Margate, FL Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Chapter 9 of the Margate Code controls who can pull a permit and when one is needed. Section 9-4 makes it unlawful to construct, alter, move, enlarge, replace, repair, install equipment, change use or occupancy, remove or demolish any building or structure in the City of Margate unless the person or firm holds a certificate of competency issued by the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation under F.S. Chapter 489 parts one and two, or by the Broward County central examining board. Section 9-5 follows: applications for permit are accepted only from persons or firms qualified under section 9-4. Section 9-7 adopts the 2007 edition of the Florida Building Code, all future amendments and any successor code, together with the Broward County Administration Section 100, as the city's minimum building requirements.

Section 9-21 sets the money side. Permit fees are set by resolution of the city commission, and each fee includes inspection of the completed work. Extra inspection trips for condemned work, work that does not match the code or approved plans, or work not ready when called are charged separately, and payment is due before the next reinspection or permit. Estimated costs use a verified contract figure or the R.S. Means cost data, whichever is greater. A person who begins work without a valid permit is charged under the commission's fee schedule. A refund of a building permit fee requires that the permit was received within the prior six months, work has not commenced, the same applicant applies in writing with the permit and job card, and the applicant has not been cited for unpermitted work in the past twelve months. The refund is reduced by a processing fee.

Related limits sit nearby. Construction equipment cannot run between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. or on Sundays and federal holidays under section 9-6, though the building official can grant special permits of up to thirty days. A pool contractor must post a $500.00 cash bond before a pool permit issues under section 9-6.1. Section 40.309 of the Land Development Code lets the Department of Environmental and Engineering Services, Development Services Department, and Building and Code Services Department issue permits once every requirement is met.