St. Lucie County, FL Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Requirement
- permit/license before any right-of-way work
- Applies to
- underground, surface, overhead work
- Fee
- due at application, except franchised utilities
- Unpermitted work
- double fee under § 36-6(b)
- Reviewed by
- public works director or designee
- Appeal
- board of adjustment, 30-day window
Summary
Any work in a St. Lucie County right-of-way, from a utility line to a driveway apron, needs a permit or license agreement first under Code § 36-4. The public works director reviews and issues or denies every application, and all but franchised-utility applicants pay a fee when they apply.
(a)This chapter establishes the mandatory permitting and authorization procedure for any work performed within county rights of way. This will apply to all underground, surface, or overhead work to be done within the county rights of way; included is work within the travel way, paved areas, unpaved areas, areas between the pavement or travel way.(b)A permit or license agreement for the proposed work must be obtained before any work is performed in or on the county's rights of way.(c)An application for the appropriate permit or license agreement, depending on the nature and/or location of the proposed improvement, on a form provided by the county is required. Except for franchised utility companies, all permits for construction and improvements shall require payment of a fee at the time of application.(d)The public works director, or his/her designee, is authorized to collect fees, receive, review, and issue/deny permits and license agreements.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 32 | Land Development Code: Supplement 36).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 36, rewritten by Ordinance No. 25-015 on July 22, 2025, requires anyone doing underground, surface or overhead work in a county right-of-way, including in the travel way itself, paved and unpaved shoulders, and the space between pavement and the right-of-way line, to get a permit or license agreement before starting. 03 for a private access connection to a road, a roadway closure permit when the work will render a road segment impassible, and a revocable license agreement for facilities in an unused county drainage or utility easement.
Applicants file on the county's own form, and every applicant except a franchised utility company pays a fee at the time of application; unpermitted work in the right-of-way costs double that fee under § 36-6(b), on top of any code enforcement penalty. The public works director or a designee collects fees and reviews, issues or denies each application, and § 36-10(c) requires the director to find the work will not endanger public safety or injure surrounding property and is consistent with the county code, land development code and comprehensive plan before granting it. A denied applicant can appeal to the board of adjustment within 30 days under § 36-14, and the board must decide within 45 days.
Violations & Fines
Working in a county right-of-way without the § 36-4 permit or license agreement is unlawful under § 36-7 and can draw code enforcement action plus a fee doubled under § 36-6(b). The county may also seek injunctive or declaratory relief in circuit court, and can require the violator to restore the right-of-way to its original condition or pay the county to do the restoration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to put a pipe under my street's right-of-way?
What happens if I do right-of-way work without a permit?
Can I appeal if the county denies my right-of-way permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Lucie County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare St. Lucie County to another location·View the Florida sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
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