Yes. You need a permit to demolish a house in Florida, and the same goes for a pool, a garage, a commercial building, or any other structure. The Florida Building Code applies to the removal and demolition of every building and structure, and every county and city we work in enforces it. In almost every case the permit is pulled by the licensed demolition contractor, not the homeowner. We pull it on every job we do, it is part of our price, and you never stand in a county line.
What a Florida Demolition Permit Covers
The permit is the county signing off that the structure can come down safely and the lot will be left in a legal condition. To issue it, the county wants the same few things everywhere in Florida:
- A survey or site plan showing exactly which structure is coming down.
- Utility disconnects. A letter from the power company, and gas if the house has it, confirming the service is dead at the structure.
- Septic abandonment. If the property is on septic, the tank has to be pumped and properly abandoned with the health department, and that approval goes in the permit file. Wells get capped too.
- A licensed contractor on the permit, or an owner-builder affidavit if you are doing it yourself.
- A final inspection after the lot is cleared, which is what actually closes the permit.
The Asbestos Step Most People Miss
Separate from the county permit, Florida requires a Notice of Demolition to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection at least 10 working days before the work starts, and most structures need a licensed asbestos survey before that notice is filed. It is a state and federal rule, not a county one. The survey takes a day or two. If it finds asbestos, licensed abatement happens before we bring the machines in. We schedule the survey the day you sign so it never holds the job.
How Long a Demolition Permit Takes in Florida
Right now, demolition permits are taking 3 to 6 weeks in Central Florida. The permit fee itself is $40 to $200, but full permitting with county licensing and processing fees runs $900 to $2,300 depending on the county. Volusia, Lake, and Seminole move the fastest. Orange County is the slowest we work, plan for the long end there. The permit sets the calendar, which is why we file it the day you sign.
Demolition Permits by County
| County | Who Files | How It Is Filed |
|---|---|---|
| Orange | Licensed contractor or owner-builder | Demolition permits are not on the Fast Track portal yet, the application is emailed to the Division of Building Safety |
| Seminole | Licensed contractor or owner-builder | ePlan online portal through the Building Division |
| Lake | Licensed contractor or owner-builder | Office of Building Services, online and in person |
| Volusia | Licensed contractor or owner-builder | Connect Live online portal through the Permit Center |
| Osceola | Licensed contractor or owner-builder | Online Permit Center at permits.osceola.org |
| Brevard | Licensed contractor online, owner-builders in person | BASS online portal, contractors only |
Here are the official county pages if you want to check your own permit status or read the county rules yourself:
Two things to know. If the property sits inside a city, the city building department may issue the permit instead of the county. Orlando, Sanford, Kissimmee, DeLand, and Melbourne all run their own. And Brevard only lets licensed contractors apply online, an owner-builder has to appear in person. For wait times and paperwork in Orange, Seminole, Volusia, and Lake specifically, we wrote that up here:
What Happens If You Demolish Without a Permit
We have watched it happen. The county red-flags the property and places a stop-work order on the job. Then come additional fees, and if the owner does not comply, the county or city can place a lien that follows the property to the day you sell or refinance. An unpermitted demolition with no asbestos notice is also a state violation. The permit is cheap insurance against all of it.
We Handle the Whole Permit, Start to Finish
Every MLM job is turn-key: we file the permit, order the utility disconnects and septic abandonment, schedule the asbestos survey and the state notice, tear the structure down, haul it off, rough-grade the lot, and close out the final inspection so the permit is properly finished. We are based in Apopka and pull demolition permits across Orange, Seminole, Lake, Osceola, Volusia, Brevard, and Polk County every month.
Florida Demolition Permit Questions
Do you need a permit to demolish a house in Florida?
Yes. Every house, pool, garage, and commercial demolition in Florida requires a demolition permit under the Florida Building Code. The licensed contractor pulls it in almost every case.
Who pulls the demolition permit, the homeowner or the contractor?
The contractor, on nearly every job. A homeowner can pull an owner-builder permit in some counties, but you still need the survey, the disconnects, the asbestos survey, the state notice, licensed hauling, and the final inspection.
How long does a demolition permit take in Florida?
Right now, 3 to 6 weeks in Central Florida. Volusia, Lake, and Seminole are the faster counties. Orange County is the slowest, plan for the long end there.
How much does a demolition permit cost in Florida?
The permit fee itself is $40 to $200. With county licensing and processing fees, full permitting runs $900 to $2,300 depending on the county. It is included in our turn-key price.
Do you need an asbestos survey before demolition in Florida?
On most structures, yes. Florida requires a Notice of Demolition to the Department of Environmental Protection at least 10 working days before the work starts, and the notice relies on a licensed asbestos survey. We schedule both as part of the job.
Do you need a permit to remove a swimming pool in Florida?
Yes. Pool demolition needs a permit in every county we work. We pull it as part of every pool removal.
Free Estimate
Call Us for a Free Estimate
Tell us about the job and we’ll come walk the property. Written number, no obligation, usually same-day reply. Call 407-443-2863.