Building Safety in Monroe County, FL (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Monroe County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Green Building Code
Monroe County has not adopted a separate green building code for the unincorporated Florida Keys. Instead, the county's Rate of Growth Ordinance (ROGO) permit-allocation system rewards it: a Tier III dwelling unit certified to a sustainable building rating system or a national model green building code earns 3 competitive points toward the annual residential building-permit lottery, alongside credits for a 1,000-gallon cistern, a gray water system and solar power.
Green Building Certification Credit in ROGO
Light RestrictionsMonroe County Land Development Code §§ 138-24(d), 138-28(a)(10)
(d)Dwelling unit allocation required. The county shall issue no building permit for a dwelling unit unless such dwelling unit:(1)Has a dwelling unit allocation award; or(2)Is exempted from the dwelling unit allocation system pursuant to this chapter or is deemed vested pursuant to Section 138-22. ... ... Sec. 138-28. - Evaluation Criteria (ROGO). ... (10)Energy and Water Conservation. The follo...
Building Permits
In the unincorporated Florida Keys (Monroe County), Section 6-100 requires a permit for every category of work listed in its table, including all new construction and remodeling of principal and accessory structures, unless a specific residential exception applies.
When a Building Permit Is Required, Monroe County
Some RestrictionsMonroe County Code § 6-100
(a)Applicability. ... A permit shall be required for all work shown in the following table, except where specifically exempted this section. ... Any new construction and remodeling work of principal and accessory structures Interior remodeling where the fair market value of such work is less than $2,500.00 and there is no change in the original size or configuration.
Electrical Permits
In the unincorporated Florida Keys (Monroe County), Section 6-100's permit table requires a permit for all work in the electrical trade, with only normal maintenance or minor repairs under $2,500.00 exempted, and even that exception never applies to new electrical work.
Electrical Permit Requirement, Monroe County
Some RestrictionsMonroe County Code § 6-100
All work in the electrical, mechanical, and plumbing trades Normal maintenance or ordinary minor repairs where the fair market value of such work is less than $2,500.00.
Building Inspections
Unincorporated Monroe County ties every building permit to a sequence of required inspections. The Building Official times and sequences each one, a surveyor-certified foundation survey must clear before framing, and a final inspection has to pass before a certificate of occupancy issues.
Building Inspection Process in Monroe County
Some RestrictionsMonroe County Code §§ 6-140, 6-144
The Building Official, upon notification from the permit holder or his or her agent, shall make inspections required by the Florida Building Code and this chapter and shall either release that portion of construction or shall notify the permit holder or his or her agent of any violations that must be corrected to comply with the Florida Building Code and this chapter. ... Foundation survey. A f...
All Monroe County ordinances
See every category we cover for Monroe County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Monroe County Ordinance Hub →