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

1 of the Seminole County Building and Construction Code, Appendix A, requires any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to install, alter, repair or replace impact-resistant coverings or an electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system covered by the code, to first apply to the building official and obtain a permit. 2 lists exemptions covering oil derricks, water tanks on grade under 5,000 gallons with a height-to-diameter ratio no greater than 2:1, painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets and countertops, prefabricated above-ground swimming pools under 24 inches deep and 5,000 gallons, shade cloth agricultural structures, playground swings and equipment accessory to a one- or two-family dwelling, window awnings projecting no more than 54 inches, and movable fixtures, racks and partitions under 5 feet 9 inches tall.

None of those exemptions authorizes work that otherwise violates the code or, notably, work in a special flood hazard area, which still must satisfy the local floodplain management ordinance. 3, dated to lock in the code edition governing the permit for its life, and the Building Division has posted every application type online with electronic submission available since October 1, 2017. 13 lets the building official issue a foundation-only permit before the rest of the construction documents are complete, again at the holder's risk.