Mount Dora, Florida Building Permit Guide

The City of Mount Dora Building Division at 308 E. 5th Avenue issues building, trade and fire system permits inside city limits, and every permit is filed in the City’s online portal with a signed, notarised application. Under the fee schedule effective October 1, 2025, a new home is charged ICC value × square footage × 0.008, and inspections must be booked by 4:00 p.m. the business day before.

What requires a permit

Mount Dora states that its Building Division oversees new construction projects, additions and alterations of existing structures through permitting, plan review, inspections and final acceptance. Its fee schedule and forms cover structural building work along with electrical, plumbing, mechanical, roofing, pools, windows/doors, demolition and other specialty scopes.

Every permit submittal needs a signed and notarized application, signed by the licence holder or someone with an original power of attorney on file. The online submittal form does not replace it, and revisions need the signed and notarized revision application.

The fee schedule requires a permit to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move or demolish a building, change its occupancy, or install, alter or replace impact-resistant coverings or electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing or fire systems. Sites other than single-family and duplex lots also need a site development permit for clearing, site work or improvements to be dedicated to the City.

Who handles permitting

Permit types and online filing

All permits can be processed online. Create an account on the Permit Online Portal, call 352-735-7115 to have it linked, then apply; every upload must be a PDF. Depending on the job, the portal asks for documents such as a product approval listing, roofing scope of work, the State Swimming Pool Safety Act affidavit, utility connection forms or a commercial utility service load. Revisions, changes of subcontractor, renewals and cancellations are filed in the portal under “Apply for a Planning, Zoning & Engineering Process.”

Contractor registration: every contractor registers with the City by emailing the registration form, a state licence or Lake County specialty licence, and a workers’ compensation policy or exemption naming the City of Mount Dora as certificate holder.

Owner-builders: allowed only when the property is in the owner’s personal name and for the owner’s own use; the building cannot be sold or leased for a year after completion.

Common one- and two-family jobs have flat fees:

Permit costs and fees

The City of Mount Dora Fee Schedule for the Building Department was revised October 2, 2025 and took effect October 1, 2025. The Building Department sets the construction value, and fees are due when the permit is issued; impact fees, sewer connection and utility meter charges must also be paid before issuance.

For example, a $40,000 kitchen and bath remodel in a house is $355 ($75 plus 40 × $7), plus a $35.50 plan review fee and surcharges.

Other charges: resubmittals cost 50% of the plan review fee; revisions are $50 plus $1 per page for homes or $5 per page for commercial work; a permit extension is $50 or 10% of the original fee, whichever is greater; a temporary CO is $110; and work started without a permit costs $150 or double the fee, whichever is greater. A private provider reduces the permit fee by 25% for inspections and removes the plan review fee for plan review. Fees under $3,000 can be paid online by card, $3,001 to $125,000 by e-check, and larger amounts by check at City Hall.

Trade permits

Plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits are listed separately in the fee schedule. The Building Division also permits and inspects fire life-safety and fire protection systems.

Improvements over $5,000 need a Notice of Commencement recorded in Lake County, with a certified copy given to the Building Division before the first inspection. For mechanical permits the threshold is $15,000.

Stand-alone commercial mechanical, roofing, electrical, gas, plumbing and sign permits are $75 plus $7 per $1,000 of value, and fire systems (alarm, sprinkler, underground, suppression, hood) the same plus a $75 fire systems plan review. Fire alarm inspections are $75 plus $1.50 per device and sprinkler inspections $75 plus $1.50 per head. On a new one- or two-family home, subcontractor fees are included in the building permit.

How to apply

Inspections

Since July 1, 2026, the cut-off for scheduling and cancelling inspections is 4:00 p.m. on the previous business day. Inspections are scheduled, rescheduled or cancelled in the online portal.

All permit fees must be paid before the final inspection. If a final is scheduled while fees are outstanding, it is cancelled and must be rescheduled after the balance is paid.

Reroof affidavits are not accepted. Every reroof permit needs the in-progress sheathing, dry-in and flashing inspections.

Same-day cancellations or reschedules are made by phone at 352-735-7115. A re-inspection costs $50 and must be paid before the final, and inspections outside normal hours are $55 an hour with a three-hour minimum. Expired permits are renewed for a share of the original fee that depends on progress: 100% with no inspections, 80% after the slab, 50% after rough-ins, 30% after insulation and 10% when only the final is left.

Local Mount Dora details that matter

City limits: check that a property is inside Mount Dora on the Lake County Property Appraiser’s website or by calling 352-343-9748.

Notice of Commencement: record it at the Lake County Courthouse Recording Office, 550 W. Main St., Tavares, and file it with the Building Division before the first inspection.

Rental properties: under Ordinance 2017-05, every rental property needs a City rental license; buildings more than five years old also need an inspection, and an affidavit is filed every two years to keep the license active.

Master files: contractors who build the same single-family plans, pools, screen enclosures, docks, sheds, solar panels or HVAC tie-downs can master-file them for $50 plus $2 per page a year.

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

FAQ

Who issues building permits in Mount Dora?

The City of Mount Dora Building Division.

What is the current inspection cutoff?

4:00 p.m. on the previous business day, effective July 1, 2026.

Is a signed application required?

Yes. The city states that permit and revision submittals require the applicable signed and notarized application.

Which fee schedule applies?

The Building Department Fee Schedule revised October 2, 2025.

How much is a building permit in Mount Dora?

A new home is ICC value × square footage × 0.008. Alterations are $75 plus $7 per $1,000 of value, with a 10% plan review fee for homes. Simple jobs are flat: $100 for an AC change-out, $150 for a re-roof.

Can a homeowner pull a permit in Mount Dora?

Yes, if the property is in the owner’s personal name and for the owner’s own use; it cannot be sold or leased for a year after the work is finished.

How do I pay permit fees?

Online by card for totals under $3,000, by e-check from $3,001 to $125,000, and by check at City Hall above that. All fees must be paid before the final inspection.

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
• Building Department Fee Schedule
• Building Headlines
• Online Permitting
• Building Department
• Mount Dora contractor registration
• Mount Dora: do I need a Notice of Commencement?
• Mount Dora rental inspection information

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