The City of Clearwater — the Gulf-front anchor of Pinellas County, from Clearwater Beach across downtown to U.S. 19 — issues building permits through Construction Services in the Planning & Development Department, with intake and review running through the city's ePermit system on the Accela Citizen Access platform. The city publishes a full guide and training for its digital plan review process, an in-portal help-request lane for application trouble, and a permit fee estimator — and its payment processing routes through a secure third-party site before returning to the portal to finish the permit.
Clearwater's inspection scheduling is the standout: text SCHEDULE to 1 (888) 691-4479 to book a new inspection by text message (carrier fees may apply); inspections can also be scheduled or cancelled online or through the 24-hour inspection line at 727-287-3054, by midnight for the next business day. Intake has dedicated lanes too — owner-builder applicants scan the complete package (application, plans, surveys, and product approvals) and email it to epermit@myclearwater.com, while fire permits and sign permits each submit through their own posted Smartsheet forms with supporting documents uploaded.
Applies inside City of Clearwater limits, including Clearwater Beach. Neighboring Largo, Dunedin, and Safety Harbor run their own permitting, and unincorporated parcels route to Pinellas County - confirm the jurisdiction before filing.
What requires a building permit in City of Clearwater?
Permit required
- New homes, additions, and tenant build-outs
- Structural / load-bearing alterations and demolition
- Reroofing, window and door replacement, and exterior work
- Electrical service changes and most wiring alterations
- Mechanical / HVAC changeouts and boilers
- Plumbing alterations, repipes, gas, and water heaters
- Pools and spas (barrier required), signs, and fences
- Manufactured homes and solar PV systems
Usually exempt
- Painting, flooring, cabinetry, and cosmetic work
- Like-for-like minor repairs not altering systems
- Certain low non-structural fences (confirm limits)
- Routine maintenance not extending or rerouting systems
Florida requires a permit under the Florida Building Code (section 105.1) for most construction, alteration, repair, demolition and change of occupancy; since 1 July 2026 a narrow exemption covers some single-family work under $7,500, and single-family permits stay valid for at least a year. When a permit is required in Florida
Who handles permitting in City of Clearwater?
Construction Services operates from the Municipal Services Building at 100 S. Myrtle Avenue in downtown Clearwater — (727) 562-4567 — within Planning & Development, which also runs the Zoning Portal for development-review applications like outdoor cafes and temporary uses. The ePermit system carries the building side end to end: applications, digital plan review with posted training, fees, inspections, and records — with the help-request form inside the portal for application trouble and epermit@myclearwater.com as the catch-all intake for owner-builder packages and milestone reports. All permitting runs through the Clearwater ePermit (Accela Citizen Access).
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →- Address: Municipal Services Building, 100 S. Myrtle Ave., Clearwater, FL 33756
- Phone: (727) 562-4567
- Email: epermit@myclearwater.com
- Hours: Monday–Friday (city business hours)
In 2025, building permits issued in City of Clearwater authorized 55 new privately owned housing units, 45 of them single-family homes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey.
City of Clearwater permit types
A building permit is one record among many. Clearwater Construction Services 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 |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →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 |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →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
Roofing permits in City of Clearwater
Solar and roofing work follow statewide rules on HOA limits, product approval, reroof inspections and hurricane mitigation. Solar and roofing rules in Florida
City of Clearwater building permit cost
Permit fees are assessed per the city's schedule through the ePermit system, with a fee estimator available before you file and payment completing through the city's secure third-party processor. The process costs are lane-selection items: choosing the exempt-permit request lane where the scope qualifies, registering private providers through the dedicated online portal where the schedule demands it, and using the correct Smartsheet intake for fire and sign permits so the package lands with the right reviewer the first time.
How City of Clearwater permitting works
| Component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Permit fees | Per the city schedule through ePermit — fee estimator available before filing |
| Payment processing | Secure third-party payment site, returning to the portal to finish the permit |
| Exempt permits | Dedicated Exempt Building Permit Request portal for qualifying minor work |
| Private providers | Online Private Provider registration portal |
| Fire & sign permits | Dedicated Smartsheet application forms with document upload |
| Owner-builder intake | Complete scanned package emailed to epermit@myclearwater.com |
City of Clearwater trade permits
Rather not deal with the City building department?
Get a free quote →Electrical permits
Required for service installations, panel upgrades, solar PV, and most wiring alterations in City of Clearwater, filed by a licensed electrical contractor against the master building permit through the City of Clearwater Planning & Development — Construction Services.
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 City of Clearwater
Confirm jurisdiction and lane
Verify the parcel is inside Clearwater city limits, then pick the intake lane: standard ePermit application, the exempt-permit request portal for qualifying minor work, Smartsheet forms for fire and sign permits, or the emailed owner-builder package.
Set up in ePermit
Create your Accela Citizen Access account (the in-portal help request covers application trouble), and review the city's digital plan review guide and training before your first submission.
Assemble the package
Application, plans, surveys, and product approvals — with storm shutter/garage door certifications, pool safety-act documentation, and flood-zone materials where the scope requires them.
Submit and run the estimator
File through ePermit, use the fee estimator to price the permit, and complete payment through the secure third-party processor when prompted.
Work the digital review
Track processing status, respond to comments in the portal, and download approvals from the record — the Case Summary report prints a clean status snapshot at any point.
Inspect by text through close-out
Schedule each inspection by text (SCHEDULE to 888-691-4479), online, or through the 24-hour inspection line at 727-287-3054 by midnight for the next business day; cancel through the same line or online, and clear the final for your Certificate of Occupancy.
Inspections in City of Clearwater
Inspections book by text — SCHEDULE to 888-691-4479 — online, or through the 24-hour inspection line at 727-287-3054 (by midnight for next-day inspections), with results and records visible in the ePermit system under each permit’s Inspections section; the same line handles cancellations. Inspectors take calls 8:00–8:30am and 4:00–4:30pm on weekdays. Milestone inspection reports for aging condominium buildings email to epermit@myclearwater.com pending the Plan Room’s direct-upload feature. Keep the permit and approved plans posted, with product-approval and flood documentation ready on beach-side work.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Official City of Clearwater permitting resources
- City of Clearwater Planning & Development — Construction Services
- Fee information
- Online permitting / portal
- Permit lookup
- Florida Building Code (8th Ed.)
- Florida Product Approval search
- DBPR license verification
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a building permit in City of Clearwater?
Simple scopes through ePermit — and qualifying work through the exempt-permit lane — move quickly once the package is complete; plan-review projects run the digital review cycle, where prompt in-portal responses to comments are the schedule lever. The fee estimator and Case Summary reports keep budgeting and status transparent throughout. Call (727) 562-4567 for current turnaround by permit type.
How do I look up a permit in City of Clearwater?
Clearwater permit records are searchable in the ePermit system without an account: open the Building tab, enter the permit number only (or search by address or contractor — the less you fill in, the better the results), open the record, and read Fees, Inspections, Processing Status, and Attachments. A printable Case Summary runs from the Reports link at the top right of any record.
Can I schedule a Clearwater inspection by text message?
Yes — text SCHEDULE to 888-691-4479 to book a new inspection (carrier fees may apply). You can also schedule or cancel online or through the 24-hour inspection line at 727-287-3054. Results post to the permit record in the ePermit system under the Inspections section.
How do owner-builders apply in Clearwater?
By email: scan the complete package — application plus all supporting materials such as plans, surveys, and product approvals — and send it to epermit@myclearwater.com. Fire permits and sign permits are different lanes entirely, each with its own posted Smartsheet application form.
How do I look up a Clearwater permit without an account?
Open the ePermit system's Building tab and search by permit number alone, or by address or contractor — the city's own guidance: the less information you fill in, the better the results. Open the record number to read fees, inspections, processing status, and attachments, and print a Case Summary from the Reports link.
Does Clearwater have a lane for minor work and private providers?
Both — an Exempt Building Permit Request portal for qualifying minor work, and an online Private Provider registration portal for projects bringing state-licensed private plan review and inspections under Florida's private provider law.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Do I need a permit to install solar panels in City of Clearwater?
Yes. Photovoltaic installations in City of Clearwater 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 ban solar panels, though it can decide where on the roof they go if that does not reduce their performance; HOA review is separate from the building permit. Utility interconnection and Permission to Operate run in parallel with the permit, not inside it.
Does a roof replacement require a permit in City of Clearwater?
Yes. A roof covering replacement almost always requires a permit in Florida, including City of Clearwater. 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 usually run deck nailing, then dry-in, then final. Some minor repairs fall below the permit threshold, and a small single-family job under $7,500 can qualify for the written-request exemption under F.S. 553.79(1)(g), so ask the department first.
What is the difference between a residential and a commercial permit in City of Clearwater?
Residential work is generally a single-discipline review filed as a master permit with trades filed against it. Commercial work in City of Clearwater 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 City of Clearwater?
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 City of Clearwater?
The application is rejected rather than corrected. Clearwater Construction Services 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 Clearwater permit types online?
Most record types are filed through the city permitting system, but availability varies by permit type and by applicant. Florida law requires building departments to accept completed applications electronically, but owner-builders must still appear in person to sign (F.S. 489.103(7)).
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Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company: we prepare your paperwork, file it correctly, and coordinate with the building department through issuance - including preparing private-provider documentation where that option is available. We are not a contractor and do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your team and the jurisdiction.
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More Florida permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available information believed accurate as of July 2026. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change; always confirm current details with the City of Clearwater Planning & Development — Construction Services before filing. This is not legal advice.