POLK COUNTY BUILDING DIVISION
PERMITTING AND INSPECTION GUIDELINES
__________________________________________________________________________________
A. ITEMS REQUIRED FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A PERMIT - RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL
Additional requirements for commercial projects are described in Section B. Contractors wishing to do business in Polk County must be State Certified or possess a Polk County Certificate of Competency to obtain a permit. Homeowners wishing to obtain a permit must complete the homeowner/builder exemption form.
1. A completed construction permit application form, residential access (driveway) permit form, construction waste disposal form and notice to owner and/or contractor form. Additional forms may be required in unusual circumstances, such as construction on private roads.
2. A legal description to assure compliance with zoning/land use requirements. Call 534-4777 (Property Appraiser) for your legal description. A warranty deed or other proof of ownership may be required for property that has been recently acquired.
3. Name of the county approved road which gives access to the described property.
4. Approval of the sewage disposal system by:
a) A receipt, letter, or similar documentation from the owner/operator of a central sewage disposal system indicating acceptance of the proposed connection, or
b) Septic tank permit from the Polk County Health Department. Call 533-3398.
5. Two copies of a plot plan drawn to no larger than 1/4" scale which shows all existing and proposed structures, easements and setbacks from property lines. A boundary line survey may also be required for certain subdivisions, unusual conditions or situations. If the project is located on waterfront property, a survey showing the ordinary high
water line and 10 and 100 year flood plain boundaries.
6. Two complete, dimensioned sets of building plans including floor plan, foundation plan and details, typical wall and roof sections, door and window connection details and design wind pressures, truss layout or engineering, outside dimensions of the building, dimensions of rooms and their usage, and exterior elevations, all drawn to no larger than 1/4" scale. Plans must be sealed by a Florida registered architect or engineer, or comply with one of the approved, alternative methods. Plans must show the basic wind speed, exposure classification and internal pressure coefficient,
and include a certification that the structure and the roofing system meets the wind load requirements of the Florida Building Code, and a cut sheet from the garage door manufacturer showing track installation and wind test pressure. After review and approval, one set will be returned to the permit holder to be kept on the job site at all times for the
inspector's use.
7. Two signed Florida Energy Efficiency calculation forms , Manual "J" forms and return air intake location, if structure is heated or cooled.
8. The licensed building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical contractors which will perform the work must be identified prior to permit issue. All permits will be issued to the qualified owner/builder or building contractor applicant. It is illegal for owner/builders to use unlicensed contractors for any portion of the work requiring a license.
9. The lowest floor elevation of all new or substantially improved structures in the 100 year flood plain (A zone) must be a minimum of one foot above the base flood elevation (BFE) shown on the flood maps or best available information as determined by the County Engineer's Office. In certain cases, a pre-construction FEMA elevation certificate completed by a Florida registered land surveyor or PE may be required. The minimum floor elevation will be stamped on the approved foundation plan in red ink.
10. All construction sites, regardless of size, are required to use Best Management Practices (BMP's) to reduce erosion and prevent sediment from leaving the site. A separate national Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit is required to be obtained from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for any site clearing activity resulting in the the disturbance of one acre or more. Information regarding the permit application and acceptable BMP's may be obtained from www.dep.state.fl.us/water/stormwater/npdes/permits_forms.htm or by calling the Stormwater Quality Section of the Polk County Natural Resources Division at )863) 534-7377.
11. Mobile home / ANSI park trailer blocking and tie down plan.
B. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL PERMITS
Commercial structures are defined as all occupancies other than single family residential. Commercial permits can only be obtained at the Bartow Office. This includes commercial re roofing, change out of air conditioning, repair or upgrade electrical, plumbing, and pre-inspections.
1. All commercial permit applicants must contact Growth Management Customer Service (863-534-6084) prior to submitting plans to the Building Division. If commercial site approval is required, the building permit will not be issued prior to commercial site plan approval.
2. If commercial site approval is not required, two copies of a plot plan must be provided showing all existing and proposed structures, setbacks, driveways and easements. All of these items must conform to all zoning/land use requirements.
3. Two sets of plans sealed, signed and dated by a Florida registered engineer or architect and indicating design wind speed, building code occupancy, construction type classifications, and occupant load. A listing from UL, Factory Mutual, Gypsum Association or other recognized testing agency must be shown on, or attached to the plans for all fire rated assemblies. An approved method for protecting all penetrations of fire rated assemblies must also be shown on, or attached to the plans when such penetrations will occur.
4. Buildings more than three stories or 50 feet high, or having an assembly occupancy classification exceeding 5,000 square feet in area, with an occupant content greater than 500 persons, are classified as threshold buildings and must meet special requirements. An information package detailing these requirements is available from the plan review section.
5. The Division of Hotels and Restaurants of the State Department of Business and Professional Regulation must approve plans for public food service facilities prior to permit issue. They can be contacted at 813-222-2200. Plans for private and institutional food service, including bars and day cares, must be approved by HRS/County Health Department. They can be contacted at 863-533-3398.
6. The County Fire Marshal plans examiner is located in the Building Division office. He reviews plans for all occupancies except one and two family residential, and can be reached at 863-534-6483.
7. All commercial and residential marine construction, including public docks and boat ramps, requires approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), call 850-245-2118 . All facilities using, producing, storing or handling hazardous or toxic materials or industrial waste must be approved by the State Department of Environmental Protection.
C. INSPECTIONS
1. INSPECTION REQUESTS
To request, cancel or check the status of an inspection call our automated system at 863-534-6057 and follow the prompts provided. A listing of inspection request codes and detailed instructions is available at any of our office locations. Inspections must be requested on the preceding day, or before 6:00 a.m. on the day they are needed. Please be sure all applicable sub-contractors are ready for inspection. There is a re inspection fee of $35.
The following are required inspections:
- Footing - excavated/formed with steel in place and before concrete is poured.
- Plumbing Rough in - all under slab lines and pipe installed and under test
- Slab - wire mesh (if required) and vapor barrier in place, soil treated for termites and before concrete is poured.
- Lintel - steel in place and before concrete is poured.
- Roof Sheathing - sheathing in place and attached per approved plans. Can be done after dry in if someone will meet the inspector at site to expose the sheathing at three locations. If attachment is not per plan in any of the three locations, all felt will have to be removed for subsequent re inspection.
- Roof Dry In and Flashing - felt, flashing, valley metal and drip edge installed. Can be done any time before roof covering is installed.
- Framing - all rough work (building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical) completed and prior to installation of insulation and wall coverings.
- Insulation - wall insulation installed and before interior finish. A certificate signed by the builder and the insulation installer stating that ceiling insulation of the required R value has been installed is required at final inspection.
- Final - septic and driveway completed - ready for occupancy.
Driveways call 863-534-6569 for residential and 863- 534-6770 for
commercial. Septic call 863-519-8330.
Inspection Checklists by inspection type are available from our cashier or on our website.
2. NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT (NOC)
In order to obtain your first inspection, either a certified copy of the recorded NOC or a copy of the NOC along with a notarized statement that it has been recorded, must be submitted. If a permit has been issued, please note the permit number on the NOC.
To obtain the second inspection, a certified copy of the recorded NOC must be submitted. A temporary power pole does not count as an inspection for NOC purposes. The NOC documents can be provided at time of permitting, or you can mail, fax or drop them off. NOC's can be recorded at the Clerk of Circuit Court office, ground floor of the county courthouse (863-534 - 4516).
All applications for permits that require only one inspection, such as re roofing, A/C change out and electrical service
upgrade, will require submission of a recorded NOC prior to permit issue.
3. FLOOD ZONE PROJECTS
For all projects in the 100 year flood plain (Zone AE, A), a FEMA elevation certificate completed by a Florida registered land surveyor or PE must be submitted prior to requesting lintel (for masonry construction) or framing (for wood frame construction) inspection. Fax submission is acceptable (863-534-6016) to obtain inspection, but power and Certificate of Occupancy will not be released prior to receipt of the original elevation certificate.
If you wish to speak to an inspector, or need more information call Building Division (863-534-6080).
Revised 3/11/08
INSPECTION REQUEST CODES (effective 12/23/03)
By calling 534-6057 you can request, cancel, or check the status of an inspection. You will be prompted to press 1 for a touch tone phone and
then will be guided through a series of touch tone options to enter the desired action.
The basic options are listed below:
Press: 1 - to request an inspection 3 - to check status of inspection
2 - to cancel an inspection 8 - to request action on another permit
9 - hang up
Simply enter the code at the requested menu prompt. Give the system time to respond to your request, and to confirm it. In most cases you will be asked to validate your entry or re-enter if you think you made a mistake. The option keys are defined below:
Press: # - to validate data entered (i.e., permit number, inspection
request code, etc.) or to go back to the previous menu
* - to re-enter requested information (i.e. permit number, inspection
request code, etc.)
Please note that messages may be left pertaining to the specific inspection request. You will be prompted after acceptance or rejection of the inspection request to either leave a message or enter another type of action. If the system is down, you will be directed to leave your request in a voice mailbox.
The system will normally be operational around the clock except for the hours from 10:00 pm to 11:00 pm. Inspections requested and accepted by the system before 6:00 a.m. will be scheduled for same day inspection. Inspections requested and accepted by the system
after 6:00 a.m. will be scheduled for the next business day.
We attempt to provide inspections within 24 hours of request. Due to manpower limitations and fluctuations in workload, this will not always be possible, but you should never have to wait more than 48 hours for a significant inspection.
If you have any questions on the system, please call the Building Division at 534-6080.