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

Sec. 49, in Part 2, Article 1 of Chapter 21 (Building and Housing Regulations), tells owners, contractors and plumbers which technical rulebook governs plumbing work on an existing structure: the codes and standards referenced in the Property Maintenance Code are those adopted by Florida Statutes, including but not limited to the Florida Building Code, the Florida Residential Code, the Florida Plumbing Code, the Florida Mechanical Code, the Florida Fuel Gas Code, the Florida Existing Building Code and the National Electric Code, considered part of the Property Maintenance Code's requirements to the prescribed extent of each reference; where differences occur between the Property Maintenance Code and those referenced standards, the Property Maintenance Code controls.

In practice that means a plumber repairing or replacing fixtures, water heaters or drain lines in an existing Martin County dwelling must meet the Florida Plumbing Code's technical requirements, but the County's own Property Maintenance Code sections control if the two disagree. Sec. 45 reinforces this by requiring that repairs, additions or alterations to a structure be done under the procedures of the Florida Existing Building Code, and Sec. 50 gives the Building Official authority to decide requirements not specifically covered by either code. There is one carve-out: Sec.

48 exempts buildings or structures the Building Official has designated historic from mandatory Property Maintenance Code compliance, including its plumbing-standard references, when the Building Official judges the structure safe and in the public interest. The actual permit for plumbing work moves through the County's general building-permit process in Chapter 21, Part 1: Sec. 7 authorizes the Building Official to require site and floor plans for certain occupancies, and Sec. A directs the Building Official to inspect buildings, structures, electrical, gas, mechanical, and plumbing systems both before and during work performed under an issued permit.

A permit applicant aggrieved by a Building Official decision on a plumbing permit can appeal to the Adjustments and Appeals Board within 30 days under Sec. A, with further appeal to circuit court.