Jacksonville building department

The City of Jacksonville’s Building Inspection Division (BID), part of the Public Works Department, enforces the Florida Building Code and the city’s construction ordinances (Title VIII of the Code of Ordinances) for the consolidated City of Jacksonville and Duval County government. BID is on the 2nd floor of the Ed Ball Building, 214 N. Hogan St. Hours are Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–4 p.m., and the office is closed most federal holidays. Field inspectors work 7 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Plan examiners meet with the public 2–4 p.m. daily, first come, first served.

Codes in effect

Code	Edition
Florida Building Code (Building, Residential, Existing Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas, Energy Conservation, Accessibility)	8th Edition (2023), effective December 31, 2023. Applies to permits submitted on or after January 1, 2024.
Electrical	NFPA 70, NEC 2020
Fire	2023 Florida Fire Prevention Code (8th Edition)

Applying in JaxEPICS

Every permit type has to be submitted electronically through JaxEPICS (jaxepics.coj.net).

Getting a profile: Contractors and design professionals email a Contractor Registration or Design Professional Registration form to [email protected]. Each company gets one profile. Contractor registration requires:

• A State of Florida construction license
• Photo ID
• Proof of workers’ compensation insurance or an exemption
• A notarized form, unless the qualifier verifies their signature in person

Submittal rules:

• All documents must be PDFs. Digitally signed and sealed plans can’t be password-protected.
• Upload a Permission to Obtain Permits form with the application. A registered design professional can submit before a contractor is chosen, but the contractor has to file that form and pay all fees before issuance.
• Show all MEP trades on renovation plans, or clearly note which trades aren’t changing. The city says incomplete MEP information is a common reason plans get returned.
• Get any outside approvals yourself and upload them to the “Correspondence” folder. Examples include Historic Preservation, the Downtown Investment Authority, and the Health Department.

Review sequence (as permit statuses):

1. DSD Review: Development Services checks zoning, concurrency, landscape, and drainage.
2. Agency Review: Only when needed, for example FEMA/flood, historic, asbestos, Arlington CRA, or DIA.
3. Sufficiency Review: Required by state law.
4. Pending Review Payment: Pay the plan review fee.
5. In Review: BID and the Fire Marshal review the plans.
6. Pending Payment, then Active: Pay the balance. Work can begin once the permit is Active.

The plan review clock doesn’t start until Zoning, Concurrency, and Development Services have signed off and the review fee is paid. BID currently quotes 25–30 business days for a first building review and about 10 business days or less for resubmittals.

Homeowner (owner-builder) permits

A homeowner can pull permits for their primary residence if the property is in their name, is not for sale or rent, and is for their own use. Homeowners must apply in person at BID, 214 N. Hogan St., Room 280, (904) 255-8500 option 4.

• Owner’s Affidavit: The owner signs one confirming they will do the work themselves or directly supervise it. For improvements to an existing structure, proof of Homestead Exemption must be attached.
• Subcontractors: Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and roofing subs pull their own permits, which are tied to the owner’s permit.
• Penalty: Starting work before applying for a permit carries a $250 fine.

When a permit is and isn’t required

Permits are required for new buildings, additions (room additions, patio covers, pools), re-roofs, garage conversions, exterior stucco, water heater and A/C replacements, irrigation systems, new electrical service, rewiring, fireplaces and wood stoves, moving or demolishing a building, and changes of use.

No permit is needed for patio slabs, replacing plumbing fixtures past the stop valve (not water heaters), stopping leaks, clearing drain stoppages, connecting portable heating or cooling equipment, or replacing parts within a single piece of equipment.

Notice of Commencement: Required when improvements exceed $5,000, or $15,000 for mechanical work. Record it before requesting the first inspection, either at the Clerk of Courts (501 W. Adams St.) or at the recording office inside BID (8 a.m.–4 p.m.). Post a copy on the job site.

Flood zones: For a new structure in any flood zone other than X, a surveyor has to prepare two FEMA Elevation Certificates, one when the finished floor is complete and one at completion.

Inspections

Request inspections in JaxEPICS, or call (904) 255-8500 on workdays between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Inspections are scheduled for the next business day. Before any inspection:

• Post the permit and Notice of Commencement on site.
• Keep the approved plans legible and in a weatherproof container on site.
• For occupied homes and businesses, have an adult (18 or older) present to give access.

The division publishes inspectors’ daily schedules so you can estimate arrival times.

Fees and related offices

BID fees are listed in the Building Inspection Division section of the City of Jacksonville fee schedule. Fees for new buildings and additions are based on gross floor area under roof. Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits carry separate fees.

• Zoning: (904) 255-8300. Zoning also handles Certificates of Use, which can be applied for in JaxEPICS.
• Construction Trades Qualifying Board: (904) 630-2657, for local contractor verification.
• Municipal Code Compliance: (904) 255-7000, for property safety issues and liens.
• Complaints: Call 630-CITY.