Columbia County, FL Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Sec. 26-35(a) makes it unlawful to construct, erect, alter or repair any building in the unincorporated county without first obtaining a permit from the county building inspector and paying the fee set under Sec. 26-34. Two carve-outs apply: nonresidential farm buildings, unless tied to intensive agricultural activity requiring a state industrial waste or wastewater permit, and any construction costing $5,000.00 or less, unless the Florida Building Code requires a permit anyway. A companion utility power permit is required separately before electrical service is connected under Sec.

26-35(b). Once issued, a permit is only a license to proceed, not authority to violate the code, per Sec. 26-38. A permit becomes invalid if work is not started within six months of issuance, or is suspended or abandoned for six months after starting. If a permit lapses, a new permit is required before resuming, and if that is not obtained within 180 days, the building official can require removal of the completed work, or reissue a permit if the existing work still meets current code. The building official may suspend or revoke a permit issued in error, on incorrect information, or through misrepresentation, under Sec. 26-37(5)-(6).