RESIDENTIAL

Residential Architect for Florida projects

Design and documentation for new homes, additions, renovations and residential accessory buildings.

What the work involves

Start with how you want the home to work: the rooms you need, how they connect and what needs to change. The architect develops those ideas around the site and existing building, then coordinates the drawings and any specialist design needed for the agreed scope.

The scope may include

Site plan with setbacks and impervious area
Floor plans showing the owner's room requirements
Exterior elevations from all four sides
Roof plan showing slopes and drainage
Building sections through the main volume
Wall and foundation details
Window and door schedule
Framing plan with header sizes

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

Choose the work you are planning

A new home begins with a brief and the site. An addition begins with the existing house and the connections to new space. A renovation starts by establishing what will stay, move or be removed. Choose the project page that best matches the work, or describe it in your request if several scopes are involved.

An independent dwelling or a small multi-unit development introduces different use, access and site questions. Discuss those early rather than treating the work as an ordinary room remodel.

Garages, workshops and accessory buildings

For a detached garage, workshop or storage building, begin with its intended use, size and position on the lot. Share the survey and explain any vehicle access, equipment or services the building needs. The practice can establish the site and design information needed for that proposal.

A building used for living accommodation raises different questions from a storage shed or workshop. If you want a separate dwelling, use the ADU page and explain the intended occupancy. Do not assume that a similar footprint means the same approvals or drawing scope.

Common project situations

Examples of where this service can help:

New house on an infill lot
Primary suite and kitchen combined remodel
Second-story addition over a ranch house
House reworked for aging in place
Canal-front home raised above the flood elevation
Duplex or small multifamily building

Planning the scope

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

Existing conditions to discuss

1950s block house with a rear addition from the 1980s
Narrow lot between two existing homes
House with a converted garage that was never permitted
Home with original single-glazed openings
Mature tree canopy shading the roof

Coordination with other specialists

Structural framing and truss engineering
Mechanical design for the new envelope
Electrical layout and panel capacity
Plumbing layout for added fixtures
Surveyor for the lot and the flood elevation
Tree protection and landscape work

Issues that may affect review

Design that presses against a setback or height limit
Addition that changes the roof structure of the house
Property in a flood zone or wind-borne debris region
Home inside a historic district or a neighbourhood with design standards
Windows and doors without product approval

Work to discuss separately

Structural design of the foundation and framing
Interior decoration and furniture selection
Construction contracting and trade supervision
Landscape architecture for the grounds
Property boundary and title work

FLORIDA PERMIT DATA

What the permit records show

Data through August 2026

Matching permits: 253,189
Median declared job value: $190,000
Middle 50% of declared values: $112.2k–$300k
Permits with a declared value: 240,148

"single-family residence" appears in 253,189 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 240,148 matching permits with a declared value.
How we count.

All single-family residence data

How the work progresses

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

Project requirements and site constraints reviewed with the owner
Existing conditions measured and drawn
Layout studies developed and narrowed down
Design developed into permit-level drawings
Set submitted and coordinated with the trades
Revisions answered through plan review

Questions about this service

Do I need an architect to build a house in Florida?

Florida law provides exemptions for some residential work, but the proposed building still needs to meet the applicable requirements. Ask the building department and a design professional what documentation and professional involvement your project needs.

Can a stock plan be adapted for my lot?

Often, but the plan needs to be reviewed for the lot, proposed construction and applicable requirements. Changes may be needed for setbacks, wind conditions, flood elevation or the way the home will be used.

What does the design process look like from the owner's side?

The architect reviews your priorities, budget and site information, then develops layouts for you to discuss. Once the direction is agreed, the design is developed into the drawings and details included in the scope. Confirm how many design revisions and review responses are included.

How does the Florida climate shape the design?

Wind, heavy rain, heat and humidity influence the roof, openings, drainage, wall details and mechanical systems. The design should address the conditions at the property rather than rely on a general assumption about Florida homes.

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