Florida's $7,500 permit exemption: what it does, and what it doesn't.
Since July 1, 2026, Florida law says some small jobs on a single-family home don't need a building permit. It's narrower than the headlines make it sound. Here's what the law actually says, in plain words.
Not legal advice. This is general information about a state law. Your building department decides whether a particular job qualifies.
What the law says
A local government that issues building permits must exempt the owner of a single-family home, or the owner's contractor, from getting a building permit for work valued at less than $7,500. It's section 553.79(1)(g) of the Florida Statutes, added by HB 803 (chapter 2026-63), in effect since July 1, 2026. (F.S. 553.79, ch. 2026-63)
What it doesn't cover
- Homes in a flood hazard area. If any part of the property is in a flood hazard area as the Florida Building Code defines it, the exemption doesn't apply.
- Electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical or gas work. None of it is exempt on a single-family property, whatever it costs.
- Anything but a single-family home. The exemption is written for single-family dwellings.
- A big job cut into small ones. A project may not be divided to get under the limit.
How you use it
It isn't automatic. The owner or the owner's contractor sends the local building department a written request, with a copy of the contract or other documentation showing the nature and the value of the work. The law also says the local government has no responsibility for work it exempts.
"Structural" is the word to watch
The law excludes structural work but doesn't define it. Whether a given slab, enclosure or cover counts is up to the building department. That's not a gap to guess at.
How we handle it
We pull a permit whenever the work needs one. It's part of every job, never an extra you can skip. Screen enclosures, patio covers and roofs are built to carry wind and weight, and most tie into the house, so we treat them as structural and permit them. Window and door replacements depend on what your building department decides; we ask, in writing, and go with the answer.
The permit is also your record: the inspection that says the work was done right, which matters on the day you sell. What a Lake County enclosure or cover permit involves.
Sources: HB 803 (2026) bill history, chapter 2026-63, Laws of Florida, F.S. 553.79 (2026).
Questions people ask
When did the $7,500 permit exemption start?
July 1, 2026. It comes from HB 803, chapter 2026-63, Laws of Florida, now section 553.79(1)(g) of the Florida Statutes.
Does it apply to my screen enclosure or patio cover?
Probably not. Structural work is excluded, and the law doesn't define "structural", so your building department decides. We treat anything attached to the house or built to resist wind as structural and pull the permit.
Can I split a bigger job into smaller ones to stay under $7,500?
No. The law says a project may not be divided into more than one project to get around it.
Do I have to tell anyone?
Yes. The owner or the owner's contractor has to send the building department a written request, with a copy of the contract or other documentation showing what the work is and what it costs.
Ready to see your number?
Type the address, answer a few questions, and see the price, or exactly how we'll price it, before we ask your name.
General information, not legal advice or a permit determination: your building department decides. Prices are our own, from today's rate card, and are confirmed in writing after we see the site.