Pasco County is one of Florida's fastest-growing counties, anchored by booming communities like Wesley Chapel and Land O'Lakes. Building permits are issued by the Building Construction Services Department for unincorporated Pasco County, with applications running through the PascoGateway portal.
This Pasco County building permit guide covers what requires a permit, how fees work, the PascoGateway submission process, trade permits, and inspections — so your Wesley Chapel- or New Port Richey-area project keeps moving.
Confirm you're in unincorporated Pasco County. Building Construction Services permits only the unincorporated county (communities like Wesley Chapel, Land O'Lakes, Trinity, Hudson, and Holiday). The cities of New Port Richey, Port Richey, Dade City, and Zephyrhills run their own building departments.
What requires a building permit in Pasco County?
Under the Florida Building Code, the Florida Fire Prevention Code, and the Pasco County Land Development Code, a permit is required before you construct, renovate, alter, demolish, or change the use of most structures and systems. Common triggers include:
Permit required
- New construction, additions, and tenant build-outs
- Structural / load-bearing alterations and demolition
- Roof replacements, window and door replacements, and exterior work
- Electrical service changes and most wiring alterations
- Mechanical / HVAC installations and changeouts
- Plumbing alterations, repipes, and water heaters
- Swimming pools, fences over 6 feet, and accessory structures
- Tree removal (a Pasco County permit is generally required)
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 Pasco County?
Permitting for unincorporated Pasco County is administered by Building Construction Services through the Pasco One Stop Center, which ties together permitting, zoning, and development resources in one place.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | Citizens Center, 8661 Citizens Drive, Suite 100, New Port Richey, FL 34654 |
| Inspection / extensions email | inspectionschedulers@mypasco.net |
| Online portal | PascoGateway (Accela Citizen Access) |
| Office hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (East Pasco office in Dade City) |
| Permit validity | 6 months from issuance and 6 months from the last passed inspection |
| Enforced codes | Florida Building Code (8th Ed., 2023), Florida Fire Prevention Code, Pasco County LDC |
Apply, upload plans, pay fees, and schedule inspections through PascoGateway. The Pasco One Stop Center consolidates building, zoning, and development information so you can confirm what your project needs before you file.
Pasco County building permit cost
Pasco County building fees are based on the type and valuation of work, with separate fees for each trade. Residential permits that increase a home's living area — such as a room addition or a larger replacement mobile home — trigger impact fees; the county offers an impact-fee study for $30 so you can budget before applying.
Because fee schedules and impact-fee rates are adjusted periodically, confirm current amounts in PascoGateway or with Building Construction Services before budgeting.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building / construction fee | Based on type and valuation of work; minimum fees apply |
| Trade permits (E / P / M) | Charged separately per trade unless rolled into a master permit |
| Impact fees | Triggered by added living area; $30 impact-fee study available |
| Plan review | Assessed at intake |
| State surcharge | DBPR surcharge added per Florida statute |
| Work-without-permit | After-the-fact fees and penalties |
Want a precise number for a specific Pasco County project? Send us the scope and valuation and we'll return a fee estimate alongside a filing timeline.
Pasco County trade permits
Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work generally needs its own permit and licensed contractor, each filed against the master building permit in PascoGateway.
Electrical permits
Required for service installations, panel upgrades, solar PV, and most wiring alterations. Pasco enforces the electrical provisions of the Florida Building Code.
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, and refrigeration. Specialized systems are permitted and inspected separately.
Miscellaneous & specialty
Roof replacements, pools, accessory structures, and fences over 6 feet are permitted separately, and tree removal generally requires its own permit. Use roofing and opening products with current Florida Product Approval rated for the local wind speed.
Verify your contractor's license. Confirm the contractor is licensed in Florida (DBPR, (850) 487-1395) and registered with Pasco County before signing. The property owner is responsible for ensuring a permit is obtained.
How to get a building permit in Pasco County
Confirm scope & jurisdiction
Verify the work needs a permit and confirm the parcel is unincorporated Pasco County — not New Port Richey, Port Richey, Dade City, or Zephyrhills. Use the One Stop Center to confirm requirements.
Prepare your documents
Assemble the application, owner/parcel info and valuation, site plan, signed and sealed plans for structural work, and any zoning or impact-fee materials.
Submit through PascoGateway
Create or use your PascoGateway account and upload a complete package. Consider a $30 impact-fee study first if your project adds living area.
Plan review & corrections
Building Construction Services routes the application to applicable reviews. Upload revisions promptly if comments are returned.
Pay fees & pull the permit
Pay the calculated building, trade, and impact fees in PascoGateway, then download and post the permit on site before starting work. Record a Notice of Commencement where required.
Schedule inspections through close-out
Request inspections in PascoGateway. Clear all required inspections to obtain your Certificate of Occupancy or Completion.
Inspections in Pasco County
Schedule inspections through PascoGateway. Typical checkpoints include foundation, rough-in MEP, framing, insulation, and final. Post the permit on site before starting work, with approved documents available.
Pasco permits are valid for 6 months from issuance and 6 months from the last passed inspection; request an extension before expiration by emailing inspectionschedulers@mypasco.net. A re-inspection fee applies to failed inspections.
Official Pasco County permitting resources
- 🏛️ Pasco County Building Construction Services
- 💻 PascoGateway permit portal
- 📋 Permitting assistance / One Stop Center
- 📘 Florida Building Code (8th Ed.)
- 📜 Pasco County building ordinances
- 🪪 DBPR license verification
Simplify Pasco County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Pasco County's explosive growth in Wesley Chapel and Land O'Lakes keeps Building Construction Services busy, and impact fees and a 6-month permit clock reward staying organized. Alliance Permitting is a permit expediter for Pasco County — our permit expediting services pair AI-driven document review with experts who know PascoGateway and the county's review process, so your submissions move faster.
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Contractors and builders choose Alliance for Pasco County because we deliver:
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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.
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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 Pasco County Building Construction Services before filing. This is not legal advice.