St. Augustine, Florida Building Permit Guide

The City of St. Augustine Planning & Building Department issues building permits, reviews plans and inspects construction inside city limits. All permit applications are filed online through the city’s Permit Portal. A St. Augustine mailing address does not always mean the parcel is inside the city.

What requires a permit in St. Augustine?

The city states that most construction projects require a building permit, including renovations, additions, new construction, pools, fences, windows and doors, docks, driveways and patios, demolition, and accessory structures. Interior painting, minor repairs and interior decorating are listed as examples that normally do not require a building permit.

Beginning July 1, 2026, permits are not required for improvements costing less than $7,500 on single-family homes. Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas and structural work, and work on property in a flood hazard area, still need permits. You must apply for the exemption with a land development application before starting work; starting without an approved exemption means the permit fees are doubled.

Who handles permitting in St. Augustine?

St. Augustine permit types

The city’s permit checklists cover these common permit types:

• Residential and commercial additions and renovations
• New single-family, multifamily and commercial construction
• Windows, doors, roofing and solar
• Pools, fences, sheds, garages and screen enclosures
• Docks, bulkheads, retaining walls and foundations
• Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas and fire systems
• Demolition, relocation and storm-damage repairs

Permit costs and local fees

Building permit fees are assessed on the permit record. Planning fees for building permits that used to be collected by Public Works and Utilities are now assessed by the Planning and Building Department. Pay only through the Permit Portal or by check to the Planning & Building Department; the city never asks for wire transfers.

Starting work without an approved $7,500 exemption doubles the permit fees. Historic review and civil site review have their own fees.

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and other trade permits

The LDA step does not apply to “over the counter” permits such as plumbing, electrical, mechanical and roofing. Each trade still needs its own permit. For larger building projects, the city’s checklists call for architectural, engineering, mechanical, electrical and plumbing plans together.

Application documents and plan requirements

The city publishes permit-type checklists. New single-family homes require building plans, energy calculations, an ISR worksheet, Florida product approvals, a property survey, residential lot-grading information when the impervious-area trigger applies, truss engineering and proof of water/sewer availability or payment.

Commercial new construction requires coordinated architectural and engineering plans, product approvals, truss engineering, civil plans routed to Public Works and water/sewer documentation. Doors and windows require Florida product approvals. Roofing requires product-approval numbers. Pools require surveys and equipment or hydraulic information.

How to apply: 6-step local process

Inspections in St. Augustine

The city’s Building Department inspects all construction inside city limits. For inspections, email buildinginspection@citystaug.com. Work must pass inspections at different phases, and the Certificate of Occupancy is issued after the final inspection passes.

Do not cover work that needs a rough or intermediate inspection until it has passed.

Local permitting details that matter

St. Augustine’s historic setting affects many projects. Buildings more than 50 years old may need Historic Architectural Review Board approval, and demolition or relocation of structures over 50 years old may need HARB approval. Removing large or protected trees may need Planning and Zoning Board approval, and the $7,500 exemption does not remove HARB, PZB or archaeology requirements.

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

Official St. Augustine permitting resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• Florida Building Code - 8th Edition (2023)
• Building Codes & Inspections
• Permit Portal
• 2025 LDA process update
• Planning & Building Department
• Building Permit Information

Frequently asked questions

Who issues building permits in St. Augustine?

The City of St. Augustine Planning & Building Department issues building permits inside city limits.

How do I apply for a permit in St. Augustine?

Create an account in the city’s Permit Portal and submit the application and required documents online. All permit applications must be filed through the portal.

How are inspections handled?

The city’s Building Department inspects all permitted construction. Inspection questions go to buildinginspection@citystaug.com.

Which Florida Building Code applies?

The Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), effective December 31, 2023.

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