Collier County, FL Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)

Collier County enforces the Florida Building Code, Eighth Edition (2023), for plumbing work under Sec. 22-26, and Sec. 4 lists seventeen specific plumbing exemptions for owners of detached single-family homes and their licensed contractors. A licensed plumbing contractor can do repair work without a permit up to $1,500 in materials and labor, and the list separately exempts repairing solar water panels, changing out an above-ground propane tank of 100 pounds or less, repairing an irrigation system or domestic water service line, clearing a sewer stoppage, repairing a sewer line (except interceptor or separator work, which stays licensed-contractor only), and swapping faucets, water closets, sinks, shut-off valves, house pumps under 2 horsepower, garbage disposals, dishwashers, like-for-like electric water heaters up to 52 gallons, water purification and softener equipment, and residential pool equipment other than the pool heater.

Every item on the list still has to comply with the Florida Building Code Residential and Florida Statutes even though no permit is required, and none of it authorizes work done in a way that otherwise violates the code. Anything larger than $1,500, a water heater over 52 gallons, an interceptor or separator repair, or any plumbing work outside a detached single-family home, needs a permit, plan review, and inspection like any other regulated plumbing job.