The City of Sunrise — west-central Broward's commercial powerhouse, home to the arena district and the Sawgrass corridor — issues building permits through the Building Division of Community Development at 10770 W. Oakland Park Boulevard. The routing rule is the thing to learn first: work that is new or that enlarges, reduces, or otherwise alters the exterior elevation of any building must be presented through the city's planning-and-zoning review first (with a signed checklist on the application package), while interior renovations, re-roofing, fencing, interior plumbing and electrical repairs, and A/C changeouts may be submitted directly to the Building Division — electronically.
Sunrise gives design professionals a standing appointment: every Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. to noon is "Professional Day," when Building Plans Examiners are available on a walk-in basis — no appointment necessary — to answer questions and review applications for all permit applicants and design professionals. At intake, the city issues a Control Number that references the permit through the entire approval process, and a permit issues only after approval by all appropriate disciplines — structural, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical among them.
Applies inside City of Sunrise limits. Neighboring Plantation, Tamarac, and Lauderhill run their own permitting, and unincorporated Broward parcels route to the county - confirm the jurisdiction before filing.
What requires a building permit in City of Sunrise?
Under the Florida Building Code (§105.1), a permit is required before you construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of most structures and systems. New for 2026: Florida HB 803 (effective July 1, 2026) created additional building-permit exemptions for certain single-family residential work - notably F.S. 553.79(1)(g), which can exempt qualifying work valued under $7,500 when it involves no electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas, or structural work, the home is not in a Special Flood Hazard Area, and the owner submits a written exemption request to the Building Official. Ask the permit counter whether your scope qualifies before assuming a permit is needed.
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
Usually 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
Who handles permitting in City of Sunrise?
The Building Division operates at 10770 W. Oakland Park Boulevard — (954) 572-2354 for permit-type determinations, with the broader building/permitting line at (954) 741-2580 — and routes by inbox: askbuilding@sunrisefl.gov for general questions, permits@sunrisefl.gov for contractor registration, updates, and NOCs, and BuildingRecords@sunrisefl.gov for open-permit and records research ((954) 572-2292 / 572-2353). The Engineering Division at 1601 NW 136th Avenue, Building A handles engineering permits — right-of-way, paving, drainage, landscape and irrigation — with annual contractor registration and a posted fee schedule of its own. All permitting runs through the Electronic submittal to the Building Division.
- Address: 10770 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Sunrise, FL 33351
- Phone: (954) 572-2354
- Email: askbuilding@sunrisefl.gov
- Hours: Monday–Friday (city business hours)
City of Sunrise permit types
A building permit is one record among many. the Sunrise Building Division issues work under separate record types, and filing under the wrong one is a rejection, not a correction — the application is closed and refiled, and the review clock restarts.
Residential permit types
| Permit type | What triggers it | Review path | Fee basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New construction | New dwellings, additions, and accessory structures over the exempt threshold | Full plan review (structural, energy, zoning) | Valuation-based |
| Renovation / alteration | Structural or load-bearing changes, layout changes, substantial repair | Plan review scaled to scope | Valuation-based |
| Reroof | Roof covering replacement and most major roof repair | Product approval review; dry-in and nail-off inspections | Valuation or squares |
| Solar photovoltaic | Rooftop or ground-mount PV installation or replacement | Structural plus electrical review | Flat or system-size based |
| Solar thermal | Passive water heating or pool heating systems | Plumbing and structural review | Flat or per-permit minimum |
| Electrical | Service changes, panel upgrades, new circuits, most wiring alterations | Trade review; filed against the building permit | Per-permit minimum or per-device |
| Plumbing | New piping, repipes, water heaters, fixtures, gas piping | Trade review; filed against the building permit | Per-permit minimum or per-fixture |
| Mechanical / HVAC | Changeouts that are not like-for-like, ductwork, refrigeration | Trade review; filed against the building permit | Per-permit minimum or per-unit |
| Windows and doors | Replacement units and opening protection | Product approval review for wind-borne debris | Valuation or per-opening |
| Pool and spa | In-ground and above-ground pools, spas, barrier and enclosure work | Plan review plus barrier and electrical bonding | Valuation-based |
| Fence and accessory | Fences, sheds, decks, and carports over the exempt threshold | Zoning plus structural where applicable | Flat or valuation-based |
| Demolition | Full or partial demolition of a structure | Utility disconnect verification required | Flat |
Commercial permit types
| Permit type | What triggers it | Review path | Fee basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New construction | Ground-up commercial, industrial, and multifamily | Full multi-discipline plan review | Valuation-based |
| Tenant improvement | Interior build-outs and suite fit-ups | Plan review across affected disciplines | Valuation-based |
| Renovation / alteration | Structural, envelope, or system changes to an existing building | Plan review scaled to scope | Valuation-based |
| Change of use | Converting a building from one occupancy classification to another | Zoning, life-safety, and accessibility review | Valuation or flat |
| Reroof | Commercial roof covering replacement | Product approval review plus fire review where applicable | Valuation or squares |
| Solar photovoltaic | Commercial rooftop, carport, and ground-mount PV | Structural, electrical, and often fire review | Valuation or system-size based |
| Electrical | Service, distribution, and branch circuit work | Trade review | Valuation or per-device |
| Plumbing | Supply, waste, vent, and gas systems | Trade review | Valuation or per-fixture |
| Mechanical / HVAC | Rooftop units, ductwork, exhaust, and refrigeration | Trade review | Valuation or per-unit |
| Fire protection | Sprinkler, standpipe, alarm, and suppression systems | Fire prevention plan review | Valuation or per-device |
| Sign | Wall, monument, and illuminated signage | Zoning plus electrical where illuminated | Flat or per-sign |
| Demolition | Full or partial commercial demolition | Utility disconnect and environmental clearance | Flat or valuation-based |
Residential
- Single-discipline review in most cases
- Master permit with trades filed against it
- Owner-builder route exists but carries statutory affidavits
- Product approval drives roofing and opening protection
Commercial — multi-discipline
- Concurrent review across building, fire, and zoning
- Signed and sealed plans across every affected discipline
- Accessibility and life-safety review attach to change of use
- Impact and concurrency fees can apply on top of permit fees
Solar permits in City of Sunrise
Solar is permitted as its own record type in most Florida jurisdictions rather than rolled into a general building permit, and residential and commercial photovoltaic are usually separate records with different document sets. Solar thermal — passive water and pool heating — is a third, distinct record.
A photovoltaic submittal is reviewed on two tracks at once: structural (roof load path, attachment spacing, uplift) and electrical (conductor sizing, rapid shutdown, point of interconnection). A single-line diagram and a signed and sealed structural attachment detail are the two attachments most often missing on a first submittal.
Under Fla. Stat. §163.04, a homeowners' association cannot prohibit a solar collector on a dwelling — HOA architectural approval is not a prerequisite to permit issuance, though it may still be a contractual matter between owner and association.
Utility interconnection runs parallel to the building permit, not inside it. Permission to Operate is issued by the utility after the final electrical inspection clears.
High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. City of Sunrise sits in Broward County, inside the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. HVHZ work requires products carrying a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance or a Florida Product Approval valid for the HVHZ, uses stricter attachment and uplift criteria, and carries review requirements above the statewide baseline — on both solar and roofing.
Roofing permits in City of Sunrise
A roof covering replacement requires a permit in every Florida jurisdiction. Repairs below the local threshold may not, but the threshold is scope-specific and confirming it with the building department before tear-off is cheaper than an after-the-fact permit.
Every roof product must carry a current Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance rated for the wind speed at the project address. A product approval number that has lapsed or is rated below the site wind speed is the single most common reroof rejection.
Reroof inspections are sequenced: dry-in after the underlayment, nail-off on the sheathing fastening, and final. Covering the deck before the dry-in inspection means tearing it back open.
Hurricane mitigation retrofit requirements can attach when an existing roof is replaced, including secondary water barrier and roof-to-wall connection work. These add scope and documents, and they are triggered by the replacement itself.
Under Fla. Stat. §553.7922, jurisdictions run expedited procedures for permits that need no technical review — reroofs, roof repairs, and similar — during a declared state of emergency.
City of Sunrise building permit cost
Permit fees are assessed per the city's schedule at issuance — and the engineering side posts a rule with teeth: all work that begins prior to receiving an approved engineering permit is charged a double fee. The scheduling costs are routing items: exterior-elevation work rides the zoning-first path with its signed checklist, county-triggering scopes wait on Broward approvals before issuance, and the quick-service permit program covers the simple changeout scopes that shouldn't wait behind full review.
How City of Sunrise permitting works
| Component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Permit fees | Per the city schedule at issuance — quick-service program for simple scopes |
| Routing | Exterior-elevation work: zoning first with signed checklist; interior/re-roof/AC: direct to Building |
| Control Number | Issued at intake — references the permit through the whole approval process |
| Professional Day | Wednesdays 8 a.m.–noon — walk-in plans examiners, no appointment needed |
| Engineering permits | Separate division, annual contractor registration — double fee for work begun before permit |
| Broward approvals (when applicable) | EPD and county elevator approvals required before city issuance |
City of Sunrise trade permits
Electrical permits
Required for service installations, panel upgrades, solar PV, and most wiring alterations in City of Sunrise, filed by a licensed electrical contractor against the master building permit through the City of Sunrise Building Division (Community Development).
Plumbing permits
Required for new plumbing, repipes, water heater changeouts, fixture relocations, and gas piping; fees follow the local schedule with per-permit minimums.
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Required for HVAC installations and changeouts, ductwork, and refrigeration; specialized systems are permitted and inspected separately.
Miscellaneous & specialty
Roofs, pools and spas, screen enclosures, mobile home set-ups, and demolition are permitted separately. Exterior components need current Florida Product Approval rated for the local wind speed.
How to get a building permit in City of Sunrise
Route the scope correctly
Exterior-elevation work — new construction, additions, anything altering the outside of a building — goes through the city's planning-and-zoning review first with the signed checklist; interior renovations, re-roofs, fencing, interior repairs, and A/C changeouts submit directly to the Building Division. Call (954) 572-2354 for a determination.
Start county clocks early
Where the scope triggers them, pursue Broward County EPD and elevator approvals in parallel — both must be received before the city issues the permit.
Submit electronically and get your Control Number
File the completed application package electronically with the Building Division; the city issues a Control Number that references the permit through the entire approval process.
Use Professional Day
Take questions and correction-ready plans to the walk-in plans examiners any Wednesday between 8:00 a.m. and noon — or check plans out of the division for correction and return them.
Clear all disciplines, pay, and pull
The permit issues after structural, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical approvals; pay per the schedule, record the Notice of Commencement per Florida law, and post the permit on site.
Inspect through close-out
Schedule trade and building inspections as phases complete, keep approved plans on site, and clear the final for your Certificate of Occupancy or Completion.
Inspections in City of Sunrise
Inspections coordinate through the Building Division against the Control Number, with each discipline's approvals and inspections tracked to the master permit. The correction workflow is unusually personal — plans check out for correction or fix in-house during business hours, with Wednesday Professional Day putting an examiner across the counter. Keep HVHZ product documentation ready on exterior components, and confirm county-layer approvals are in the file before final scheduling on elevator and environmental scopes.
Official City of Sunrise permitting resources
- City of Sunrise Building Division (Community Development)
- Fee information
- Permitting information
- Permit lookup
- Florida Building Code (8th Ed.)
- Florida Product Approval search
- DBPR license verification
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a building permit in City of Sunrise?
Direct-to-Building scopes move fastest — electronically filed, single-lane review — while exterior-elevation work adds the zoning-first step and county-triggering scopes wait on Broward approvals before issuance. Wednesday Professional Day is the schedule accelerator: questions answered and corrections handled across the counter instead of by correspondence. Call (954) 572-2354 for current turnaround by permit type.
How do I look up a permit in City of Sunrise?
Sunrise routes building-records research through a dedicated lane: for open permit searches and public-records inquiries, email BuildingRecords@sunrisefl.gov, or call (954) 572-2292 or (954) 572-2353. General building questions go to askbuilding@sunrisefl.gov, and contractor registration and Notice of Commencement submissions go to permits@sunrisefl.gov.
What is Professional Day in Sunrise?
Every Wednesday between 8:00 a.m. and noon, Building Plans Examiners are available on a walk-in basis — no appointment necessary — to answer questions and review applications for all building permit applicants and design professionals. Appointments can also be made for other times in the week.
Which Sunrise permits skip planning-and-zoning review?
Work that doesn't alter a building's exterior elevation: re-roofing, interior renovations, fencing, interior plumbing or electrical repairs, and A/C changeouts submit directly to the Building Division electronically. New work or anything enlarging, reducing, or altering the exterior elevation routes through the city's planning-and-zoning review first, with a signed checklist. When in doubt, call (954) 572-2354 for a determination.
What is a Sunrise Control Number?
The tracking reference the city issues when it receives your application and plans — it must be used to reference the permit throughout the approval process, across every discipline's review through issuance.
Which email do I use for what in Sunrise?
Three lanes: askbuilding@sunrisefl.gov for general building questions; permits@sunrisefl.gov for contractor registration, updates, and Notice of Commencement submissions; and BuildingRecords@sunrisefl.gov for open-permit searches and public-records inquiries — or call (954) 572-2292 / 572-2353 for records.
Do I need a permit to install solar panels in City of Sunrise?
Yes. Photovoltaic installations in City of Sunrise are permitted under a dedicated solar record type reviewed on both a structural and an electrical track. Solar thermal — passive water and pool heating — is a separate record. Under Fla. Stat. §163.04 a homeowners' association cannot prohibit a solar collector, so HOA approval is not a prerequisite to permit issuance. Utility interconnection and Permission to Operate run in parallel with the permit, not inside it.
Does a roof replacement require a permit in City of Sunrise?
Yes, and City of Sunrise is in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, so the bar is higher than the rest of Florida. Roof products must carry a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance or a Florida Product Approval valid for the HVHZ, attachment and uplift criteria are stricter, and hurricane mitigation retrofit requirements commonly attach when an existing roof is replaced. Inspections remain sequenced — dry-in, nail-off, then final.
What is the difference between a residential and a commercial permit in City of Sunrise?
Residential work is generally a single-discipline review filed as a master permit with trades filed against it. Commercial work in City of Sunrise runs concurrent review across building, fire, and zoning, requires signed and sealed plans for every affected discipline, and can carry impact and concurrency fees on top of permit fees. Change of use adds accessibility and life-safety review.
Do trade permits need to be pulled separately in City of Sunrise?
Yes in most cases. Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work is permitted separately by the licensed contractor for each trade and filed against the master building permit. Each trade permit carries its own fee and its own inspection sequence.
What happens if I file under the wrong permit type in City of Sunrise?
The application is rejected rather than corrected. the Sunrise Building Division closes the record, the filing is resubmitted under the correct record type, and the review clock restarts from zero. Confirming the record type before filing is the cheapest step in the entire process.
Can I apply for all Sunrise permit types online?
Most record types are filed through the city permitting system, but availability varies by permit type and by applicant. Some records still require in-person submittal, and owner-builder filings are frequently restricted to counter submittal regardless of record type.
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