Key West, Florida Building Permit Guide

The City of Key West Building Department, at 1300 White Street, issues building and trade permits for work valued over $1,000 inside city limits. Complete applications are filed in eTRAKiT or at the front desk, and since January 1, 2025 incomplete ones are not accepted. Permit fees run from $24 to $36 per $1,000 of job value.

What requires a building permit in Key West?

A building permit is needed before any work or construction, permanent or temporary, valued at more than $1,000 including materials and labor, at the building official’s discretion. The City publishes a separate filing checklist for each permit type, including:

Exterior work in the Historic District also needs a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA), filed as part of the building permit application. Some places with a Key West mailing address, such as Key Haven, Rockland Key and the south side of Stock Island, are outside the City and are permitted by Monroe County.

Key West building department: who handles permitting

• City of Key West Building Department — Department
• 305-809-3956 — Phone (payment line 305-809-3738)
• Bldg@cityofkeywest-fl.gov — Email
• 1300 White Street, Key West, FL 33040 — Office (mail: P.O. Box 1409, Key West, FL 33041)
• Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. — Hours; closed on federal holidays
• 305-809-3810 — Development Review Manager (floodplain questions)

Permits are issued in the name of the person doing the work, and only licensed contractors or qualifying owner-builders can obtain them. State-licensed contractors register with the City using the Building Department’s online DBPR Licensed Contractor Registration form. The Chief Building Official issues certificates of occupancy and decides requests for temporary certificates.

Key West permit types and filing rules

Under the Building Department’s permit policy effective January 1, 2025, applications can be filed online in eTRAKiT or in person at the front desk, but only complete ones are accepted. If staff find an application incomplete, they email a letter within 5 business days listing what is missing, and the applicant has 10 business days to supply it or the application is automatically denied unless an extension is agreed. If no letter arrives within 5 business days, the application is treated as complete.

Electrical, mechanical, roofing and plumbing permits are applied for separately from the building permit. Owner-builders submit a signed and notarized Owner-Builder Disclosure Form with the application.

Demolition comes in three forms: a full demolition permit, pulled by a general contractor with a demolition or engineering specialty; a partial demolition permit, which needs a shoring plan sealed by a Florida engineer if structural members are removed; and an exploratory demolition permit, issued only with the Building Official’s approval so the design team can assess deterioration.

Key West building-permit fees

Key West permit fees are based on the price of the job, from $24 to $36 per $1,000 of value; job valuation must include all overhead, labor and materials. Some permits, such as fences, are charged by the linear foot, so the fence application asks for the lineal footage. Permit technicians apply the fees when they review the eTRAKiT application, so ignore the fee amounts shown when you apply.

The permit is released only once all fees are paid. Under Section 14-1 of the City Code, any other fees, fines or charges owed to the City by the applicant or on the property must also be paid before a permit is issued. A certificate of occupancy also requires solid waste and sewer accounts to be set up with the City’s Revenue Department.

Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits

The Building Department issues electrical, mechanical, plumbing and fuel-gas permits, each applied for separately, with their own checklists for electrical work, generators, fuel tanks, water heater replacements and fire sprinkler and suppression systems. Trade permits are issued in the name of the person doing the work, and an owner-builder can pull them only for a single-family home or duplex. Emergency responder radio (BDA) systems follow the Key West Fire Department’s published BDA requirements.

Alliance handles electrical permits for contractors here. More on this: who pulls the electrical permit.

Documents for a new home

The City’s single- and two-family home checklist asks for:

• Owner, contractor and qualifier details, proof of ownership (Monroe County Property Appraiser record card or deed) and a job valuation including overhead, labor and materials
• A scope of work giving the home’s square footage and numbers of bedrooms and bathrooms
• A site plan with proposed elevations in the NGVD 1929 datum, building height measured from the crown of the road, setbacks and a site data table showing building coverage, open space, impervious surface ratio and rear yard coverage
• A property survey, design pressures, structural plans from foundation to roof framing, floor plan and window and door schedule
• Notices of Acceptance for exterior windows and doors
• HOA approval where it applies, for example in the Key West Golf Course or Truman Annex communities

A recorded Notice of Commencement is required for projects valued at $5,000 or more before the first inspection is scheduled. Fence applications need a survey marking the fence, a sectional drawing, a note of any existing or proposed pool and, for a new 6 ft solid fence, approval from the neighbour.

How to get a building permit in Key West

Inspections in Key West

The issued permit lists the inspections required and when to call for them, and the permit must be displayed on the job site. Required inspections must be called in to the Building Department in a specific order, and an inspection is needed before any part of the construction is covered; work concealed beyond an inspection stage may have to be taken apart. Clearly visible address signs help avoid inspection delays.

A certificate of occupancy is required for new construction, additions and changes of use, and it is issued after all final inspections are approved, all required documents are filed and all fees are paid. Projects without occupancy, such as fences, pools, sheds, window replacements, additions and demolitions, can receive a certificate of completion after the final inspection. To close an older permit, contact the Building Department at 305-809-3956.

Local Key West details that matter

Flood zones: Key West has been in the National Flood Insurance Program since 1971. The Building Department’s interactive flood map shows adopted and preliminary flood maps, elevation certificates and substantial improvement and damage tracking for each property.

Condo milestone inspections: after the Building Department’s certified-mail notice, an association has 180 days to complete a phase one milestone inspection by a Florida engineer or architect, and 14 days to notify unit owners.

Owner-builders: the City’s FAQ limits owner-builders to one single-family home or duplex a year for their own use, a one-storey commercial or industrial building of up to 500 sq ft or a first-floor addition of that size, or non-structural repairs up to $5,000.

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

Key West 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.

• City of Key West Building Department
• Permit applications and checklists
• Electronic submittal instructions on eTRAKiT
• Building Department FAQs (fees and inspections)
• eTRAKiT permit portal
• Key West permit requirements and checklists
• Key West building permit application process (2025)
• Key West single- and two-family home checklist
• Key West fence permit checklist
• Key West floodplain management

Key West building permit FAQ

Who issues building permits in Key West?

The City of Key West Building Department, 1300 White Street. Call 305-809-3956.

How much does a building permit cost in Key West?

Fees are based on the price of the job, from $24 to $36 per $1,000 of value. Some permits, such as fences, are charged by the linear foot.

Do I need a permit for small jobs in Key West?

Any work valued at more than $1,000, including materials and labor, needs a permit at the building official’s discretion. Exterior work in the Historic District also needs a Certificate of Appropriateness.

What happens if my application is incomplete?

The City emails a letter within 5 business days listing what is missing. You have 10 business days to provide it, or the application is denied unless an extension is agreed.

Can a homeowner pull a permit in Key West?

Yes, as an owner-builder for a single-family home or duplex for your own use, with a signed and notarized Owner-Builder Disclosure Form and proof of ownership.

When do I need a Notice of Commencement in Key West?

For projects valued at $5,000 or more. It must be recorded before the first inspection is scheduled.

Simplify Key West 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 Key West permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.