Permitting Services

• The Development Services Department (DSD) will be instituting permitting processing, payment and fee changes to comply with Florida House Bill 803 that will take effect on July 1, 2026. These updates are designed to streamline our operations and expedite your application processing times. Please visit the HB 803 Permitting Updates page for details.
• In response to House Bill 735, effective September 1, 2025, non-licensed contractors are now eligible to register and apply for permits for minor construction work. Please visit LauderBuild to register.
• For a voluntarily application by a property owner for a permit to tear down a building, that permit is valid for 60 days. The owner must finish the demolition within those 60 days. If they don't, the permit will expire, and they may need to get a new one to continue, as accorded in Florida Building Code, section 105.18.1.

Current Edition of the Florida Building Code

• Florida Building Code

Municode: City Of Fort Lauderdale - Unified Land Development Regulations

• Municode: City Of Fort Lauderdale ULDR

General Information

• Inspections can be scheduled on LauderBuild. Need help? View the LauderBuild FAQ page for guides.
• Request exemption from the noise ordinance: In order for a contractor to work outside of normal work hours, the contractor must submit a noise control/management plan. The noise control/management plan must be approved by the Building Official and City Manager before any work outside of the normal hours is commenced. View the Request Exemption from the Noise Ordinance Guide(PDF, 358KB) for details.
• ADA Inspections will now be conducted as a separate inspection, instead of in conjunction with a final inspection. An ADA Inspection must be scheduled and passed prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Completion for structures that will be occupied by people.
• Call 811 Before You Dig!: Every dig calls for 811. In fact, it’s the law. Safe digging is everyone's responsibility. Call 811 or visit Sunshine811 for more information or to submit a ticket online.
• Florida's Construction Lien Law - Protect Yourself and Your Investment: According to Florida Statute 713, Part 1, as it pertains to home construction and remodeling, those who work on your property or provide materials, and are not paid-in-full, have a right to enforce their claim for payment against your property. This claim is known as a construction lien. If your contractor fails to pay subcontractors or material suppliers, the people who are owed money may look to your property for payment, even if you have paid your contractor in full. This means that if a lien is filed against your property, your property could be sold, against your will, to pay for labor, materials, or other services which your contractor may have failed to pay.

Fort Lauderdale City Boundaries Map

The City of Fort Lauderdale will only process permit applications for addresses inside its City boundaries. Visit the Property Reporter GIS Map to check your address. You can search by address, folio/parcel, commission district and more.

Broward County Epermits Onestop

Visit Broward County's ePermits OneStop website customers to apply online and receive quicker approval for Broward County permits, saving a visit and wait time at the office.

Following are links for guides and contact info:

• How to Apply (ePermits OneStop)
• Asbestos Certificate
• Transportation Concurrency & Environmental Review
• Notice of Commencement
• Broward Support Hotline

Building Permit & Inspection Utilization Reports

• Building Permit and Inspection Utilization Report - FY 21(PDF, 538KB)
• Building Permit and Inspection Utilization Report - FY 22(PDF, 603KB)
• Building Permit and Inspection Utilization Report - FY 23(PDF, 676KB)
• Building Permit and Inspection Utilization Report - FY 24(PDF, 540KB)

You do not need a demolition permit to remove work installed without permits unless you intend on demolishing any additional portions of the building.

Yes, you need a permit.

Yes, Zoning permit only. Gravel driveways are not allowed within the Riverland annexed and Broward County zoned areas.

Yes, a building permit is required. All sheds must have any of the following to qualify for installation within the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ):

• Signed and sealed shop drawings from a Florida Licensed Engineer or
• State of Florida product approval or
• Miami-Dade County Notice of Acceptance.

Yes, a permit is required as well as approval from Broward County.

Yes, Zoning only.

In simplest terms, you should obtain a permit to ensure that any work done on your home or business is done safely and correctly. Per Chapter 1 of the Florida Building Code Sec. 105.1 and section 553.79 (1), Florida Statutes: Any owner, authorized agent, or contractor who desires to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy or occupant content of a building or structure, or any outside area being used as part of the building’s designated occupancy (single or mixed) or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by the technical codes, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit for the work. For helpful checklists and information, please use our interactive permitting diagram.

Approval times vary based on complexity and work load but we generally attempt to review permit applications within 30 working days (per FBC 105.3.1).

Permit status may be viewed at LauderBuild.

An application for a permit for any proposed work shall be deemed to have been abandoned 180 days after the date of filing, unless such application has been pursued in good faith or a permit has been issued.

Yes, a permit can be renewed once, beyond that it is the decision of the Building Official. If a permit is renewed before it expires, you will be assessed a fee of 50 percent of the original permit fee. If the permit is renewed after it expires you will be assessed 100 percent of the original permit fee.

As the owner of a one or two family dwelling you my act as your own contractor and do the work yourself, provided that the home is for your own use, and is not for sale or lease. You must also do the work yourself, or provide direct on site supervision. If you are the owner of a commercial property, you are required to hire a contractor for any work that requires a permit and inspection. You will need to complete and sign an Owner/Builder Affidavit Form(PDF, 269KB) and acknowledge that you understand your legal responsibilities (per Sec. 9-28 of the Fort Lauderdale Code of Ordinances).

Greg Brewton Center
Development Services Department (DSD)
700 NW 19th Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311

You are always welcome to contact the Building Official, however, it may be quicker to contact the Chief Inspector of the discipline that you have questions about. Most times, you may receive a quicker response from the Chief of Structural (Building), Electrical, Plumbing, Flood or Mechanical (Heating and Air Conditioning).

Other disciplines also review drawings, such as Landscaping, Zoning, and Engineering (pertaining to civil and utility infrastructure). Fire will review the drawings for all buildings other than 1 and 2 family dwellings.

Visit the DSD Contact Information page for contact information.

• If your contract exceeds $5,000.00, a Notice of Commencement must be filed by the homeowner or contractor (per FBC 105.8).
• In accordance with Section 713.13 (1) (h) of the Florida Statutes, a “Notice of Commencement” must be filed with the Clerk of the Court (County Records Division) prior to commencement of construction of a project, and a certified copy or affidavit attesting to the recording of the Notice of Commencement, must be posted at the job site. This notice contains detailed information about the project such as property owner, financial institution, job site address, contractor, etc., and protects the property owner’s title to the property.
• Failure to record a Notice of Commencement may result in paying twice for improvements to the property. If you intend to obtain financing, consult with your lender or an attorney before recording your Notice of Commencement. A recorded copy of the Notice of Commencement must be posted on the job-site.
• Notice of Commencement

Governmental Center West
1 N. University Drive
Plantation, FL 33324

or

Broward County Records, Taxes and Treasury Division
Broward County Governmental Center Room 114
115 S. Andrews Ave.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Governmental Center West
1 N. University Drive, Building A - Suite 102
Plantation, FL 33324
(954) 765-4400

Yes, all exterior work requires a current, signed, and sealed survey as well as a site plan locating all proposed work. The following permit types can be submitted with copies of a current, valid survey along with a completed Zoning Affidavit.

• Fences
• Driveways
• Walks
• Patios
• Site walls
• Decks
• Docks
• Seawalls
• Sheds
• Public sidewalks

Power will not be released under most circumstances until the building has received all required inspections and all fees due are paid.

Visit the DSD Contact Information page for Chief and Inspector contact information.

Inspections are generally conducted between 8:00 am and 3:30 pm.

• To request an after-hours inspection, please contact the Chief of the discipline for the inspection type (an additional fee may be applicable).
• To request a specific time accommodation, please contact your inspector between 7:30 am and 8:00 am.

Visit the DSD Contact Information page for Chief and Inspector contact information.

To cancel an inspection, you may contact the DSD Customer Service call center at954-828-6520, Option 1 between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm or you may contact your assigned Inspector directly. Visit the DSD Contact Information page for contact information.

As of January 1, 2024, LP / Contractor updates / renewals will no longer be accepted through email or physical mail. Updates must be submitted through LauderBuild using the Contractor Registration Renewal application.

Contractors (LP's) may submit a new registration application or renew/update documents online at LauderBuild. Please visit the Contractor Registration & Renewals page for details.

Yes. Always ensure that your business is licensed to operate in the City of Fort Lauderdale, even after applying for a commercial permit.

To apply for a Business Tax License please visit LauderBuild to submit your application online. Please view the Business Tax section of the DSD Document Library for a submission checklist or to download applicable affidavits to add to your submission.

Yes. DSD offers the ability to schedule in-house appointments for certain services.

Building Services offers daily appointments for the following:

1. Permit Assistance
2. Permitting Pickups

Find more information or schedule an appointment in the DSD Appointment Scheduling page.