County Building Permits
Monroe County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Monroe County, Florida. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Unincorporated Monroe County. The county permit system covers only unincorporated Monroe County and does not include Key West, Marathon, Layton, Key Colony Beach, or Islamorada.
- Department
- Monroe County Building Department
- Phone
- (305) 289-2521
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Oracle Permitting and Licensing • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Confirm the property is in unincorporated Monroe County rather than one of the five municipal permit jurisdictions.
- Register in OPAL before filing; agents also need registration, and contractor-agent filings require the county Agent Authorization Form.
- Submit the permit application and supporting documents online. Paper applications are not accepted.
- Obtain any required outside-agency approvals. Monroe County coordinates with agencies outside the Building Department.
- Pay permit fees through the portal or in person once invoiced.
- Schedule inspections and complete permit closeout/certificate of occupancy requirements.
General Requirements
Contractors, owners, or builders must apply for a permit before commencing construction.
- Building code
- Florida Building Code (mandatory statewide). Monroe County also enforces Monroe County Code and local floodplain rules.
- Contractor requirements
- Architects, engineers, and private providers must use compliant digital signatures for submitted drawings. Contractor agents need county authorization on file.
Fees
- Payment note
- Online credit-card payments through supported browsers. Also accepts cash, check, or credit card at county offices. eCheck payments available ($1 per transaction).
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Monroe County Building Department to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Inspection hours
- 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at each permitting office; appointments strongly encouraged.
Typical inspection sequence: Inspectors will call the contact phone number associated with the permit before arrival. Plans must be ready and open to the pertinent pages on site.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Florida Building Code (mandatory statewide). Monroe County also enforces Monroe County Code and local floodplain rules.
- ROGO/NROGO Growth Allocation
- Floodplain and Building Requirements
- Floodplain Hub
- License lookup guide: Florida Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Florida Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Florida hub: Florida Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Monroe County Building Department before applying.
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