St. Johns County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

Permit Authority

All properties in unincorporated St. Johns County and the communities of Hastings, Ponte Vedra, Crescent Beach, Switzerland, Tocoi, Fruit Cove, Summer Haven, and Vilano Beach.

Department

St. Johns County Building Department

Address

4040 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine, FL 32084

Phone

(904) 827-6800

Email

bldcodes@sjcfl.us

Website

https://www.sjcfl.us/building-permits/

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated St. Johns County and not inside the City of St. Augustine or St. Augustine Beach city limits.
2. Determine whether a clearance sheet is required; the county typically requires a clearance sheet before accepting a building permit application.
3. Gather the county application form, project-specific checklist, construction plans, product approvals, contractor registration documentation, and owner-builder forms if applicable.
4. Submit the application and supporting documents through the county's standard permitting process.
5. Record a Notice of Commencement when required by Florida law (projects exceeding $2,500 or $5,000 depending on project type); confirm the current threshold with the county before scheduling inspections.
6. Respond to plan review comments and address any outside-agency requirements.
7. Pay all required fees, obtain permit issuance, post the permit card and required documents on site, and complete all required inspections.

Typical processing time: Plan review timeline varies by project complexity; the county maintains a plan review log and permit-status lookup for applicant reference.

Source: St. Johns County Building Department

General Requirements

A building permit is required for most improvements before work begins; see Florida Building Code (FBC) section 105.1.

Required Documents

• Clearance sheet application and approval
• Building permit application
• Construction plans and drawings
• Site plan
• Product approval forms
• Owner-builder affidavit (if applicable)
• Contractor registration documentation

Permit validity

Permits are valid for 6 months from issuance and/or the last approved inspection. A 90-day extension may be available for a fee by written request, subject to the Building Official's approval.

Building code

2023 Florida Building Code, 8th Edition, and 2020 National Electrical Code

Owner-builder

Property owners applying without a contractor must comply with Florida Statute 489.103 and all other applicable laws.

Contractor requirements

Contractors must be licensed and registered with St. Johns County to obtain a permit or perform construction activity in the county program.

Fees

Plan check fee

One-half of the building permit fee

Permit fee formula

Based on project valuation; see fee schedule for specific rates.

Reinspection fee

$53 per inspection

Payment note

Permit extension $106; second resubmission $100; third resubmission $150; transfer permit to new contractor or new site $53; residential demolition $26; commercial demolition $45; temporary certificate of occupancy residential $53, commercial $106; after-hours inspection $200 (with Building Official approval). Impact fees apply separately and are subject to periodic updates.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective September 16, 2025).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the St. Johns County Building Department to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• (904) 827-6842 (phone)
• County permit-account internet tools (online)

Scheduling deadline

Inspections scheduled before 7:00 a.m. will be performed the same day.

Typical inspection sequence: The permit card, Notice of Commencement (when required), and reviewed construction documents must be on site. No work may proceed past a required inspection point without approval.

Additional Resources

• Building code: 2023 Florida Building Code, 8th Edition, and 2020 National Electrical Code
• Verify contractor license: Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) License Lookup
• Building Codes and Standards
• Fee Schedule
• Impact Fee Schedule
• Your Government
• License lookup guide: Florida Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Florida Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Florida hub: Florida Contractor License & Permit Hub