Pensacola, Florida Building Permit Guide

The City of Pensacola Building Inspections division, on the fifth floor of City Hall at 222 W. Main Street, reviews plans, issues building permits and inspects work inside the city, and every application with plan review is filed in My Government Online (MGO). A new single-family home is charged $0.15 per square foot plus half that for plan review and a $40 application fee.

What requires a building permit in Pensacola?

Pensacola Building Inspections enforces the Florida Building Code and recommends contacting the division before you start work on your property. Its forms show the range of permits it issues:

For residential new dwellings, additions, pools, accessory structures, house moves and manufactured homes, a Zoning and Site Approval application must be approved first; the building permit is then filed as an “Add to Existing” application under the zoning project. Since July 1, 2026 the city also takes requests for state permit exemptions on its Permit Exemption Application.

Pensacola building department: who handles permitting

Building Inspections, part of the city’s Development Services Department, handles plan review, permits and on-site inspections. Jonathan Bilby is the Building Inspections Director and signs the division’s policies as Building Official. Walk-in customers are seen from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. if they arrive by 12:15 p.m.; you can join the line or book an appointment online. Meetings with the Building Official, deputy or a specialist outside walk-in hours must be booked at least 24 hours ahead, and inspectors are best met by appointment between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m.

Pensacola permit types and MGO filing

Every application with plan review is filed in MGO as original PDF files; paper plans have not been accepted since April 1, 2020, and every required document, including the Notice of Commencement, must be uploaded. Paper is accepted only for owner-builder forms. Separate application forms exist for building, demolition, dock power, electrical, extended construction work, doors, windows and siding, fire protection systems, gas, irrigation, mechanical, plumbing and roofing permits, though they are not needed when applying online.

Contractor registration: send a complete package through MGO or by email to ContractorRegistration@cityofpensacola.com; renewals are uploaded to your MGO contractor page. A Letter of Authorization to Sign for Permits lets someone else sign for the licence holder, and an Assumption of Project form is used when a new contractor takes over a job.

Owner-builders file the Owner Builder Disclosure (and the separate electrical disclosure for electrical work). Portable sheds that are exempt from contracting can be permitted by the owner, a tenant with the owner’s notarized agreement, or a shed company with a Business Tax Receipt and insurance.

Pensacola building permit cost

Fees are set in Chapter 7-14 of the City Code, and the city publishes simplified fee schedules for each type of project:

For example, a new 2,000 sq ft home has a building permit fee of $300, a plan review fee of $150 and a $40 application fee, before zoning review, trade sub-permits and state surcharges of 1% and 1.5% (rounded up to the next dollar). Cards carry a 3% service charge.

Trade permits in Pensacola

All sub-permits for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, gas, roofing and fire-system work on a project must be submitted online in MGO as an “Add-to-Existing” permit type. Each carries the $40 application fee, and residential trade inspections are $50 each:

• Electrical: a 200 A service is $95, plus $50 per inspection. Generators need the Electrical Generator ATS Affidavit.
• Plumbing: a $50 base fee covers 10 fixtures, then $2 per extra fixture; a sewer connection is $50.
• Mechanical and gas: $50 per inspection.
• Roofing: $100, with the city’s roofing affidavit and roofing photos guide.

How to get a building permit in Pensacola

Inspections in Pensacola

Schedule inspections online through MGO, in your permit, or through the city’s IVR system at 866-957-3764, option 5. A Request for Call Ahead Policy covers asking for a specific time or for the inspector to call first. Under the Right of Entry Policy, the contractor must get the owner’s express permission for an inspector to enter an occupied home, go on roofs or go behind closed gates; otherwise the inspection can fail for “No Access”.

For a new one- or two-family home the city’s list runs: temporary power pole, erosion control (with the footing), footing, slab, plumbing rough-in, wall and roof sheathing, an optional strapping inspection, windows and doors, brick ties (brick veneer only), plumbing stack-out, mechanical, electrical and gas rough-ins, framing, insulation, roofing final, temporary power, the plumbing, mechanical, electrical and gas finals (power on for the electrical final), and the building final.

Commercial permits, and residential permits issued before July 1, 2026, are valid for 180 days. Residential permits issued on or after July 1, 2026 are valid for one year or until the next building code cycle starts, whichever is longer. Extension and renewal requests are uploaded to the permit in MGO and carry a fee.

Local Pensacola details

Code change: projects submitted on or after December 31, 2026 must meet the 2026 Florida Building Code. Wind design follows ASCE 7-22, which you can check with the ASCE 7 Hazard Tool.

Sheds: every storage shed needs a permit with a scaled site plan. Site-built sheds over 400 sq ft must be designed by a Florida-licensed engineer; portable sheds need pre-engineered plans with tie-down details.

Historic demolition: demolitions that need historic review use the city’s Historic Demolition Review Application alongside the demolition permit.

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

Frequently asked questions

Who issues building permits in Pensacola?

The City of Pensacola Building Inspections division, at City Hall, 222 W. Main St., Fifth Floor. Call 850-436-5600.

How much is a building permit for a new house in Pensacola?

$0.15 per square foot, plus plan review at half that and a $40 application fee. A 2,000 sq ft home works out to $300 plus $150 plus $40, before zoning, trade permits and surcharges.

Do I need a permit for a shed in Pensacola?

Yes. The city requires a permit for all storage sheds, with a scaled site plan; portable sheds also need pre-engineered plans with tie-down details.

How do I apply for a Pensacola building permit?

Create an account and submit the application and PDF plans in My Government Online (MGO). Paper plans have not been accepted since April 1, 2020.

How long is a permit valid?

Residential permits issued since July 1, 2026 last one year or until the next code cycle; commercial permits last 180 days.

How do I schedule an inspection?

In MGO or by IVR at 866-957-3764, option 5.

Pensacola 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.

• Pensacola permitting
• Florida Building Commission
• Pensacola building department
• Pensacola inspections
• Simplified fee schedule: new one- and two-family dwellings (PDF)
• Simplified fee schedule: residential alterations (PDF)
• Simplified fee schedule: new commercial development (PDF)
• Chapter 7-14 fees, City Code (PDF)
• Accessory storage shed policy (PDF)

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