Accela Info
To initiate permits or projects, register or login to Polk County Accela Citizen Portal.
VuSpex is a new software tool that will allow contractors to connect with Polk County inspectors quickly and more powerfully than ever before, all while seamlessly integrating with existing Accela software. The new software program will be available starting Feb. 1, 2021.
VuSpex allows contractors to schedule virtual inspections, provide pictures, videos, or request video conferences to complete inspections. VuSpex uses audio, video, and GPS locations that will save contractors time and money.
At launch, VuSpex will be available for contractors to complete virtual inspections for the following types of permits on existing structures:
- HVAC change-outs
- Electrical service repairs and change-outs
- Water heater change-outs
- Window and door change-outs
- Re-roof
- Pre-fabricated sheds
In the coming months, Polk County’s Building Division will provide updates on VuSpex, which will include training opportunities and instructional videos. Staff will be available to provide training classes to help contractors familiarize themselves with VuSpex and the virtual inspection process.
Polk County Office of Planning and Development is pleased to offer electronic plan submission and review through the Digital Plan Room. This product will allow for digital signature validation when customers upload their digital plans and will also provide an easier way for customers to respond to identified issues from plans reviewers. The Digital Plan Room will be integrated with the Accela Citizen Access portal which allows 24-7 access to submissions.
Key Features:
- Easily submit plans, specifications, and other supporting documents electronically using drag and drop functionality
- Automated sheet versioning utilized for processing and attaching plan pages to previously submitted versions
- Access mark-ups and view comments or conditions documented by each reviewer
- Quickly identify the status of the current review cycle
- Final stamped PDF Plan sets available for download
A professional engineer or architect who uses a digital signature to electronically sign and seal engineering plans shall have their identity authenticated by one of the following certification authorities:
- IdenTrust
- Entrust
- DigiCert
- Global Sign
- Notarius Inc
- Sectigo
- Docusign Digital Signatures (Digital Certificates Only)
- Adobe Digital Signatures (Digital Certificates Only)
Learn more about digital signatures and how to submit hard copies or electronically.
There are a few document standards that we recommend for best uploading performance. Please follow these guidelines in your document design to ensure correct processing in the Plan Room.
- All files must be in PDF file format other than boundary and topo surveys must be dwg and CSV files cannot be PDFs
- Maximum file size is 200MB
- Do not use encrypted or password-protected files
- Please do not combine any supporting documents in the same PDF file with any plan sheets
- Supporting documents will need to be uploaded as separate files (Building Ex. energy calcs, truss layouts, Florida Product Approvals, etc.)
Plans:
- A professional engineer or architect must leave a blank space on the top right hand corner of all construction plans to accommodate the county’s approval stamp
- Building Division - 2-inch by 4-inch blank space on construction plans
- Land Development - 2-inch by 2-inch blank space on construction plans
- An Index of plan sheets shall be provided (table of contents when exporting/publishing to the PDF (ex. include “Create bookmarks”) setting in AutoCad. Include sheet titles within a table of contents when possible
- Sheet Numbering for Plans
Each sheet number must be unique. Take that into account when the number is entered manually and also when verifying the sheet numbers.
Tip - For best results your plan sets should include a table of contents, i.e., bookmarks, of the sheet names.
Suggested order for table of contents is as follows:- C (ex: cover sheet, construction plans)
- B (ex: boundary survey)
- G (ex: general notes)
- S (ex: structural, survey)
- A (ex: architectural)
- E (ex: electrical)
- M (ex: mechanical)
- P (ex: plumbing, preliminary plat)
- L (ex: landscaping)
- I (ex: irrigation)
- T (ex: topo)
- Sheet Numbering for Plans
- All Plans and profiles shall be at appropriate scale of sufficient size to show all detail.
- A title Block shall be shown on all sheets, and shall contain the following:
- Name of project
- Sheet number and total number of sheets
- Name, address and phone number of the responsible individual or professional
- Preparation date and date of any revisions
- Plan shall be on one or more sheets 24 inches by 36 inches
- Make sure sheet numbers are unique and consistent for each version of submitted plan pages
- When submitting revisions, please do not resubmit the entire plan set, only upload the sheets containing changes from the previous submission. Be sure to name each sheet exactly the same as the original.
Supporting Documents:
- You can submit supporting documents as individual files or as a single file with multiple pages
- Document files may be oriented in either landscape or portrait view
Below are video tutorials to walk you through the process of uploading and submitting documents.
Issues
Issues are items that will need to be addressed and fixed prior to plan approval. Once created, each open issue will require a brief response in the Plan Room prior to a new review cycle being available to submit revisions.
Conditions
Conditions are items that may require action by the customer but do not need to be addressed prior to plan approval. Unlike issues, conditions do not require a response in the Plan Room. However, while the project is being inspected, conditions will need to be met before final approval can be granted.
You only need to submit sheets containing revisions, not the entire plan package.
At the end of the plan review process, the Plan Room will automatically combine all approved versions of each sheet into one final, stamped PDF plan set.
Are you having difficulties accessing a permit record in Citizen Access, uploading plans, or receiving status alert emails? Your Citizen Access account may not be linked to the permit record in question. Please email the appropriate division below for access to the record in question.
Building Division
Phone: (863) 534-6080
Email: buildingepermithubquestions@polk-county.net
Land Development
Phone: (863) 534-6449
Email: landdevepermithubquestions@polk-county.net