Yes. Every house, pool, and building demolition in Florida requires a demolition permit, in every county we work. Right now permits are taking 3 to 6 weeks in Central Florida depending on the county. The permit fee itself is only $40 to $200, but the full permitting cost, with county licensing and processing fees, runs $900 to $2,300. We pull the permit for you on every job, it is part of our price.
Permit Wait Times by County, Right Now
We pull demolition permits across Central Florida every month. Here is the honest picture: Volusia, Lake, and Seminole County move the fastest and are the easiest to work with. Orange County is the slowest of the four, plan for the long end of the 3 to 6 week range there. These numbers shift with county workload, which is why we file the permit the day you sign, not the week the machines are free.
The Paperwork You Need
To pull a demolition permit, the county wants three things from the property owner. We walk you through all of them:
- A current survey of the property.
- A power disconnect confirmation from the utility, proving the lines to the house are dead.
- A septic abandonment pump-out completion form, if the home is on septic.
Septic Is the Slow One
Of all the disconnects, septic takes the longest because the health department gets involved. The tank has to be pumped out and properly abandoned, and the completion form filed, before the county will close out the demo. Wells get shut off too. We schedule the pump-out and handle the form as part of the job, and we start it early so it never becomes the thing everyone is waiting on.
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 homeowner does not comply, the county or city can place a lien on the property. A lien follows the property, it will surface the day you try to sell or refinance. The permit is cheap insurance against all of that, and pulling it is our job, not yours.
We Handle the Whole Permit, Start to Finish
Every MLM job is turn-key: we file the permit, coordinate the utility disconnects and septic abandonment, tear the structure down, haul it off, and close out the final inspection so the permit is properly finished. You never stand in a county line.
Permit Questions We Hear Every Week
Do I need a permit to demolish a house in Florida?
Yes. Every residential and commercial demolition in Florida requires a demolition permit, including mobile home removal and pool removal.
Do I need a permit to remove a swimming pool?
Yes. Pool demolition requires a permit in Orange, Seminole, Volusia, and Lake County. We pull it as part of every pool removal job.
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?
The permit fee itself is $40 to $200. With county licensing and processing fees, full permitting costs run $900 to $2,300 depending on the county. It is included in our turn-key price.
What happens if you demolish without a permit?
The county red-flags the property and issues a stop-work order, followed by additional fees. If the owner does not comply, the county or city can place a lien on the property.
Can I demolish my own house myself in Florida?
In some counties an owner can pull an owner-builder permit, but you still need the permit, the survey, the utility disconnects, the septic abandonment, licensed hauling, and the final inspection. With 30,000 pound machines and real liability involved, most owners hand it to a licensed, insured contractor.
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.