PERMITS & PLANS

Permit Plans across Florida

Permit drawings and sealed documents, with the scope and responsible designers agreed for your project.

What the work involves

A permit plan set brings the proposed work into one coordinated package for review. It shows what will change, how it will be built and the code information relevant to the application. The required sheets depend on the property, the scope and the building department.

The scope may include

Cover sheet with code summary and drawing index
Site plan showing setbacks and impervious area
Dimensioned floor plan of the proposed work
Exterior elevations keyed to the finish schedule
Building sections cut through the new space
Wall section details at foundation and roof
Roof framing plan with member sizes
Door and window schedule with product approvals
Energy compliance form matched to the envelope

The final documents and any separate engineering work are confirmed with the practice before work starts.

When you already have a design

Share the drawings and the proposed scope before requesting a permit set. A sketch, supplier layout or purchased plan may explain the idea without providing all the information needed for review. The practice needs to establish what can be relied on and which drawings or supporting documents remain to be prepared.

If the layout is still undecided, allow for design work before the permit documents are completed. Confirm who provides the survey, structural design and building-system information so the set describes one coordinated proposal.

Sealed documents and existing drawings

If a reviewer, lender or insurer asks for sealed documents, provide the written request and the drawings it refers to. The responsible professional must establish the scope and assess the available information before agreeing what can be issued. An existing drawing set may need verification, changes or replacement.

Architectural and engineering documents can involve different responsible designers. Confirm which documents need preparation and sealing, who handles each discipline and how later changes are issued. A request for an inspection report or a record of existing conditions may belong to a different service.

Common project situations

Examples of where this service can help:

New single-family house on a recorded lot
Room addition and second-story addition
Interior remodel that moves a wall
Garage converted into living space
Detached garage or workshop on a residential lot
Shell commercial building with no interior fit-out
Accessory structure behind an existing house

Planning the scope

These points help define the work before drawings or reports are prepared.

Existing conditions to discuss

Vacant lot with a property survey and staked corners
House with previous alterations that were never permitted
Shell building with core walls and no partitions inside
Older structure whose framing does not match the drawings on file
Commercial suite with an existing ceiling grid and diffusers

Coordination with other specialists

Structural framing and header sizing at openings
Mechanical layout for newly conditioned space
Electrical plan for added circuits and devices
Plumbing riser for new fixtures
Surveyor for lot lines and flood elevation
Truss engineering for the roof structure

Issues that may affect review

Scope that does not match the recorded lot survey
Open permit history on the property
Structure inside a flood zone or wind-borne debris region
Second-story work carried over an older first floor
Deferred submittals left open for trusses or fire systems
Missing product approval numbers on the opening schedule

Work to discuss separately

Structural design carried by another discipline
Site civil plans for subdivision or stormwater permitting
Construction contracting and trade labor
Interior decor and furnishings
Boundary surveying and land title work

FLORIDA PERMIT DATA

What the permit records show

Data through August 2026

Matching permits: 53,358
Median declared job value: $233,300
Middle 50% of declared values: $148.5k–$320.9k
Permits with a declared value: 49,721

"new construction" appears in 53,358 matching permits in the Florida records we analyzed. Declared job value is the value shown on the permit application, not a contract price, and it is based on 49,721 matching permits with a declared value.
How we count.

All new construction data

How the work progresses

Typical steps are outlined below. The practice confirms the scope and who handles each stage.

Review the proposed work and available property information. Establish whether design development or additional measurement is needed before the permit set can be prepared.
Agree the required documents and responsible designers. Coordinate the survey, architectural layout and relevant specialist information within the appointment.
Prepare and check the set. Confirm that the drawings describe the same scope and identify any documents the reviewing office allows to follow separately.
Submit and respond within the agreed scope. The owner, contractor and practice should know who files the application, tracks comments and arranges revised documents.

Questions about this service

What is included in a permit plan set?

A typical set may include a site plan, floor plans, elevations, sections, details and a code summary. Structural and building-system information may also be needed. The practice confirms the required documents; only items the building department allows to be deferred can be submitted later.

Can I use stock house plans for a Florida permit?

They can be a starting point, but they need to be reviewed for the property, the applicable code and the proposed construction. The practice can confirm which sheets need to be adapted or redrawn, including site, wind, energy and framing information.

Who applies for the permit?

The owner or contractor generally handles the application, with the drawings attached. Confirm who will file it and who will respond to review comments when agreeing the scope with the practice and contractor.

What happens if the reviewer cannot verify something from the drawings?

The reviewer may request clarification, revised drawings or supporting documents. The response should address each comment and identify any changes. Agree who will handle that work and whether it is included in the original fee.

What happens after I send a request?

We pass your project details to a Florida architecture practice. Discuss the scope, fees and schedule directly with the practice before deciding to proceed.

Tell us about your project

Share the location and what you have in mind. A practice can review the scope and quote the work you need.

Request a quote See coverage

Prefer to talk it through? (321) 462-5592 or ask@floridaarch.com