St. Lucie County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

Permit Authority

The county's Building & Code Regulation Division has building permitting jurisdiction over unincorporated St. Lucie County only. The City of Fort Pierce, City of Port St. Lucie, and Town of St. Lucie Village issue permits to their own residents.

Department

St. Lucie County Planning & Development Services, Building & Code Regulation Division

Address

2300 Virginia Avenue, Fort Pierce, FL 34982

Phone

772-462-1553

Website

https://www.stlucieco.gov/departments-and-services/planning-and-development-services/permitting-zoning

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated St. Lucie County and not inside Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, or St. Lucie Village.
2. Review the county's permit application page and collect required supporting documents.
3. Create or use a Tyler EnerGov Citizen Self Service account and submit the permit application online.
4. Upload plans, affidavits, Notice of Commencement if required, owner-builder forms if applicable, and project-specific attachments.
5. Respond to plan review comments and pay applicable review and permit fees.
6. Obtain permit issuance before starting work.
7. Schedule inspections online through the county platform and obtain final approval before closeout.

Typical processing time: Varies by permit type and complexity. Plans examiners generally available 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; inspectors generally available 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Source: St. Lucie County Planning & Development Services, Building & Code Regulation Division

General Requirements

The county's Building & Code Regulation Division handles building permits, plan review, and inspections for unincorporated St. Lucie County.

Required Documents

• Building permit application
• Supporting attachments
• Notice of Commencement (when required)
• Owner-builder affidavit (when applicable)
• Private provider forms (when applicable)
• Reroof forms (when applicable)
• Project-specific certifications (wind-load, elevation certificate, etc.)

Permit validity

Applications that do not progress with active good faith effort may be considered abandoned. The building official may extend timelines for justifiable delay.

Building code

Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023) — mandatory statewide as of January 1, 2024.

Owner-builder

Owner-builder permits may have special requirements. Contact the county directly for owner-builder rules.

Contractor requirements

Contractors must hold valid licenses and meet applicable bonding and insurance requirements.

Fees

Payment note

Verify current fee schedule directly with the county before filing. Published materials displayed examples of a $5 automated building permit administrative charge and flat residential fast-track fees for some permit types, but the live page references a later adoption resolution.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective Adopted pursuant to Resolution 2025-93).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Minor repairs after a disaster with repair value under $2,500 that do not affect structural integrity, means of egress, or fire resistance (examples: temporary roof tarping, window glazing repairs, debris removal, fence panel reattachment without posts)

Important: Permit exemption does not eliminate the need to use properly licensed contractors when required. More information on exempt work is in section 105.2 of the county's building code administrative amendments.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Tyler EnerGov Citizen Self Service platform (online)
• 772-462-1553 (phone)

Inspection hours

Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023) — mandatory statewide as of January 1, 2024.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Elevation Certificates
• Jurisdiction Map
• License lookup guide: Florida Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Florida Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Florida hub: Florida Contractor License & Permit Hub