Bradford County - Starke, Lawtey, Hampton, and the corridor between Gainesville and Jacksonville - issues building permits through Building, Zoning & Fire Prevention, located in the North Wing of the County Courthouse at 945 North Temple Avenue in Starke. It's a compact, three-function office covering building permits, zoning, and fire prevention review, and the county has adopted a new permit fee schedule - so figures quoted from older sources no longer apply.
Applies to unincorporated Bradford County. Starke, Lawtey, Hampton, and Brooker coordinate municipal matters through their own city halls - confirm the routing for city-limits parcels before filing.
What requires a building permit in Bradford County?
Under the Florida Building Code (§105.1), a permit is required before you construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of most structures and systems. New for 2026: Florida HB 803 (effective July 1, 2026) created additional building-permit exemptions for certain single-family residential work - notably F.S. 553.79(1)(g), which can exempt qualifying work valued under $7,500 when it involves no electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas, or structural work, the home is not in a Special Flood Hazard Area, and the owner submits a written exemption request to the Building Official. Ask the permit counter whether your scope qualifies before assuming a permit is needed.
Permit required
- New homes, additions, and commercial construction
- Structural or load-bearing alterations and demolition
- Roof replacements and window / door replacements
- Electrical service changes and most wiring work
- Mechanical / HVAC installations and changeouts
- Plumbing alterations, repipes, and water heaters
- Mobile and manufactured home set-ups and replacements
- Projects triggering fire prevention review
Usually exempt
- Painting, flooring, cabinets, and cosmetic finishes
- Like-for-like minor repairs that don't alter systems
- Routine maintenance that doesn't extend or reroute systems
- Certain minor single-family work newly exempted by HB 803 (verify)
Who handles permitting in Bradford County?
All permitting is administered by the Bradford County Building, Zoning & Fire Prevention through the Courthouse North Wing intake + online permit search (County permitting system).
- Address: County Courthouse, North Wing, 945 N. Temple Ave., Starke, FL 32091 (P.O. Box B)
- Hours: Mon-Thu 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (closed 12:00-12:30); Fri 8:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Bradford County permit types
A building permit is one record among many. Building, Zoning & Fire Prevention issues work under separate record types, and filing under the wrong one is a rejection, not a correction — the application is closed and refiled, and the review clock restarts.
Residential permit types
| Permit type | What triggers it | Review path | Fee basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New construction | New dwellings, additions, and accessory structures over the exempt threshold | Full plan review (structural, energy, zoning) | Valuation-based |
| Renovation / alteration | Structural or load-bearing changes, layout changes, substantial repair | Plan review scaled to scope | Valuation-based |
| Reroof | Roof covering replacement and most major roof repair | Product approval review; dry-in and nail-off inspections | Valuation or squares |
| Solar photovoltaic | Rooftop or ground-mount PV installation or replacement | Structural plus electrical review | Flat or system-size based |
| Solar thermal | Passive water heating or pool heating systems | Plumbing and structural review | Flat or per-permit minimum |
| Electrical | Service changes, panel upgrades, new circuits, most wiring alterations | Trade review; filed against the building permit | Per-permit minimum or per-device |
| Plumbing | New piping, repipes, water heaters, fixtures, gas piping | Trade review; filed against the building permit | Per-permit minimum or per-fixture |
| Mechanical / HVAC | Changeouts that are not like-for-like, ductwork, refrigeration | Trade review; filed against the building permit | Per-permit minimum or per-unit |
| Windows and doors | Replacement units and opening protection | Product approval review for wind-borne debris | Valuation or per-opening |
| Pool and spa | In-ground and above-ground pools, spas, barrier and enclosure work | Plan review plus barrier and electrical bonding | Valuation-based |
| Fence and accessory | Fences, sheds, decks, and carports over the exempt threshold | Zoning plus structural where applicable | Flat or valuation-based |
| Demolition | Full or partial demolition of a structure | Utility disconnect verification required | Flat |
Commercial permit types
| Permit type | What triggers it | Review path | Fee basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New construction | Ground-up commercial, industrial, and multifamily | Full multi-discipline plan review | Valuation-based |
| Tenant improvement | Interior build-outs and suite fit-ups | Plan review across affected disciplines | Valuation-based |
| Renovation / alteration | Structural, envelope, or system changes to an existing building | Plan review scaled to scope | Valuation-based |
| Change of use | Converting a building from one occupancy classification to another | Zoning, life-safety, and accessibility review | Valuation or flat |
| Reroof | Commercial roof covering replacement | Product approval review plus fire review where applicable | Valuation or squares |
| Solar photovoltaic | Commercial rooftop, carport, and ground-mount PV | Structural, electrical, and often fire review | Valuation or system-size based |
| Electrical | Service, distribution, and branch circuit work | Trade review | Valuation or per-device |
| Plumbing | Supply, waste, vent, and gas systems | Trade review | Valuation or per-fixture |
| Mechanical / HVAC | Rooftop units, ductwork, exhaust, and refrigeration | Trade review | Valuation or per-unit |
| Fire protection | Sprinkler, standpipe, alarm, and suppression systems | Fire prevention plan review | Valuation or per-device |
| Sign | Wall, monument, and illuminated signage | Zoning plus electrical where illuminated | Flat or per-sign |
| Demolition | Full or partial commercial demolition | Utility disconnect and environmental clearance | Flat or valuation-based |
Residential
- Single-discipline review in most cases
- Master permit with trades filed against it
- Owner-builder route exists but carries statutory affidavits
- Product approval drives roofing and opening protection
Commercial — multi-discipline
- Concurrent review across building, fire, and zoning
- Signed and sealed plans across every affected discipline
- Accessibility and life-safety review attach to change of use
- Impact and concurrency fees can apply on top of permit fees
Solar permits in Bradford County
Solar is permitted as its own record type in most Florida jurisdictions rather than rolled into a general building permit, and residential and commercial photovoltaic are usually separate records with different document sets. Solar thermal — passive water and pool heating — is a third, distinct record.
A photovoltaic submittal is reviewed on two tracks at once: structural (roof load path, attachment spacing, uplift) and electrical (conductor sizing, rapid shutdown, point of interconnection). A single-line diagram and a signed and sealed structural attachment detail are the two attachments most often missing on a first submittal.
Under Fla. Stat. §163.04, a homeowners' association cannot prohibit a solar collector on a dwelling — HOA architectural approval is not a prerequisite to permit issuance, though it may still be a contractual matter between owner and association.
Utility interconnection runs parallel to the building permit, not inside it. Permission to Operate is issued by the utility after the final electrical inspection clears.
Roofing permits in Bradford County
A roof covering replacement requires a permit in every Florida jurisdiction. Repairs below the local threshold may not, but the threshold is scope-specific and confirming it with the building department before tear-off is cheaper than an after-the-fact permit.
Every roof product must carry a current Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance rated for the wind speed at the project address. A product approval number that has lapsed or is rated below the site wind speed is the single most common reroof rejection.
Reroof inspections are sequenced: dry-in after the underlayment, nail-off on the sheathing fastening, and final. Covering the deck before the dry-in inspection means tearing it back open.
Hurricane mitigation retrofit requirements can attach when an existing roof is replaced, including secondary water barrier and roof-to-wall connection work. These add scope and documents, and they are triggered by the replacement itself.
Under Fla. Stat. §553.7922, jurisdictions run expedited procedures for permits that need no technical review — reroofs, roof repairs, and similar — during a declared state of emergency.
Bradford County building permit cost
Bradford County has adopted a new permit fee schedule - always price from the current schedule rather than prior-year figures:
How Bradford County permitting works
| Component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building permit fee | Per the county's NEW permit fee schedule, by permit type and valuation |
| Trade permits (E / P / M) | Charged per trade under the schedule |
| Fire prevention review | Handled in the same office for qualifying projects |
| Permit search (staff-run) | $25 check plus a request on letterhead mailed to 945 N. Temple Ave., Attn: Building Dept; 1-2 business days |
| Contractor COI / workers' comp | Emailed to the building department, made out to the Building Dept at 945 N. Temple Ave. |
Bradford County trade permits
Electrical permits
Required for service installations, panel upgrades, solar PV, and most wiring alterations in Bradford County, filed by a licensed electrical contractor against the master building permit through the Building, Zoning & Fire Prevention office.
Plumbing permits
Required for new plumbing, repipes, water heater changeouts, fixture relocations, and gas piping; fees follow the local schedule with per-permit minimums.
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Required for HVAC installations and changeouts, ductwork, and refrigeration; specialized systems are permitted and inspected separately.
Miscellaneous & specialty
Roofs, pools and spas, screen enclosures, mobile home set-ups, and demolition are permitted separately. Exterior components need current Florida Product Approval rated for the local wind speed.
How to get a building permit in Bradford County
Confirm scope & jurisdiction
Verify the work needs a permit and that the parcel is unincorporated Bradford County rather than inside Starke, Lawtey, Hampton, or Brooker limits.
File contractor documents first
Email your certificate of insurance and workers' compensation coverage to the building department, made out to the Building Dept at 945 N. Temple Ave., Starke - this needs to be on file before permits issue.
Prepare your documents
Assemble the application, plans, energy calcs, and Florida Product Approvals for exterior components; fire prevention review applies to qualifying projects in the same office.
Submit at the courthouse
File at the North Wing of the County Courthouse during posted hours - Monday through Thursday 8:00-4:30 (closed 12:00-12:30) and Friday 8:00-1:30.
Pay fees & pull the permit
Pay under the county's new fee schedule, print the permit, and record a Notice of Commencement for work of $5,000 or more.
Inspections through close-out
Schedule inspections through the office as phases complete and pass the final before occupancy or use.
Inspections in Bradford County
Schedule through Building, Zoning & Fire Prevention at the courthouse office during posted hours. Typical checkpoints include foundation, rough MEP trades, framing, insulation, and final, with fire prevention review folded into the same office for qualifying projects. Keep the permit and approved plans posted at the jobsite.
Official Bradford County permitting resources
- Bradford County Building & Zoning (official)
- Florida Building Code (8th Edition)
- Florida Product Approval search
- DBPR contractor license verification
Frequently asked questions
How much is a building permit in Bradford County?
Bradford has adopted a new permit fee schedule, so older quoted figures are out of date - price from the current schedule and confirm with the Building, Zoning & Fire Prevention office at the Starke courthouse before budgeting.
How long does it take to get a building permit in Bradford County?
Review time depends on project complexity and how complete the submission is - simple trade permits can issue in days, while new construction takes longer as building, zoning, and site reviews route in sequence. The single biggest factor you control is submitting a complete, correctly-documented package the first time; corrections restart the review clock. Note the counter hours - Monday through Thursday 8:00-4:30 with a 12:00-12:30 closure, and Friday only until 1:30 - when planning a submittal trip.
How do I look up a permit in Bradford County?
Two ways: run the self-service permit search linked from the county's Building & Zoning page, or mail a $25 check with your request on letterhead to 945 N. Temple Ave., Starke, FL 32091, Attn: Building Dept - staff searches take one to two business days.
What does a contractor need on file in Bradford County?
Email your certificate of insurance and workers' compensation coverage to the building department, made out to the Building Dept at 945 N. Temple Ave., Starke - having current documents on file before you apply prevents an issuance hold.
Can homeowners pull their own permits in Bradford County?
Yes, with limits. Florida's owner-builder exemption (F.S. 489.103(7)) lets you permit work on a home you own and occupy, but you must personally appear and sign the disclosure, supervise the work yourself, and not offer the property for sale or lease within one year of completion - and you take on the code-compliance and liability responsibilities a licensed contractor would normally carry.
How long is a Bradford County permit valid?
Under the Florida Building Code, a permit generally expires if work does not start within 180 days of issuance (or stalls for 180 days); each passed inspection typically extends it another 180 days. Extensions are requested through the building department before the permit lapses - reapplying after expiration means new fees and current-code review.
Do I need a permit to install solar panels in Bradford County?
Yes. Photovoltaic installations in Bradford County are permitted under a dedicated solar record type reviewed on both a structural and an electrical track. Solar thermal — passive water and pool heating — is a separate record. Under Fla. Stat. §163.04 a homeowners' association cannot prohibit a solar collector, so HOA approval is not a prerequisite to permit issuance. Utility interconnection and Permission to Operate run in parallel with the permit, not inside it.
Does a roof replacement require a permit in Bradford County?
Yes. A roof covering replacement requires a permit in every Florida jurisdiction, including Bradford County. Products must carry a current Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance rated for the wind speed at the project address, and inspections are sequenced — dry-in, nail-off, then final. Some minor repairs fall below the permit threshold, but the threshold is scope-specific.
What is the difference between a residential and a commercial permit in Bradford County?
Residential work is generally a single-discipline review filed as a master permit with trades filed against it. Commercial work in Bradford County runs concurrent review across building, fire, and zoning, requires signed and sealed plans for every affected discipline, and can carry impact and concurrency fees on top of permit fees. Change of use adds accessibility and life-safety review.
Do trade permits need to be pulled separately in Bradford County?
Yes in most cases. Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work is permitted separately by the licensed contractor for each trade and filed against the master building permit. Each trade permit carries its own fee and its own inspection sequence.
What happens if I file under the wrong permit type in Bradford County?
The application is rejected rather than corrected. Building, Zoning & Fire Prevention closes the record, the filing is resubmitted under the correct record type, and the review clock restarts from zero. Confirming the record type before filing is the cheapest step in the entire process.
Can I apply for all Bradford permit types online?
Most record types are filed through courthouse intake and the online permit search, but availability varies by permit type and by applicant. Some records still require in-person submittal, and owner-builder filings are frequently restricted to counter submittal regardless of record type.
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