Orange County building department

Orange County’s Division of Building Safety is part of the Planning, Environmental, and Development Services Department. It reviews plans, issues building, electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing, and roofing permits, and inspects work for unincorporated Orange County. The county has 13 municipalities, so confirm your parcel is unincorporated before applying.

The exception is the City of Edgewood. Under an interlocal agreement, Edgewood residents get city approval first and then apply for the building permit through Orange County. The city’s number is (407) 851-2920. Projects in the Ranger Drainage District (Cape Orlando Estates, Wedgefield, Rocket City) may also need a District permit for new homes, additions, accessory and screen structures, pools, fences, and slabs. A copy of that permit must be uploaded with the county application.

Permitting Services is on the 1st floor of the County Administration Building, 201 S. Rosalind Ave. In-person informational meetings are by appointment only, booked through FastQ, the county’s scheduling system. For FastQ help, call (407) 836-8160. The division is accredited by the International Accreditation Service.

Do you need a permit?

From the county’s residential permit guide:

Project	Rule
Shed or small structure	Every structure needs a permit. Structures of 120 sq ft or less may be exempt from the building code but still have to apply.
Fence 6 ft or under	Zoning permit
Fence over 6 ft, or masonry	Building permit
Pavers	Zoning permit only
Poured concrete (driveway, walkway, pad)	Permit required
Re-roof	Permit, with in-progress and final inspections. A roof-over needs only a final inspection.
Windows, exterior doors, garage doors	Building permit
A/C replacement	Mechanical permit for any permanently installed unit. Plug-in units are exempt.
Water heater	Plumbing permit, possibly electrical too
New or replacement underground irrigation	Plumbing permit

Additions, pools, and demolitions all need permits. Every permit needs at least a passed final inspection.

Applying through Fast Track

Applications, plan uploads, payments, inspection scheduling, and permit research all run through Fast Track Online Services (fasttrack.ocfl.net).

1. Training: Complete the interactive Fast Track training course before applying. Sub-permit applicants watch the Fast Track videos instead.
2. Register: Create a Fast Track Member Services account. Anyone can register, but most permit types can only be issued to a licensed contractor. Architects and other agents can apply on a contractor’s behalf, and the license holder then verifies and accepts issuance.
3. Upload: Plans go through the E-Submittal link and must follow the User Guide’s file naming conventions. Each separate structure needs its own permit.
4. Review: Fast Track routes the application to every reviewing department. Denial comments are emailed together once all reviews are done.
5. Pay and print: After approval, you’ll get a ready-to-issue letter and a fee notice. Approved plans are usually downloadable 4–6 hours after approval. Print the plans, permit, and inspection card for the job site.

Townhouses follow the residential code but are submitted through the commercial process. Condos and apartments are commercial. If the property uses septic, contact the Florida Department of Health’s onsite sewage program at (407) 858-1497 before applying.

Owner-builders: Homeowners can pull permits only for their primary residence. They complete an Owner-Builder Verification by video call and submit an Owner Builder Disclosure Statement.

Notice of Commencement: Required when the direct contract price is over $5,000, or over $15,000 for mechanical work. A certified recorded copy has to be on file before the first inspection can be scheduled. The county will record it for you if you email the form to [email protected].

Fees

Fees are set in the county Fee Directory for fiscal year 2026–2027, effective October 2026. Residential building permit fees are based on valuation, and the county applies minimum per-square-foot valuations by occupancy and construction type if those are higher than the contract price.

Item	Fee
One- and two-family dwelling	$26 for the first $1,000, plus $4 per additional $1,000
Residential accessory structure	$27 for the first $1,000, plus $4 per additional $1,000
Residential re-roof	$27 for the first $1,000, plus $5 per additional $1,000
Minimum electrical permit	$38
Re-inspection	$76 (not more than the original permit fee)
Notice of Commencement recording (with 1 certified copy)	$13
Work started without a permit	Double the permit fee

If you hire a private provider for plan review, inspections, or both, permit fees are reduced. Impact fee questions go to (407) 836-5691.

Codes

The county enforces the current Florida Building Code (Building, Residential, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas, Energy Conservation, Existing Building, and Accessibility volumes), the National Electrical Code, and the Orange County Code of Ordinances.

Inspections

Schedule and cancel inspections in Fast Track, which also shows your inspector’s progress en route. Remote video inspections are offered in 30-minute slots between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. for certain types:

• Window and door finals
• Residential underground electrical and footer bonds
• A/C change-out finals
• Irrigation, water heater change-out finals, and re-pipes

To get one, submit the remote inspection form and have someone on site with a video-capable phone. Threshold inspections don’t replace the county’s required inspections. For after-hours inspection requests, email [email protected].

Useful contacts

• Fast Track help desk: (407) 836-8160
• Contractor Licensing: (407) 836-5522
• Zoning: (407) 836-3111, for residential fences and pavers
• Use permits: (407) 836-2973