Lighthouse Point, Florida Building Permit Guide

The City of Lighthouse Point Building Department, at 3701 NE 22 Avenue, issues building and trade permits for work in the City, with applications taken through its Public Portal or in person. Each trade pays $125 for work up to $5,000 plus 1.35% of the cost above that, and inspections called in by 3:00 p.m. are usually done the next day.

What requires a permit in Lighthouse Point?

Lighthouse Point uses the Broward County Uniform Building Permit Application and City-specific forms. The City’s partial list of work needing a permit includes:

Painting, carpet and tile need no permit. Each trade needs its own application, and some projects also need Broward County approvals through ePermits OneStop. Starting work without a permit brings a stop work order, a code enforcement notice and twice the normal fee, and covered work may have to be opened for inspection.

Lighthouse Point building department: who handles permitting

The Building Department within Building & Zoning issues permits and inspects structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and zoning work. Every contractor must register with the City first, with an occupational licence, a state licence or certificate of competency, workers’ compensation or an exemption card, and general liability insurance naming the City of Lighthouse Point, 3701 NE 22 Avenue, as certificate holder.

Lighthouse Point permit types and portal use

New applications are accepted online through the Public Portal or in person, and citizens can also use the portal to view application status and inspection results. Faxed applications are not accepted, and issued permits are picked up in person so staff can hand over the paperwork and collect fees.

Owner-builders who live in the home can pull most permit types, but all electrical, roofing and piling work must be done by a licensed contractor. Owner-builder applicants complete a notarized Owner Builder Affidavit and accept responsibility for knowing the code, the zoning rules and the required inspections. Plans can be hand drawn for some alterations, depending on the level of work.

Permit fees in Lighthouse Point

The City’s Building Permit Fee Schedule (Exhibit B, revised September 2022) bases fees on the cost of construction for each trade. The applicant states the value, but the Building Official may use a signed contract or current RS Means values, whichever is greatest.

For example, a building permit for a $25,000 remodel costs $125 plus 1.35% of $20,000, or $395, and the $200 application fee paid at submittal is credited toward it. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work on the same job are priced separately on their own values.

Permit fees include the first plan review and standard inspections, and Broward County BORA and state DBPR and BCAI fees are added. The fee schedule prices an expired-permit renewal at 50% of the original fee within 180 days and 150% after the second 180-day period, while the City’s FAQ describes 50% for the first renewal and 100% for the second, so confirm the figure before budgeting.

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and specialty trades

Each trade needs its own permit application, with its own construction value for the fee. A pool job, for example, needs separate building applications for the pool and deck, electrical and plumbing applications, a mechanical application if a heat pump is installed, and a fence or gate application if the barrier is not already permitted. A generator needs electrical, plumbing and structural applications with the generator specifications. Water heater and A/C replacements on homes are a flat $75.

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

Application documents and intake requirements

Every application lists the lot, block, subdivision and job value, which is what it would cost to hire a contractor. Most residential permits need two copies of the survey showing where the work goes; if the survey is more than 12 months old, the owner signs a Zoning Affidavit that nothing has changed, or provides a new survey. City checklists add:

• Fences: two copies of product approvals or sealed engineering for aluminum, metal or PVC fences; pool fences need self-closing, self-latching gates with latches at least 54 inches high.
• Windows and doors: a property sketch marking every bedroom, two highlighted product approvals and product approval review forms; non-impact openings need a shutter permit, and new or resized openings need sealed drawings.
• Driveways: the driveway dimensions at the property line and street line, and the distances from the side lot lines.
• Pools: sealed pool and deck plans, the Pool Safety Act form and a survey with setbacks and elevations, all submitted together.
• Docks and re-decks: Broward County Environmental Protection approval of both plan sets, plus sealed drawings for a new dock.
• Sheds: manufactured sheds up to 10 x 10 x 7 ft need a reinforced slab with an 8 x 8 inch thickened edge and product approvals or engineered tie-downs; larger sheds are designed as buildings.
• Enclosures: HOA approval, egress for bedrooms, a slab above the FEMA flood elevation, electrical and energy details and structural calculations.

A check payable to the City of Lighthouse Point is required with permit submittals. For other payments the City accepts cash, checks (no starter checks), cashier’s checks and credit cards.

How to apply: 6-step Lighthouse Point process

Lighthouse Point inspections

The inspection line, 954-784-3449, takes calls Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to schedule an inspection or check results. Requests made by 3:00 p.m. are usually inspected the next day, or at the earliest available time. Contractors call in their own inspections; owner-builders must call for theirs. The permit card must be displayed on site and shows the status of each inspection.

Someone must be home for most inspections, except for boat lifts, decks, docks, driveways, fences, roofs and shutters. A fence, for example, needs at least one structural and one zoning inspection. Work that fails gets a red tag listing the corrections, and each re-inspection costs $95.

Local Lighthouse Point details that matter

Permit life depends on the permit type. Demolition permits are valid for 60 days and cannot be renewed, and temporary fences for 30 days. Single-family dwelling permits issued after July 1, 2026 are valid for 1 year, and commercial, townhome and multifamily permits for 180 days. Each completed inspection extends the permit, and a permit that expires a third time must be applied for again.

Broward County requires building safety inspections for buildings over 25 years old and over 3,500 sq ft; single-family homes, duplexes and smaller buildings are exempt, whatever private firms’ mailed notices say. The City’s 40-year inspection program fee is $350.

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

Lighthouse Point 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 Code
• Building fee schedule
• Broward ePermits OneStop
• Building & Zoning
• Lighthouse Point Building FAQ
• Lighthouse Point list of work requiring a permit

Lighthouse Point permit FAQs

How much is a building permit in Lighthouse Point?

$125 per trade for work up to $5,000, plus 1.35% of the cost above $5,000, with an application fee credited toward the permit. A $25,000 remodel’s building permit is $395.

Can I file online?

Yes. The City accepts new permit applications through its Public Portal and also accepts in-person applications.

Can a homeowner pull a permit in Lighthouse Point?

Yes, if you live in the home, for most permit types. Electrical, roofing and piling work must still be done by a licensed contractor.

Do I need a permit to replace a fence or driveway?

Yes, even on the same footprint. Both need the application and two copies of the survey showing the work.

Do I need to be home for the inspection?

For most permits, yes. Boat lifts, decks, docks, driveways, fences, roofs and shutters can be inspected without anyone home.

When should I call for inspection?

By 3:00 p.m. for next-day or earliest available inspection.

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