County Building Permits
Seminole County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Seminole County, Florida. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
All properties in unincorporated Seminole County, excluding areas within the seven incorporated municipalities (Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Lake Mary, Longwood, Oviedo, Sanford, and Winter Springs).
- Department
- Seminole County Building Division
- Address
- 1101 E. 1st St., Sanford, FL 32771
- Phone
- 407-665-0000
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Click2Gov / ePlan • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Seminole County and not inside one of the seven incorporated municipalities.
- Review the county Forms and Applications page to identify the correct permit package and required supporting documents.
- Request an application number through the county's online permits system.
- Use the emailed ePlan invitation to upload signed permit forms, plans, and supporting documents.
- Complete the applicant task to mark the package ready for review.
- Address review comments and submit revisions through ePlan.
- Pay fees and complete issuance requirements, including Notice of Commencement handling where applicable.
- Schedule inspections through the online permit system and obtain final approval before closeout.
Typical processing time: Variable; processing time depends on plan review and application completeness. County states online applications are processed upon submittal.
General Requirements
A building permit is required for construction work in unincorporated Seminole County unless specifically exempted by the Florida Building Code.
Required Documents
- Completed permit application
- Site plans
- Construction documents
- Contractor licensing and insurance documents
- Signed and sealed plans where required
- Forms and applications as specified by the county
- Permit validity
- Follows Florida's general 180-day permit activity framework. Permits expire if no inspection is passed within 180 days.
- Building code
- Florida Building Code 8th Edition (2023), 2020 NEC, Florida Fire Prevention Code
- Owner-builder
- Owner-builders are allowed only where the Florida owner-occupant exemption applies and the property is not rental property.
- Contractor requirements
- Contractors must provide licensing and insurance documentation with permit submittals. Counter-submittal note: over-the-counter applications are still accepted for applicants without a computer, but additional administrative fees apply.
Fees
- Penalty (no permit)
- Double permit fee for work performed without the required permit.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Seminole County Building Division to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Online permit system (online)
Additional Resources
- Building code: Florida Building Code 8th Edition (2023), 2020 NEC, Florida Fire Prevention Code
- Verify contractor license: Florida License Lookup (DBPR)
- Building Division
- Contractor Registration
- 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 Seminole County Building Division before applying.
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