000 = $89.50 plan review + $89.50 permit fee; $50,000-$500,000 = 0.18% plan review + 0.46% permit fee; $500,001-$1,000,000 = 0.17% plan review + 0.42% permit fee; $1,000,001-$1,500,000 = 0.15% plan review + 0.38% permit fee; $1,500,001+ = 0.13% plan review + 0.32% permit fee

Payment note

County fees do not include required Florida surcharges or other departmental fees. Cost of construction will be the greater of the applicant's stated value or the value established by the most recent ICC building valuation data.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective November 1, 2025).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Painting
• Papering
• Flooring and similar finish work
• Cabinetry
• Repair of toilets, sinks, and faucets
• Plug-in appliance replacement
• Home playgrounds

Important: Ordinary minor repairs may be made only with the approval of the building official and may not include structural, egress, piping, wiring, mechanical, or other public-safety-affecting work. For the full list, refer to FBC section 105.2.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• ACA portal after login (online)

Martin County offers VuSpex virtual inspections for certain permit types, currently including air conditioning, garage door, water heater, and windows and doors.

Additional Resources

• Building code: 2023 Florida Building Code, 8th Edition, effective December 31, 2023
• Permit Checklists
• Find Wind Speed
• Virtual Building Inspections
• License lookup guide: Florida Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Florida Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Florida hub: Florida Contractor License & Permit Hub