Martin County — Stuart's surrounds, Palm City, Jensen Beach, and Hobe Sound on Florida's Treasure Coast — issues building permits through the Building Department for unincorporated Martin County. The county runs on Accela Citizen Access (ACA) and recently partnered with ePermitHub to launch a Digital Plan Room integrated directly into the portal — plus its own published HB 803 exemption guidance.
Applies to unincorporated Martin County, including Palm City, Jensen Beach, and Hobe Sound. The City of Stuart (on OpenGov), Sewall's Point, Jupiter Island, and Ocean Breeze run their own permit programs.
What requires a building permit in Martin County?
Under the Florida Building Code (§105.1), a permit is required before you construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of most structures and systems. New for 2026: Florida HB 803 (signed May 6, 2026; effective July 1, 2026) created F.S. 553.79(1)(g), exempting certain single-family residential work from building permits when the full scope includes no electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas, or structural work, totals under $7,500, the home is not in a Special Flood Hazard Area, and the owner submits a written exemption request to the Building Official. Local exemption procedures vary — confirm the process with the permit counter before skipping a permit. Martin County's own HB 803 guidance — linked in the resources below — covers the local process.
Permit required
- New homes, additions, and commercial construction
- Structural or load-bearing alterations and demolition
- Roof replacements and window / door replacements
- Electrical service changes and most wiring work
- Mechanical / HVAC installations and changeouts
- Plumbing alterations, repipes, and water heaters
- Pools, spas, seawalls, and docks
- Fire permits (payable through the same ACA system)
Usually exempt
- Painting, flooring, cabinets, and cosmetic finishes
- Like-for-like minor repairs that don't alter systems
- Routine maintenance that doesn't extend or reroute systems
- Certain minor single-family work newly exempted by HB 803 (see the county's guidance)
Who handles permitting in Martin County?
All permitting is administered by the Martin County Building Department (Growth Management) through the Accela Citizen Access (ACA) (Accela + ePermitHub Digital Plan Room system).
- Address: 900 SE Ruhnke Street, Stuart, FL 34994
- Phone: (772) 288-5916
Martin County permit types
A building permit is one record among many. the Martin County Building Department (Growth Management) 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 |
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 |
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
Solar permits in Martin County
Solar is permitted as its own record type in most Florida jurisdictions rather than rolled into a general building permit, and residential and commercial photovoltaic are usually separate records with different document sets. Solar thermal — passive water and pool heating — is a third, distinct record.
A photovoltaic submittal is reviewed on two tracks at once: structural (roof load path, attachment spacing, uplift) and electrical (conductor sizing, rapid shutdown, point of interconnection). A single-line diagram and a signed and sealed structural attachment detail are the two attachments most often missing on a first submittal.
Under Fla. Stat. §163.04, a homeowners' association cannot prohibit a solar collector on a dwelling — HOA architectural approval is not a prerequisite to permit issuance, though it may still be a contractual matter between owner and association.
Utility interconnection runs parallel to the building permit, not inside it. Permission to Operate is issued by the utility after the final electrical inspection clears.
Roofing permits in Martin County
A roof covering replacement requires a permit in every Florida jurisdiction. Repairs below the local threshold may not, but the threshold is scope-specific and confirming it with the building department before tear-off is cheaper than an after-the-fact permit.
Every roof product must carry a current Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance rated for the wind speed at the project address. A product approval number that has lapsed or is rated below the site wind speed is the single most common reroof rejection.
Reroof inspections are sequenced: dry-in after the underlayment, nail-off on the sheathing fastening, and final. Covering the deck before the dry-in inspection means tearing it back open.
Hurricane mitigation retrofit requirements can attach when an existing roof is replaced, including secondary water barrier and roof-to-wall connection work. These add scope and documents, and they are triggered by the replacement itself.
Under Fla. Stat. §553.7922, jurisdictions run expedited procedures for permits that need no technical review — reroofs, roof repairs, and similar — during a declared state of emergency.
Martin County building permit cost
Martin County fees follow the schedule posted on the county's Building Permit Fees page, by permit type and project valuation, with building and fire permit fees payable online through ACA:
How Martin County permit fees are structured
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building permit fee | Per the county's posted fee page, by permit type and valuation |
| Trade permits (E / P / M) | Charged per trade under the schedule |
| Fire permits | Payable through the same ACA system |
| Impact fees | Assessed on qualifying new development |
| Online payment | Search the record number in ACA → Fees → Pay Fees |
Martin County trade permits
Electrical permits
Required for service installations, panel upgrades, solar PV, and most wiring alterations in Martin County, filed by a licensed electrical contractor against the master building permit in the ACA portal.
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, 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 Martin County
Confirm scope & jurisdiction
Verify the work needs a permit — check the county's HB 803 page for the new exemptions — and confirm the parcel is unincorporated Martin County rather than Stuart, Sewall's Point, Jupiter Island, or Ocean Breeze.
Prepare your documents
Assemble the application, valuation details, signed and sealed plans formatted for the Digital Plan Room, energy calcs, and wind-rated product approvals for this coastal county.
Apply through ACA
Register or log in to Accela Citizen Access, complete the application, and upload plan sets into the ePermitHub Digital Plan Room integrated in the portal.
Plan review & corrections
Reviews route electronically with sheet-level comments in the Plan Room; upload corrected versions promptly — resubmittals re-enter review.
Pay fees & pull the permit
Pay online in ACA against your record number, print the permit, and record a Notice of Commencement for work of $5,000 or more.
Inspections through close-out
Schedule inspections through ACA as phases complete and pass the final before occupancy or use.
Inspections in Martin County
Schedule and track through Accela Citizen Access. Typical checkpoints include foundation, rough MEP trades, framing, insulation, and final, with wind-rated product verification on envelope work along the coast.
Official Martin County permitting resources
- Apply for a Martin County building permit (incl. HB 803 guidance)
- Building permit fees (official)
- Permit status lookup (no login)
- Building Department forms
- Florida Building Code (8th Edition)
- DBPR contractor license verification
Frequently asked questions
How much is a building permit in Martin County?
Fees follow the schedule on the county's Building Permit Fees page, varying by permit type and valuation, with impact fees added on qualifying new development. Building and fire permit fees are payable online in ACA against your record number.
How do I do a Martin County permit search?
Use Accela Citizen Access — no login is required — from the homepage choose Advanced Search > Search Records/Applications > Building, then search by record number, address, or contractor to see status, fees, and inspection history. No login is needed for basic record research, which makes it the fastest way to check an open permit, a property's permit history, or a contractor's activity before you buy, sell, or build.
What is Martin County's Digital Plan Room?
An ePermitHub electronic document review solution integrated into the ACA portal — plans upload as versioned sets, reviewers mark corrections at the sheet level, and resubmittals process faster than email or paper routing.
How long does a Martin County permit take?
Review times vary with project scope, completeness, and department workload — complete first submissions move fastest, and resubmittals re-enter the queue. For a current estimate on your specific project, ask the permit counter when you file, and consider expedited or private-provider options where offered.
Can homeowners pull their own permits in Martin County?
Yes, with limits. Florida's owner-builder exemption (F.S. 489.103(7)) lets you permit work on a home you own and occupy, but you must appear and sign the disclosure, supervise the work, and not offer the property for sale or lease within one year of completion.
How long is a Martin County permit valid?
Under the Florida Building Code, a permit generally expires if work does not start within 180 days of issuance (or stalls for 180 days); each passed inspection typically extends it. Extensions are requested through the department.
Do I need a permit to install solar panels in Martin County?
Yes. Photovoltaic installations in Martin County 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 prohibit a solar collector, so HOA approval is not a prerequisite to permit issuance. Utility interconnection and Permission to Operate run in parallel with the permit, not inside it.
Does a roof replacement require a permit in Martin County?
Yes. A roof covering replacement requires a permit in every Florida jurisdiction, including Martin County. 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 are sequenced — dry-in, nail-off, then final. Some minor repairs fall below the permit threshold, but the threshold is scope-specific.
What is the difference between a residential and a commercial permit in Martin County?
Residential work is generally a single-discipline review filed as a master permit with trades filed against it. Commercial work in Martin County 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 Martin County?
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 Martin County?
The application is rejected rather than corrected. the Martin County Building Department (Growth Management) 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 Martin permit types online?
Most record types are filed through Accela Citizen Access, but availability varies by permit type and by applicant. Some records still require in-person submittal, and owner-builder filings are frequently restricted to counter submittal regardless of record type.
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