In the unincorporated areas of Broward County and in those municipalities under contract for building services with the County, a permit is required to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, remove or demolish any building, structure or part thereof. The need for and type(s) of permits required are based on the scope of work.
The Permitting, Licensing & Consumer Protection Division is responsible for:
requiring that property owners or the contractors they hire obtain a permit for new construction or for certain alterations of an existing residential or commercial building. This ensures that the work will be performed in conformance with the Florida Building Code and all applicable ordinances, building codes, laws, rules, resolutions and regulations in effect in Broward County, Florida.
performing inspections to verify that the work is done in accordance with these laws, thus protecting the health, safety and welfare of the public, and helping the business or home owner to avoid enforcement penalties for non-compliant work, which may be hazardous or dangerous.
administering and enforcing Minimum Housing/Unsafe Structure regulations and such other County ordinances relating to permitting that affect land, property structures and the environment.
New Permits
If the building you wish to construct, remodel or repair is located in unincorporated Broward County or a municipality under contractual agreement with the county to provide building services, your first stop before submitting an application for a building permit is to visit or call the Broward County Development and Environmental Regulation Division, located at 1 N. University Drive, Plantation, FL 33317, 954-357-6666. This division ensures that the regional impacts of a proposed development comply with the Broward County Land Development Code and Broward County Natural Resource Protection Code. They also inform you if your project requires any sign-offs from other agencies.
NOTE: Many cities in Broward County have their own requirements for permitting, and also issue permits to their residents. Please contact the office of the city where your building is located to determine if your permit can be obtained there. Broward County City Links
Although a homeowner may apply for a homeowner-builder permit, doing so places all liability for damages or injury on the homeowner, who is also responsible for making sure the work is done in conformance with the applicable state and local laws and regulations. We highly recommend that you hire a qualified contractor who is licensed by either Broward County or the State of Florida to perform the specific type of work you need.
For buildings located in unincorporated Broward County or in a municipality under contractual agreement with Broward County to provide building services, a permit is required for a wide variety of construction, remodeling and repair work, including (but not limited to) the following:
Residential Permits
Single Family Homes
Duplexes
Multi-Residential Apartment buildings
Townhouses
Commercial Permits
Manufacturing Plants
Offices
Stores
Warehouses
Accessory Permits
Air Conditioning installation or replacement
Burglar Alarms
Decks
Docks
Fences
Generators, permanent (residential and commercial)
Hurricane Shutters
Lawn Sprinklers
Low-voltage electric (includes cable/telephone/internet installations, burglar/fire alarm systems,
landscape lighting)
Pools (Residential)
Propane Gas Tank Systems
Reroofs/Roof repairs
Screen Enclosures
Sheds
Water Heater installation or replacement
Window/Door Replacement
You may download a permit application by clicking on one of the links below. However, if you have a question, please visit our office at Government Center West, 1 N. University Drive in Plantation, or call 954-765-4400 and press Option 1. Our office hours are 8:00am to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
