Taylor County's Building & Planning Department in Perry enforces the mandated Florida Building Code, conducts building, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing inspections during construction, issues zoning and building permits, and issues occupancy permits upon compliance. The county runs a personal, staff-driven process — there is no self-service portal, but the department publishes dedicated contacts for each function: permitting@taylorcountygov.com for applications and inspections@taylorcountygov.com for inspection requests.
Taylor County also carries a permitting reality few Florida counties share: its coast took direct hits from Hurricane Idalia (2023) and Hurricane Helene (2024), and rebuild work in Keaton Beach, Dekle Beach, Steinhatchee, and the coastal flood zones runs through this office — including FEMA substantial-improvement review for damaged structures in mapped flood zones.
Applies to unincorporated Taylor County, including the coastal communities of Steinhatchee, Keaton Beach, and Dekle Beach. The City of Perry runs its own building office at 224 S. Jefferson Street (850-584-7161) - confirm the routing for city-limits parcels before filing.
What requires a building permit in Taylor County?
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
Florida requires a permit under the Florida Building Code (section 105.1) for most construction, alteration, repair, demolition and change of occupancy; since 1 July 2026 a narrow exemption covers some single-family work under $7,500, and single-family permits stay valid for at least a year. When a permit is required in Florida
Who handles permitting in Taylor County?
The Building & Planning Department operates from the Taylor County Administrative Complex at 201 E. Green St. in Perry, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. The department publishes named contacts — the permitting desk (permitting@taylorcountygov.com), inspections (inspections@taylorcountygov.com), and the Building Director (building.director@taylorcountygov.com) — and staff are available during business hours for code questions by phone or in person. Taylor County also maintains a local Contractor Licensing Board, with applications available through the department. All permitting runs through the In person / by email (no online portal).
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →- Address: 201 East Green St., Perry, FL 32347
- Phone: (850) 838-3500 ext. 1
- Email: permitting@taylorcountygov.com
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Taylor County permit types
A building permit is one record among many. the Taylor County Building & Planning Department 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 |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →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 |
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →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
Roofing permits in Taylor County
Solar and roofing work follow statewide rules on HOA limits, product approval, reroof inspections and hurricane mitigation. Solar and roofing rules in Florida
Taylor County building permit cost
Taylor County publishes its building permit fee schedule (which includes the state surcharge) and a separate planning application fee schedule on the Building & Planning Department's Fee Information page. Fees vary by project type and scope, so pull the posted schedules or confirm with the permitting desk before budgeting — and note that flood-zone projects may carry additional documentation costs such as elevation certificates.
How Taylor County permitting works
| Component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building permit fees | Per the county's posted fee schedule, including the state surcharge |
| Planning application fees | Separate posted schedule for zoning and land-use applications |
| Contractor licensing | Local Licensing Board application through the department |
| Flood-zone documentation | Elevation certificate costs where required |
Taylor County trade permits
Rather not deal with the Taylor County building department?
Get a free quote →Electrical permits
Required for service installations, panel upgrades, solar PV, and most wiring alterations in Taylor County, filed by a licensed electrical contractor against the master building permit through the Taylor County Building & Planning Department.
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 Taylor County
Confirm scope & jurisdiction
Verify the work needs a permit and confirm the parcel is unincorporated Taylor County — not inside the City of Perry, which permits separately through City Hall (850-584-7161).
Check zoning and flood status first
Planning and zoning review runs through the same department. For coastal and riverine parcels, confirm the flood zone and any substantial-improvement implications before designing the project.
Prepare your documents
Assemble the county application for your project type with plans, valuation, and contractor license information. Contractors can confirm local licensing requirements with the county Licensing Board.
Submit to the permitting desk
File in person at 201 E. Green St. in Perry or email the permitting desk at permitting@taylorcountygov.com.
Plan review & issuance
The department reviews plans for structural soundness and code conformity, then issues the permit. Record a Notice of Commencement where required.
Inspect through occupancy
Request inspections through inspections@taylorcountygov.com or (850) 838-3500 ext. 1. The county issues occupancy permits upon compliance with state building codes and local regulations.
Inspections in Taylor County
Inspection requests go to the department's dedicated inspections contact (inspections@taylorcountygov.com) or by phone. Inspectors check building, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems at the appropriate stages of construction, and the final step is the county's occupancy permit, issued once the project complies with the state building codes and local regulations.
Official Taylor County permitting resources
- Taylor County Building & Planning Department
- Fee information
- Online permitting / portal
- Permit lookup
- Florida Building Code (8th Ed.)
- Florida Product Approval search
- DBPR license verification
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a building permit in Taylor County?
Simple trade permits are generally quick once the application is complete; new construction and coastal projects depend on plan review workload and any floodplain determinations. Because the process is staff-driven rather than portal-driven, calling the permitting desk at (850) 838-3500 ext. 1 gets you a live answer on current turnaround — and post-storm periods can extend review times when rebuild volume surges.
How do I look up a permit in Taylor County?
Taylor County does not run a public online permit-search portal. To look up a permit, email the permitting desk at permitting@taylorcountygov.com or call (850) 838-3500 ext. 1 with the parcel or permit number — staff can pull application and inspection history directly.
Who handles hurricane rebuild permits on the Taylor County coast?
The county Building & Planning Department — Steinhatchee, Keaton Beach, and Dekle Beach are unincorporated, so repair and rebuild permits after Idalia and Helene run through the Perry office. For damaged structures in mapped flood zones, the county's floodplain rules determine whether the work crosses the substantial-improvement threshold requiring full elevation compliance, so get that determination before finalizing repair scope.
Does Taylor County have an online permitting portal?
No. Taylor County runs a staff-driven process: applications are filed in person at 201 E. Green St. in Perry or by email to permitting@taylorcountygov.com, and inspections are requested through inspections@taylorcountygov.com. The upside is direct access to the people reviewing your file.
Do contractors need a local license in Taylor County?
Contractors work under their state license, and Taylor County also maintains a local Contractor Licensing Board for locally licensed trades — the Licensing Board application is available through the Building & Planning Department. Verify state licenses through the DBPR.
Does the City of Perry issue its own permits?
Yes. Inside Perry city limits, permitting runs through City Hall at 224 S. Jefferson St. (850-584-7161), not the county. The county department permits unincorporated Taylor County only.
Do I need a permit to install solar panels in Taylor County?
Yes. Photovoltaic installations in Taylor County 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 ban solar panels, though it can decide where on the roof they go if that does not reduce their performance; HOA review is separate from the building permit. Utility interconnection and Permission to Operate run in parallel with the permit, not inside it.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Does a roof replacement require a permit in Taylor County?
Yes. A roof covering replacement almost always requires a permit in Florida, including Taylor County. Products must carry a current Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance rated for the wind speed at the project address, and inspections usually run deck nailing, then dry-in, then final. Some minor repairs fall below the permit threshold, and a small single-family job under $7,500 can qualify for the written-request exemption under F.S. 553.79(1)(g), so ask the department first.
What is the difference between a residential and a commercial permit in Taylor County?
Residential work is generally a single-discipline review filed as a master permit with trades filed against it. Commercial work in Taylor County 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 Taylor County?
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 Taylor County?
The application is rejected rather than corrected. the Taylor County Building & Planning Department 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 Taylor permit types online?
Most record types are filed through counter intake at the Administrative Complex in Perry, but availability varies by permit type and by applicant. Florida law requires building departments to accept completed applications electronically, but owner-builders must still appear in person to sign (F.S. 489.103(7)).
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Between floodplain determinations, substantial-improvement math, and a paper-first process, Taylor County rewards complete, correctly-sequenced submissions. Alliance Permitting is a permit expediter for Taylor County and prepares and files the package and works the county's staff-driven review directly.
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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 July 2026. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change; always confirm current details with the Taylor County Building & Planning Department before filing. This is not legal advice.