Building Safety in Highlands County, FL (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Highlands County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Building Permits
Highlands County requires a building permit from the Building Department before any building or other structure in the unincorporated area is erected, moved, added to or structurally altered. Section 12.03.101 ties the permit to the standards in Article 16 of the Land Development Regulations, and unpermitted work is a misdemeanor punishable per day of violation.
Highlands County Building Permit Requirement
Some RestrictionsHighlands County Code § 12.03.101
No building or other structure shall be erected, moved, added to or structurally altered without a building permit, therefore, issued by the building department pursuant to the requirements of article 16 of this chapter. No building permit shall be issued except in conformity with the provisions of this chapter. A building permit, when issued, authorizes only the construction and the use therei...
Electrical Permits
In unincorporated Highlands County, any contractor installing or repairing electrical systems must hold a permit and comply with the county's licensing rules. The Building Official administers permits under the county's technical codes, and revokes any permit issued on a false application or work that violates code requirements.
Electrical Permits in Unincorporated Highlands County
Some RestrictionsHighlands County Code § 12.16.304
Section 12.16.304. - Contractors responsibilities. It shall be the duty of every contractor who shall make contracts for the installation or repairs of building, structure, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems for which a permit is required to comply with state or local rules and regulations concerning licensing, which the BCC may have adopted.
Plumbing Permits
Highlands County's Land Development Regulations incorporate the Florida Building Code's Plumbing volume by reference and, under Sec. 12.16.304, require any contractor installing or repairing a plumbing system to hold the permit that provision requires and comply with state and county licensing rules. The Building Department enforces the requirement.
Highlands County Plumbing Permit and Contractor Rule
Some RestrictionsHighlands County Code § 12.16.304
It shall be the duty of every contractor who shall make contracts for the installation or repairs of building, structure, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems for which a permit is required to comply with state or local rules and regulations concerning licensing, which the BCC may have adopted.
Building Inspections
In unincorporated Highlands County, construction work goes through staged inspections tied to the building permit: building, electrical, mechanical, gas and fire-suppression trades each get a rough-in check and a final inspection before a certificate of occupancy issues. The fire marshal coordinates these inspections with the Building Official under the county's fire code.
Building Inspection Stages in Highlands County
Some RestrictionsHighlands County Code § 12.17.205
C.Required inspections. The fire marshal, upon notification from the building official or his agent, shall make the following inspections and such other inspections as necessary and shall either release that portion of the construction or shall notify the building official or his agent of any violations which must be corrected in order to comply with this fire code.1.Building: Final inspection:...
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