MAIN OFFICE: Hours of operation - 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday.

Bartow Office
Mailing: P.O. Box 9005, Drawer GM02, Bartow, Florida 33831
Location: 330 W. Church Street, Bartow (In the County Administration Building, first floor)

Services: Issue of all types of construction permits and "Walk through" One and Two family residential permits.

Fee and escrow account payments (Some Credit Cards Accepted)
Division administration and supervision
Field inspector communications
Inspection scheduling
Contractor licensing/complaints
Permitting/inspection records
Certificates of Occupancy or Completion
All types of plan review, including fire
Plan mastering Filing
Mobile home park registration
Driveway Permits
All permits for codes enforcement and for building without permits

SATELLITE OFFICES: Hours of operation - 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

North Lakeland Office (Phone: 863-413-2093)
940 East Parker Street (Old Sears Town)
Lakeland, FL 33801

Northeast Polk County Government Center - Winter Haven (Phone 863-401-2441)
3425 Lake Alfred Road, 4 Gill Jones Plaza
Winter Haven, FL 33881

Services: "Walk through" One and two family residential and accessory structures permited (depending on workload and available staffing levels).

One and Two family residential and accessory structures plan review

Fee Payment (Some credit cards accepted)

Our offices will be closed for the following holidays:
New Year's Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day Monday
Veteran's Day
Thanksgiving Day & Following Day
Christmas Day & Following Day

The following type work requires a contractors license in Polk County:

•  General Contracting 
•  Building Contracting  
•  Residential Contracting  
•  Air Conditioning
•  Mechanical
•  Electrical 
•  Plumbing 
•  Roofing
•  Aluminum 
•  Irrigation
•  Commercial Pool/Spa
•  Residential Pool/Spa
•  Pool/Spa Service & Repair
•  Natural & LP Gas 
•  Demolition
•  Alarm  
•  Sheet Metal
•  Solar Water Heating  
•  Underground Utility
•  Mobile Home Set Up
•  Marine Structures

Failure to obtain required licenses is a violation of Polk County Ordinance 02-03 and Florida
statute and is punishable by a fine of up to $500 for each violation.

For information on obtaining the above licenses contact the Polk County Building Division, Contractor Licensing Section, in the Polk County Administration Building located at 330 West Church Street, Bartow, FL. Phone (863) 534-6536, 6530 or 6080.

You will need to submit the following:

• Copy of current state certification (from Department of Business and Professional Regulation).
• Copy of current occupational license from county or city where business is located.
• General liability insurance certificate, with Polk County Building Division shown as certificate holder.
• Workers compensation insurance certificate with Polk County Building Division shown as certificate holder , or a workers compensation exemption.
• Current mailing address, telephone number and fax number.
• Clerical fee - $25.00
  

Section 104.1 of the Florida Building Code states that a permit is required to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy or occupant content of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by the technical codes.

Work that requires an inspection to verify compliance with the applicable technical code requires a construction permit.

Separate electrical, mechanical or plumbing permits may be required even if a building permit is not required. Following are examples of work that does and does not require a permit. These examples are not all inclusive, and there will be situations that are not addressed here. If you have a question as to permit requirements, call our Bartow office at 863-534-6080 and ask to speak with a plans examiner.

WORK REQUIRING A CONSTRUCTION PERMIT

• Construction or demolition of any building, regardless of size.
• All new construction, including additions, and any alterations, renovations or remodels involving structural elements or involving any electrical, plumbing or mechanical systems.
• Alterations, renovations, remodels or modifications to any commercial structure affecting occupancy classification, means of egress, fire resistance ratings or handicap accessibility.
• The installation, alteration, replacement, extension, or repair of any irrigation, electrical, plumbing, mechanical work, solar system or any associated electrical work. Including the change out of A/C equipment, electrical service changes, or the addition of electrical outlets or circuits. Excluding minor service, repair, fixture and appliance replacement.
• Conversion of any non habitable space to habitable space including the enclosure of garages, carports, porches or similar structures, and the replacement of screening or vinyl windows with glass or solid walls.
• Screening of any space which requires structure or framing to be added. 
• Although bonafide non residential agricultural structures are not required to comply with the building codes, a "farm building permit" is required for land use and fire code enforcement.
• All foundation remediation work to assure that an engineer is overseeing the work.
• Any change in occupancy as defined by the building code.
• Commercial and residential docks, piers, sea walls, boat houses and bulk heads.
• All masonry walls and fences with masonry pilasters. All solid fences over eight feet high.
• Retaining walls required for structural support or protection.
• All concrete slabs on grade greater than 100 square feet in area, and within 10 feet of the home or principal structure, or intended as a slab for construction. Excluding sidewalks and portions of driveways not in the right of way. All elevated concrete slabs.  All slabs must meet setbacks from property lines and easements.  
• Tents for public assembly or use, or having electrical service.
• Additions or accessory structures to mobile homes or park trailers.
• Mobile home and park trailer set ups. Owners of a park trailer situated on a rented lot will not be able to permit either additions or set ups as owner builders without notorized land owner consent.
• In ground swimming pools and spas.  Above ground swimming pools and spas more than 24" deep.
• Pool/spa repairs, renovations and remodels involving structural elements, electrical work or additional equipment.
• All re-roofing, including mobile homes and park trailers, and including installation of insulated roof coverings.
• Decks, walkways, platforms, stairs and landings. All decks and platforms must meet setbacks and easements.
• Portable carports with rigid roofs.
• Flagpoles greater than 50 feet high.
• Replacement of windows and doors, including garage doors.
• Installation of vinyl or acrylic windows with a maximum of 20% of wall infill.
• Plumbing repipes.
• Water Heater Change Outs
• Re-Roof, Re-Pipes, Water Heater Change Out, and A/C Change Out permits must call in for an In-Progress inspection 
• Siding
• Soffits
• Handicap ramsp for one or tow family residences require a permit and must meet setbacks.

WORK NOT REQUIRING A CONSTRUCTION PERMIT

• Minor roof repairs - less than 25 square feet.
• Replacement of screening or vinyl windows with like material in an existing structure. Replacement of vinyl windows with glass or solid walls requires a permit
• Installation or replacement of screening or vinyl windows with like material in an existing structure. Replacement of vinyl windows with glass or solid walls requires a permit.  
• Interior remodels, renovations, or repairs on ANSI park trailers or RVs.
• Retaining walls, for landscaping purposes only, not exceeding four feet high.
• Minor electrical, plumbing, mechanical repairs.
• Chain link fences of any height and stockade fences up to eight feet high. (Check Polk County LDC for prohibited materials for fencing.)
• Stuctures intended for storage use only (prefabricated and of a "Closet" use).  You may "reach in" only, not "walk-in."  These exempt structures are limited to a max. 5 ft. height (mean height), 50 sq. ft. max. area, and a max. 250 cubic ft. with no electrical or plumbing.
  
  If you are still unsure as to whether or not a permit is required, call (863) 534-6080 and ask to speak to a Plans Examiner.
  

Section 104.5 of the building code states that work must start within six months of permit issue and the job must have received an approved inspection in the last 180 days for the permit to remain valid.

A permit may be extended for up to 180 days by requesting an extension prior to the expiration date. The request must be in writing and give justifiable cause.

Permits which have been expired for 90 days or less can be renewed by requesting renewal, in writing, and giving justifiable cause. An extension fee as provided for in the County user fee manual will be charged.

Permits which have been expired from 91 to 180 days can be renewed by requesting renewal, in writing, and giving justifiable cause. All applicable construciton permit fees, as paid at original permit issue, will be charged. This is to include building, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, gas, driveway, irrigation and mobile home set up permit fees.

Permits expired for over 180 days can not be renewed. A new permit application, payment of all permit fees and compliance with all current codes and regulations will be required.

A backlog of expired permits may result in suspension of permitting privileges until they have been re-opened and final inspections have been approved.

To veiw the status of a permit at any time, please visit our "Project/Permit and Contractor License Status Viewer" by pressing the blue icon located on the lower left corner of the County's home page, or by clicking the "Permit/Project Status Viewer" link in the green area to the left of this page, or by clicking this link.

You may also check permit status by calling any of the County's Building Division locations.

No, if you are going to build it yourself, as an owner/builder, we have engineered master plans for storage buildings in varying sizes and construction types that we will provide to you at no charge. Changes to the plans will not be accepted and you must personally appear to pull the permit as an owner/builder.  If you have any questions, call 534-6080 and ask to speak to a plans examiner.