County Building Permits
Pasco County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Pasco County, Florida. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
All properties in unincorporated Pasco County, excluding those within incorporated municipal boundaries.
- Department
- Pasco County Building Construction Services
- Address
- 8661 Citizens Drive, Suite 100, New Port Richey, FL 34654
- Phone
- 727-847-8126
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Accela Citizen Access • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Pasco County and not within a municipal permit jurisdiction.
- Select the correct permit package from the county's permits-and-forms page and gather the required plans, contractor information, owner-builder forms if applicable, Notice of Commencement when required, and project-specific supporting documents.
- Submit the application through PascoGateway.
- Respond to plan review comments and upload any additional materials, including zoning, floodplain, product approvals, private provider documents, septic approvals, or mobility/impact-fee items as applicable.
- Pay fees and obtain permit issuance before starting work.
- Schedule inspections and secure final approval before use or occupancy.
Typical processing time: Varies by permit type; county permit-package PDFs publish work-type-specific average review times. Some simple permits are instant-issue, while larger projects have longer review workflows.
General Requirements
Building permits are generally required for work constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, demolishing, changing occupancy, or installing, altering, or replacing regulated building systems.
Required Documents
- Permit application
- Plans
- Contractor registration or licensing
- Notice of Commencement when required
- Product approvals
- Trade- or project-specific forms listed in county permit packages
- Permit validity
- Unless otherwise noted, a building permit is valid for 6 months from the issue date and 6 months from the last passed inspection.
- Building code
- Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), effective December 31, 2023.
- Owner-builder
- A homeowner may act as contractor only under the Florida owner-builder exemption and requires an owner-builder affidavit and owner-is-contractor registration materials.
- Contractor requirements
- The county has a dedicated contractor licensing program and publishes contractor maintenance and registration materials.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- Varies; county publishes permit-package forms and fee-related documents rather than a simple countywide summary table.
- Plan check fee
- Included in permit-package documents
- Permit fee formula
- Varies by work type; permit costs vary based on the work, size of project, and number of trades involved. Contact the office for an estimate.
- Trade permit fee
- Varies per permit type
- Payment note
- Monetary transactions conducted Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Additional impact or mobility fees may apply depending on the project.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective Varies by permit type).
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Sheds 150 square feet or less if DBPR approved and outside flood hazard areas
- Roof repairs of 1.5 squares or less
- Liquid roof coatings
- Fascia and trim replacement
- Non-structural concrete flatwork under 500 square feet per parcel
- Carpet, wood, and tile finishes
- Painting
- Residential pool resurfacing
- Replacement of existing light fixtures and similar devices
- Residential low-voltage work such as cable, internet, and security
Important: Exempt work must still comply with minimum code standards and the county Land Development Code, including setbacks.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- PascoGateway (online)
- 727-847-8126 (phone)
- inspectionschedulers@mypasco.net (email)
- Scheduling deadline
- Contact for current scheduling practices.
- Inspection hours
- Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Time windows
- Standard business hours
Typical inspection sequence: Inspection sequence varies by permit type; county publishes permit-package PDFs with specific inspection requirements.
Remote inspections may be used for certain inspection types at the county's discretion.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), effective December 31, 2023.
- Verify contractor license: Florida Building Commission
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Owner-builder rules: View rules
- Private Provider Instructions
- Florida Building Code Effective Dates
- 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 Pasco County Building Construction Services before applying.
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