House demolition in Orlando runs $7,000 to $10,000 for a small single-story house under about 1,200 square feet. A larger or two-story house of 1,500 to 2,500 square feet runs $10,000 to $14,000. Those are turn-key prices: permit, utility disconnect coordination, teardown, haul-off, rough grade, and the final county inspection close-out. Plan on 4 to 8 weeks from signed contract to closed permit. Most of that time is paperwork, not machine work.
We are Mintel Land Management, owner-operated out of our yard in Apopka. Orlando is our busiest market and a short run from the yard, so getting machines on your lot is quick. Here is what a homeowner or builder in Orlando should know before calling anyone.
Who Issues the Permit: City of Orlando or Orange County
Every demolition in Florida needs a permit. In Orlando, that permit comes from the City of Orlando Permitting Services, or from Orange County if your address is in an unincorporated area. Do not assume which one applies to you. Confirm it before anyone files anything, because the wrong office costs you weeks.
Permits in Central Florida are running 3 to 6 weeks right now. Orange County is the slowest of the four counties we work in, so budget toward the longer end. The permit fee itself is $40 to $200. With county licensing and processing fees, the full permitting cost lands between $900 and $2,300. We file the permit the day you sign, and we run the survey and utility disconnects at the same time so nothing sits in line behind something else.
Skipping the permit is the expensive mistake. Demolishing without one can bring a stop-work order, extra fees, and a possible lien on the property.
What the County Wants Before It Signs Off
- A current survey of the property.
- Power disconnect confirmation from the utility.
- If the house is on septic, a septic abandonment pump-out completion form.
- If there is a well, it gets shut off.
- An asbestos survey for older homes.
Septic is the slowest disconnect because it runs through the health department. If your home is on septic, start that early. The power disconnect is the one that surprises people, since the utility has to confirm it in writing before the county moves.
Tight Lots and Close Neighbors
A lot of Orlando work is infill: an old house comes down, and something new goes up in the same footprint. In areas like College Park, Conway, Pine Hills, Azalea Park, the Hourglass District, and Dr. Phillips, we do this kind of careful teardown often. Tight lots and close neighbors are the norm, and that is the work we do best.
On a tight lot, the details matter more than the size of the machine. Where does the dumpster sit? Where does the machine swing? How do trucks get in and out without blocking the street? We plan those answers at the walkthrough, not on demolition day.
We run our own equipment: excavators, dump trucks, a lowboy trailer, and a skid steer. Our main machine weighs 30,000 pounds. It is owned, not rented, and the crew running it is ours. No machine work gets subcontracted. A typical house fills 4 to 12 thirty-yard dumpsters, and we can mobilize a machine and dumpsters the same day when the schedule calls for it.
What Turn-Key Actually Means
Turn-key means you do not chase anyone. One contractor handles the whole job from paperwork to a clean lot. On a house demolition, that covers:
- Filing the permit and paying the fees.
- Coordinating utility disconnects.
- Tearing the structure down.
- Hauling every load away.
- Rough grading the lot so it is ready for what comes next.
- Closing out the final county inspection.
Ask any contractor you talk to whether the price includes each of those. A low number that leaves out the permit or haul-off is not a low number. It is a bill that shows up later.
Real Price Ranges
| Job | Price |
|---|---|
| Small single-story house (under about 1,200 sq ft), turn-key | $7,000 to $10,000 |
| Larger or two-story house (1,500 to 2,500 sq ft), turn-key | $10,000 to $14,000 |
| Heavy concrete on the site | Adds around $2 per sq ft |
| Shed, barn, or garage | $1,200 to $3,500 |
| Concrete or driveway removal | $2 per sq ft, 500 sq ft minimum |
| Full pool removal | $9,500 to $30,000 |
| Commercial building | $8 to $10 per sq ft |
Pool size, deck, and backyard access drive the pool number. If there is a pool, a slab, or a detached structure on your lot, tell us early so it goes into one estimate instead of three. The estimate is free, in writing, and comes after a walkthrough with no obligation. Most of the time you hear back the same day.
How Long It Takes
The teardown itself is short. A small house is 5 to 6 hours of machine time. A larger house or one with a heavy foundation takes 2 to 3 days. Counting haul-off, we are typically on site 6 to 7 days. Start to finish, the whole process is 4 to 8 weeks, and the permit is the long pole in that tent.
What to Prep Before the Walkthrough
- Find your survey. If you do not have a current one, tell us and we will plan for it.
- Know your power account, and tell us if the house is on septic or a well.
- Decide what is coming down: the house, a pool, a slab, a shed, a detached garage.
- Note how trucks and machines get to the lot, including fences, gates, and shared driveways.
- If insurance is involved, gather your claim paperwork and photos before anything is touched.
- Ask for our insurance certificates. Certificates are available before any job.
Who You Are Hiring
We carry $4,000,000 in general liability and $2,000,000 in workers compensation, and our crew is OSHA 30 certified. Kyle Mintel holds a Class A CDL and has been doing this for more than 10 years. We are licensed and insured, and we have done insurance-paid teardowns, including a two-story house fire teardown in Sanford. Our line is simple: the man who quotes your job is the man on the machine.
Questions Homeowners Ask About House Demolition in Orlando
How much does it cost to demolish a house in Orlando?
A small single-story house under about 1,200 square feet runs $7,000 to $10,000 turn-key. A larger or two-story house of 1,500 to 2,500 square feet runs $10,000 to $14,000. Heavy concrete can add around $2 per square foot.
Do I need a permit to demolish a house in Orlando?
Yes. Every demolition in Florida needs a permit. In Orlando it comes from the City of Orlando Permitting Services, or from Orange County if your address is unincorporated.
How long does the permit take?
Permits in Central Florida are currently running 3 to 6 weeks. Orange County is the slowest of the four counties we work in. We file the day you sign to keep the clock as short as possible.
How long does the demolition itself take?
A small house is 5 to 6 hours of machine time. A larger house or heavy foundation takes 2 to 3 days. On site including haul-off, we are typically there 6 to 7 days.
Can you work on a tight lot with close neighbors?
Yes. Tight lots are the norm in Orlando and we plan machine position, dumpster placement, and truck access at the walkthrough before any work starts.
What if my house is on septic?
The county will want a septic abandonment pump-out completion form. Septic is the slowest disconnect because it goes through the health department, so start it early.
More on demolition in and around Orlando:
- Demolition in Orlando Our Orlando service area page
- Our services Everything we do, and what we do not
- Cost to demolish a house in Central Florida Full price breakdown
- Demolition permits in Central Florida Costs, wait times, and paperwork by county
- How long a house demolition takes The full timeline
- How to choose a demolition contractor What to ask before you sign
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.