The City of Lake Mary Building Division, at 911 Wallace Court, issues building and trade permits inside the city, with applications and plans filed through its online permit portal. Building work is charged about 1.7% of the documented construction value across four fees, and inspections booked by 2:00 p.m. happen the next business day.
What requires a building permit in Lake Mary?
Lake Mary requires permits for construction and alteration work regulated by the Florida Building Code, including new buildings, additions, alterations, pools and pool enclosures, demolition, moving a building, tents, mobile and factory-built homes, signs and electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas and fire system work. The City also publishes a list of building work it does not permit:
No permit
- Painting, wallpaper, floor covering and cabinets (floor covering and wallpaper residential only)
- Interior finishes in one- and two-family homes, and same-size interior door swaps
- Re-roofing 100 sq ft (one square) or less
- Siding changes under 100 sq ft; gutters and downspouts
- Fence repairs that only replace panels
- Landscape walls 2 ft or less
- Replacing existing fixtures and built-in appliances (residential)
- Extra insulation in existing buildings
- Portable storage containers on a home for less than 72 hours
Related approvals
- An arbor permit when trees are removed
- A floodplain determination for parcels in the Special Flood Hazard Area
- A septic tank permit where the home is on septic
- Fire review for sprinkler, alarm and kitchen hood systems
- A commercial sign application for business signs
The City also takes a Building Permit Exemption Request for single-family work under $7,500 that involves no electrical, mechanical, plumbing, gas or structural work and is outside the flood hazard area; the job cannot be split to stay under the limit.
Lake Mary building department: who handles permitting
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | 911 Wallace Court, Lake Mary, FL 32746 |
| Permit staff | 407-585-1361 / 407-585-1371 |
| Inspection line | 407-585-1441 |
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Lake Mary uses an online permit portal for submittals and a separate Web Inspections system for scheduling and results. To register as a contractor, email your state licence, workers' compensation and general liability insurance (with the City of Lake Mary listed as certificate holder) to permitinfo@lakemaryfl.com.
Lake Mary permit types and registration
All applications and plans go through the City’s online permit portal, and review comments are answered there. Before filing, contractors register by emailing their state licence, workers’ compensation and general liability certificates (naming the City of Lake Mary, 911 Wallace Ct., as certificate holder) to permitinfo@lakemaryfl.com.
The City’s form library includes the Building Permit Application, Owner Builder Statement Affidavit, Power of Attorney, Change of General Contractor, Deferred Submittal Form, FL Product Approval Form, Plumbing Permit Worksheet, Fire Permit Application, Demolition Application with the EPA asbestos notice, Commercial Sign Application, Pre-Power/Temp Power Agreement, Reactivate/Extend Permit Form and the Permit Exemption Request.
Lake Mary permit fees
For new construction, additions, alterations, pools and pool enclosures, Lake Mary charges four fees, each a percentage of the documented construction value:
| Fee | Rate |
|---|---|
| Application fee (non-refundable) | 0.075% of value, $5 minimum |
| Plan review (non-refundable, due at application) | 0.45% of value |
| Permit fee | 0.75% of value, $35 minimum |
| Inspection fee | 0.45% of value |
| Factory-built house or mobile home, all trades | $150 |
| Tent or air-supported structure; moving a building; demolition | $75 each |
For example, an addition with a documented value of $100,000 pays $75 to apply, $450 for plan review, $750 for the permit and $450 for inspections, a total of $1,725 before trade permits.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Fee | Rate |
|---|---|
| Re-inspection of rejected work | $40 |
| Change of prime contractor | $25 |
| Updating a building permit | 50% of the original fee |
| Work without a permit | Double fee: $100 minimum for an owner, $200 for a licensed contractor |
| Covering work without a required inspection | $100 per occurrence |
| Arbor permit | $30; $15 with a new home permit |
Lake Mary building and trade responsibility
The Building Division reviews and inspects structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas work, and uses the 8th Edition Florida Fire Prevention Code for fire review. Trade permits have their own fees:
| Fee | Rate |
|---|---|
| Electrical alteration or service change | 0.75% of electrical value, $35 minimum |
| Electrical, new construction | $0.55 per amp, $35 minimum; temporary service $50; pre-power $90 |
| Plumbing alteration or repair | 0.75% of plumbing value, $35 minimum |
| Plumbing, new construction | $35 plus $7 per fixture unit |
| Mechanical alteration or repair | 0.75% of mechanical value, $35 minimum |
| Mechanical, new construction | $35 up to $1,000 of value, rising to $160 at $25,000; $7 per $1,000 above |
| Fire sprinkler or alarm system | $70 at application plus $6.50 per $1,000 of cost at issuance |
| Kitchen hood and other fixed suppression systems | $65 at application plus $6.50 per $1,000 |
| Other work needing fire review | 0.4% of job value, $40 minimum |
Each unit in a multi-family building is counted separately for new electrical and plumbing fees.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Documents for a new single-family home
The City’s plan submittal list for a new house asks for:
- A signed and notarized application, a power of attorney letter where someone files for the contractor, and a copy of the contract or proposal
- A Notice of Commencement
- The contractor’s state licence, general liability and workers’ compensation certificates
- Septic tank and arbor permits, if they apply
- Engineered drawings, site plans, energy calculations, truss plans, window and door specification sheets and soils reports
The plan review fee is due when you apply. New addresses come from Seminole County Addressing (Addressing@seminolecountyfl.gov), and a parcel in the Special Flood Hazard Area needs a floodplain determination with the application.
How to apply for a Lake Mary permit
Compare the work against the City’s no-permit list, or file a Permit Exemption Request for small single-family jobs.
Email your licence and insurance certificates naming the City to permitinfo@lakemaryfl.com; owner-builders use the Owner Builder Statement Affidavit.
Apply for an arbor permit if trees will be removed, get a floodplain determination in the flood hazard area and a Seminole County address for a new lot.
Submit the signed application, contract, plans and specialty forms, and pay the application and plan review fees.
Respond to review comments in the portal, then pay the permit, inspection and trade fees.
Book by 2:00 p.m. for the next business day in Web Inspections or at 407-585-1441, and pass all finals.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Inspections in Lake Mary
Inspections must be scheduled by 2:00 p.m. for the next business day. The City’s Web Inspections system lets permit holders schedule, cancel or reschedule inspections and view results, and the inspection line is 407-585-1441. The City publishes inspection request codes for building, electrical, fire, mechanical and plumbing inspections. A rejected inspection costs $40 to repeat, and covering work before a required inspection costs $100 each time.
Local Lake Mary details that matter
Fire sprinklers: the City’s new-home submittal list states that a fire sprinkler system is required for buildings over 5,000 sq ft of gross floor area.
Trees: removing trees needs an arbor permit with a breakdown of estimated costs; pruning on a one- or two-family lot needs no permit unless more than 25% of the crown is removed.
Construction waste: Waste Pro holds the City’s exclusive solid waste franchise, but construction sites that want to recycle may use an authorized City-approved recycling company.
Signs: temporary real estate or construction signs up to 6 sq ft need no building permit; Community Development (407-585-1369) handles sign rules.
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
Lake Mary permit FAQ
Who issues building permits in Lake Mary?
The City of Lake Mary Building Division, 911 Wallace Court. Permit staff are at 407-585-1361 and 407-585-1371.
How much is a building permit in Lake Mary?
About 1.725% of the documented construction value: 0.075% to apply, 0.45% for plan review, 0.75% for the permit and 0.45% for inspections. A $100,000 addition comes to $1,725 before trade permits.
What work does not need a permit in Lake Mary?
Cosmetic work such as painting, cabinets and residential floor covering, re-roofing 100 sq ft or less, siding under 100 sq ft, gutters and fence panel repairs, among others on the City’s list.
How late can I request a next-business-day inspection?
By 2:00 p.m., through Web Inspections or by calling 407-585-1441.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Lake Mary?
Yes, an arbor permit, which costs $30, or $15 when requested with a new home permit.
What happens if I build without a permit?
The permit fee is doubled, with a minimum of $100 for an owner or $200 for a licensed contractor.
Lake Mary 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 — 8th Edition (2023)
- Plumbing Permit Fees
- Mechanical Permit Fees
- Electrical Permit Fees
- Building Fee Schedule
- Applications & Forms
- Lake Mary Building Division
- Fee Schedule
- Web Inspections
- Lake Mary online permit portal
- Lake Mary building work not requiring a permit
- Lake Mary plan submittal requirements for a new home
- Lake Mary Building Permit Exemption Request
- Lake Mary miscellaneous fees
- Lake Mary permit penalties
- Lake Mary arbor permit fees
- Lake Mary fire protection system permit fees
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Simplify Lake Mary 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.
Ready to break ground in Lake Mary sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Lake Mary permits while your crew stays on the job.
More Florida permitting guides
Seminole County
Read guide →Altamonte Springs
Read guide →Casselberry
Read guide →Lake Wales Building Permit Guide
Read guide →Lake Worth Beach Building Permit Guide
Read guide →City of Lakeland Building Permit Guide
Read guide →This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Lake Mary permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.