Dunedin, Florida Building Permit Guide

Dunedin building permits are issued by the Building Division of the City’s Community Development Department at City Hall, 737 Louden Avenue, and are applied for, reviewed and approved online in the Citizen Self Service (CSS) portal. The permit fee is 0.80% of construction value plus a 25% plan review fee, about 1% in total, and residential plan review averages 5–7 business days.

What requires a building permit in Dunedin?

The city's homeowner guide lists the most common residential work that needs a Dunedin permit: additions, alterations and renovations, garages and carports, sheds, pools and spas, door, window and garage door replacement, decks and porches, screen enclosures, gazebos and pergolas, fencing, driveways and walkways, reroofing, electrical service changes, water heater and air conditioning replacement, and solar systems. No permit is needed for flooring, painting, paneling, wallpapering or ordinary minor repairs.

Since July 1, 2026, state law exempts some small jobs on single-family homes. Work valued under $7,500 needs no permit unless it is electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical or gas work or the property is in a flood hazard area, and temporary hurricane and flood barriers installed by a licensed contractor are exempt outside flood hazard areas. In both cases the owner or contractor must send the City a written exemption request with the contract, and a job cannot be split to stay under $7,500.

Dunedin building department: who handles permitting

Only licensed contractors can be issued permits, apart from owner-builders. Contractors and subcontractors must hold a DBPR and/or Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board licence and register with the City, which is free. An owner-builder of a one- or two-family home for their own use must sign the permit application in person.

Dunedin permit types

Register and apply in the CSS portal. Most projects get a combination permit covering building, electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing work; stand-alone trade permits are also issued. A permit is valid for 180 days from issue or from the last approved inspection, and only the Building Official can extend it, on written request.

Forms the Building Division publishes include the owner-builder and Notice of Commencement forms, roof, pool, storage shed, subcontractor and asbestos forms, the change of contractor and change order requests, permit extension and reinstatement requests, and the private provider notice and plan compliance affidavit. Flood-zone projects use the Agreement to Submit Elevation Certificate, FEMA elevation and dry floodproofing certificates, the V Zone design certificate and the substantial improvement or damage review packet.

Dunedin building permit cost

Fees are based on construction value: the total value of the work, materials and labor, taken from the ICC Building Valuation Data or a signed contract and subject to the Building Official’s approval.

The City says to expect about 1% of total construction value for permit, plan review and inspection fees on a combination permit: about $500 on a $50,000 project. That excludes state surcharges, fire department review fees, impact fees and water meters. The City’s online fee estimator works out a figure for any valuation.

Trade permits in Dunedin

Electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing work is usually included in a combination permit with the building work. Stand-alone trade permits cost $70 plus $5 per $1,000 of work. Water heater and re-roof permits can often be issued the same day.

Application documents

For most new construction, additions and renovations, the City’s Practical Guide to Permitting asks for:

• A boundary survey with the legal description, easements, rights-of-way, FEMA flood zone and base flood elevation, and elevations at all four corners, the center of the lot and the crown of the road
• A site plan showing the building, setbacks, driveways, sidewalks, drainage and the proposed lowest floor elevation
• Construction drawings electronically signed and sealed by a Florida architect or engineer: foundation, floor, framing and roof plans, wall sections, elevations, electrical, mechanical and plumbing plans, wind design data and, for non-residential work, a life safety plan
• Florida product approvals with installation instructions, listed on the City’s Product Specification List
• Signed energy code forms
• A certified copy of the recorded Notice of Commencement when the job is worth more than $5,000

Plan review averages 5–7 business days for residential permits and 7–10 for multifamily and commercial.

How to get a building permit in Dunedin

Inspections in Dunedin

Inspection requests must be submitted online in the CSS portal, and it is the permit holder’s job to see that every required inspection is done. Building inspectors are normally in the field from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and you can ask for a morning (9:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.) or afternoon (12:00–3:30 p.m.) visit. Questions go to inspectreq@dunedin.gov.

If an inspection fails and a re-inspection fee is charged, the $75 must be paid and the work corrected before the inspector returns. New buildings and additions need a sealed tie-in survey showing the lowest floor elevation and setbacks before vertical construction is approved, and a jobsite posting board for termite treatment certificates. A Certificate of Occupancy is issued once all inspections are passed, all certificates are in and all fees are paid.

Local Dunedin details that matter

Lowest floor elevations: under the City’s floodplain ordinance, homes in A zones must have the lowest floor at base flood elevation plus 1 foot or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher. Non-residential buildings can be dry-floodproofed to the same level instead. In V zones the building goes on piles or columns with the lowest horizontal member at that height. In X zones the lowest floor is generally at least 18 inches above the highest point of the adjacent road.

FEMA 50% rule: improving or repairing an existing building in an A or V zone needs the substantial improvement or damage review packet (application, affidavits and cost estimate) with the permit application, plus the Agreement to Submit Elevation Certificate and an elevation certificate based on the drawings.

Flood certificates during the job: in A and V zones a FEMA elevation certificate (or, for non-residential buildings, a dry floodproofing certificate) is required before vertical construction is approved and again at completion.

Florida building code

The Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), has applied statewide since 31 December 2023; the Florida Building Commission has proposed the 9th Edition (2026) to take effect on 31 December 2026. Florida permit rules

Dunedin permit search and official resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• Florida Building Commission - current code
• City of Dunedin - Permits & Inspections
• Dunedin Citizen Self Service (CSS) Portal
• Building permit fee estimator
• Homeowner's guide to residential building permits
• Dunedin practical guide to permitting (April 2025)
• Dunedin permit exemptions effective July 1, 2026
• Dunedin substantial improvement or damage review packet

Dunedin permit FAQ

Who handles building permits in Dunedin?

The City of Dunedin Building Division, part of Community Development, at 737 Louden Avenue, Suite 137. Call 727-298-3210 or email permits@dunedin.gov.

How do I apply?

Apply online in the Dunedin Citizen Self Service (CSS) Portal, where permits are submitted, reviewed and approved.

How much is a building permit in Dunedin?

0.80% of construction value (minimum $60) plus a plan review fee of 25% of that. The City estimates about 1% of the project value in total, or about $500 for a $50,000 job.

How long does plan review take?

On average 5–7 business days for residential permits and 7–10 for multifamily and commercial. Water heater and re-roof permits can be issued the same day.

Can I pull my own permit as a homeowner?

Yes, for a one- or two-family home you will live in, if you sign the permit application in person as an owner-builder.

Do small jobs need a permit?

Since July 1, 2026, single-family work under $7,500 can be exempt if it is not electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical or gas work and the lot is outside a flood hazard area. Send the City a written exemption request with the contract.

How do I schedule an inspection?

Request it online in the CSS Portal. You can ask for a morning or an afternoon inspection.

Simplify Dunedin permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Florida. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Dunedin permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.