Orange County's building program is run by the Division of Building Safety, which issues permits for unincorporated Orange County. Applications run through the county's Fast Track portal, which routes each submission to every reviewing department and includes a fee calculator.
This guide covers what triggers a permit, how fees work, the Fast Track submission process, trade permits, and inspections — so your Orlando-area project starts clean.
An "Orlando" address doesn't always mean Orange County permitting. Building Safety permits only unincorporated Orange County. The City of Orlando and other cities (Winter Park, Apopka, Maitland and more) run their own departments, and the Walt Disney World resort area is permitted by the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (formerly Reedy Creek).
What requires a building permit in Orange County?
Under the Florida Building Code (§105.1), a permit is required before you erect, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of most structures and systems. Common triggers include:
Permit required
- New homes, additions, and tenant build-outs
- Structural / load-bearing alterations and demolition
- Reroofing, window and door replacement, and exterior work
- Electrical service changes and most wiring alterations
- Mechanical / HVAC changeouts and boilers
- Plumbing alterations, repipes, gas, and water heaters
- Pools and spas (barrier required), signs, and fences
- Manufactured homes and solar PV systems
Typically exempt
- Painting, flooring, cabinetry, and cosmetic work
- Like-for-like minor repairs not altering systems
- Certain low non-structural fences (confirm limits)
- Routine maintenance not extending or rerouting systems
Exemptions are narrow and scope-specific. When unsure, confirm with the building department before starting — see the penalty note below.
Get the permit issued before starting work. Beginning without one exposes the owner to after-the-fact fees and penalties. Apply first and let the permit issue.
Who handles permitting in Orange County?
Permitting for unincorporated Orange County is administered by the Division of Building Safety. Fast Track verifies each application and routes it to every reviewing department — building, zoning, stormwater/floodplain, impact fees, and others — based on project conditions.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | Orange County Administration Building, 1st Floor, 201 S. Rosalind Ave, Orlando, FL 32801 |
| Phone | (407) 836-5550 |
| Online portal | OC Fast Track — fasttrack.ocfl.net |
| Office hours | Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (in-person by appointment) |
| Enforced code | Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), with wind & flood provisions |
Apply and track online in Fast Track. The system routes your application to each reviewing department automatically and emails consolidated denial/approval comments — rely on the emailed comments when correcting plans. Eligible permits may qualify for Early Start Authorization.
Orange County building permit cost
Orange County building fees are calculated from the type and valuation of work, with separate fees for each trade. The Fast Track fee calculator shows the amount before you pay; minimum building fees generally start around $150. Impact fees and concurrency apply to qualifying new development.
Because fees are adjusted periodically, use the Fast Track calculator or confirm with Building Safety before budgeting. Orange County also offers fee reductions through an affordable-housing incentive program for qualifying projects.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building / construction fee | Based on type and valuation; minimums generally start near $150 |
| Trade permits (E / P / M / gas) | Charged separately per trade unless rolled into a master permit |
| Fee calculator | Built into Fast Track — shows the amount before payment |
| Impact / concurrency fees | Assessed on qualifying new development |
| Fee reductions | Affordable-housing incentive fund for eligible projects |
| Work-without-permit | After-the-fact fees and penalties |
Want a precise number for a specific Orange County project? Send us the scope and valuation and we'll return a fee estimate alongside a filing timeline.
Orange County trade permits
Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and gas work generally needs its own permit and licensed contractor, each filed against the master building permit in Fast Track.
Electrical permits
Required for service installations, panel upgrades, solar PV, and most wiring alterations. Filed as a sub-permit in Fast Track.
Plumbing permits
Required for new plumbing, repipes, water heater changeouts, fixtures, and gas piping. Fees follow the county schedule with a per-permit minimum.
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Required for HVAC changeouts, ductwork, refrigeration, and boilers. Specialized systems are permitted and inspected separately.
Miscellaneous & specialty
Reroofs, pools and spas (with a required safety barrier), signs, fences, and manufactured homes are permitted separately. Orange County is outside the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone but enforces the Florida Building Code's wind and flood provisions — use products with current Florida Product Approval.
Verify your contractor's license. Confirm the contractor is licensed in Florida (DBPR, (850) 487-1395) before signing. The property owner is responsible for ensuring a permit is obtained.
How to get a building permit in Orange County
Confirm scope & jurisdiction
Verify the work needs a permit and confirm the parcel is unincorporated Orange County — not the City of Orlando, another municipality, or the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
Prepare your documents
Assemble the application, owner/parcel info and valuation, signed/sealed plans for structural or larger work, energy calcs, and any zoning, stormwater, or floodplain materials.
Submit through Fast Track
Create or use your Fast Track account, run the fee calculator, and submit the application and documents. Eligible permits may request Early Start Authorization.
Plan review & corrections
Fast Track routes the application to each reviewing department. Rely on the system's emailed comments and upload revisions promptly.
Pay fees & pull the permit
Pay the calculated building, trade, and impact fees in Fast Track and download the permit. Record and post a Notice of Commencement where required.
Schedule inspections through close-out
Request inspections in Fast Track. Clear all required inspections to obtain your Certificate of Occupancy or Completion.
Inspections in Orange County
Schedule and track inspections through Fast Track using your permit number. Typical checkpoints include foundation, rough-in MEP, framing, insulation, and final. Post the permit and Notice of Commencement on site with approved documents available.
A re-inspection fee applies to failed inspections and must be cleared before a final inspection or Certificate of Occupancy can be requested.
Official Orange County permitting resources
- 🏛️ Orange County Building Safety
- 💻 OC Fast Track portal
- 📋 One-Stop Permitting Services
- 📘 Florida Building Code (8th Ed.)
- 💵 Building Safety fees
- 🪪 DBPR license verification
Simplify Orange County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Orange County's multi-department Fast Track routing, impact fees, and the patchwork of city and Disney-district jurisdictions reward clean, correctly-routed submissions. Alliance Permitting is a permit expediter for Orange County — our permit expediting services pair AI-driven document review with expediters who know Fast Track and the county's review process — so your submissions go in clean and move faster.
Trusted by leading builders and brands — including Dream Finders Homes, Tesla, Verizon, Hyatt, and Sunnova.
Contractors and builders choose Alliance for Orange County because we deliver:
- Local expertise — we know Fast Track routing, Early Start, and Orange County's jurisdictional boundaries.
- Complete oversight — track every permit and inspection across all your jobs in one place.
- Error-free submissions — AI pre-checks plus expert review catch issues before they become correction cycles.
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company: we prepare your paperwork, file it correctly, and coordinate with the building department through issuance — including preparing private-provider documentation where that option is available. We are not a contractor and do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your team and the jurisdiction.
Ready to break ground in Orange County sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Orange County permits while you stay focused on building. Get a free, no-obligation quote today.
More Florida permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available information believed accurate as of June 2026. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change; always confirm current details with the Orange County Division of Building Safety before filing. This is not legal advice.