Zoning Guide

Orlando Building Permits — Cost, Timeline & Process

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Orlando Permitting Services administers building permit applications and electronic plan review for projects within City of Orlando jurisdiction.

Current Building Code

Orlando currently enforces the Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023) and applicable Florida and local requirements. The exact code volumes and submittal documents depend on the project type.

Permit and Plan-Review Process

The City's current process uses its online permit tools and ProjectDox for electronic plan review.

A typical project proceeds through:

  1. permit application;
  2. required upfront processing or plan-review fees, when applicable;
  3. electronic plan upload;
  4. prescreen and routing;
  5. discipline review;
  6. correction/resubmittal when required;
  7. permit issuance after approval and payment;
  8. required inspections.

City of Orlando — Get a Permit

Review Time

Orlando applies the permit-review timelines in Florida Statutes §553.792 to qualifying applications. The City reviews an application for completeness within 5 business days. For a complete application, Orlando currently publishes these response limits:

  • 5 business days for work under $15,000 on an existing single-family residence;
  • 30 business days for a single-family home under 7,500 square feet;
  • 60 business days for a single-family home over 7,500 square feet;
  • 60 business days for qualifying commercial projects under 25,000 square feet and qualifying multifamily projects up to 50 units.

Applicants generally have 10 business days to respond to rejection comments for these statutory-review applications, unless the applicable timeframe is waived. Projects outside the statutory categories proceed through the City's standard review process.

For electronic plan uploads, the City separately states that staff review uploaded files within two business days to confirm they meet file-submittal requirements before routing them for plan review. That prescreen step is not the total permit-review duration.

Building Permit Guidelines — FL 553.792

Submit Construction Project Plans

Notice of Commencement

The City's current permit instructions state that if project value exceeds $5,000, a recorded Notice of Commencement must be filed with the Orange County Comptroller before work begins, then posted/provided as instructed by the City.

Fees

Permit fees vary by project and are shown through the City's permit process and Permit Lookup. Use the current City resources rather than third-party estimates.

Contact

City of Orlando Permitting Services
400 South Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801
Phone: 407-246-2271
Email: [email protected]

Disclaimer: Permit requirements and review procedures change. Verify the current requirements with Orlando Permitting Services before submitting plans or starting work.

More about Orlando Zoning

Setbacks & Height LimitsADU Rules in Orlando, Florida

Sources

  1. City of Orlando Building & Development Services — Permitting·orlando.gov·Accessed 2026-09-19·Direct link
  2. Orlando ePlan / e-Permitting — Online Permit Portal·eplans.orlando.gov·Accessed 2026-09-19·Direct link
  3. Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023) — Florida Building Commission / DBPR·floridabuilding.org·Accessed 2026-09-19·Direct link
  4. City of Orlando Code of Ordinances — Municode·library.municode.com·Accessed 2026-09-19·Direct link
  5. City of Orlando — Get a Permit / Permit Lookup and Fees·orlando.gov·Accessed 2026-09-19·Direct link

FAQ

Which building code does Orlando enforce?
Orlando enforces the Florida Building Code (FBC), 8th Edition (2023), a mandatory statewide code administered by the Florida Building Commission under the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Local amendments to the FBC are limited and must be approved by the Florida Building Commission. Orlando is not located in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) — that designation applies only to Miami-Dade and Broward counties — but all structures must comply with ASCE 7 wind load design requirements as adopted by the FBC for Florida's high wind zone.
Does Orlando's permit jurisdiction cover Walt Disney World / EPCOT?
No. Walt Disney World and other theme park properties within the former Reedy Creek Improvement District — now the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) — are not within City of Orlando jurisdiction. The CFTOD has historically operated its own building and fire code enforcement authority, separate from both the City of Orlando and Orange County Development Services. If your project is located within that district, contact the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District directly, not the City of Orlando Building & Development Services.
How much does a building permit cost in Orlando?
Orlando building permit fees are based on project valuation and scope. Typical fee components include the building permit fee (calculated from construction cost/valuation), plan review fee, trade permit fees (electrical, plumbing, mechanical), impact fees for new construction or additions, and a Florida state surcharge on each permit. Do not rely on third-party estimates — always consult the current official fee schedule from Orlando Building & Development Services, linked in the sources above or available at orlando.gov/Building-Development.
How long does plan review take in Orlando?
The City says plan-review time varies by project type and scope. Current turnaround information is shown in Permit Lookup, and ProjectDox displays plan-review due dates and comments. The City also asks applicants to allow two business days for administrative workflow tasks such as processing, prescreen, routing, review completion, and batch stamping.