Do I need a permit for screen enclosure or pool cage in Bonita Springs?
Yes. In Florida, screen enclosure or pool cage generally requires a permit, and Bonita Springs is no exception.
Building a new aluminum screen enclosure or pool cage requires a building permit statewide, and the frame must be designed to Florida Building Code wind-load provisions with signed and sealed engineering. Replacing only the screen mesh is usually not permitted work, but new construction or structural frame repair is. A pool cage that serves as the pool safety barrier has added requirements.
Florida and local notes for Bonita Springs
Site-specific engineered wind-load drawings are effectively required for a new enclosure. Setbacks, easements, and HOA rules still apply. Re-screening mesh only is generally exempt; structural work is not. Lee County's own permitting office is the Lee County Community Development Department - Building & Permitting Services, reachable on (239) 533-8329 at https://www.leegov.com/dcd. Its online permit portal is https://aca-prod.accela.com/LEECO/Cap/CapHome.aspx?module=Permitting. It issues permits for the unincorporated county. If your city does not run its own building department, and many smaller Florida municipalities do not, this is the office that will handle the job. Screen enclosures are engineered for wind load in Florida, so expect signed and sealed drawings and a structural review. Bonita Springs issues enclosures as a separate permit from the pool, and the pool cannot pass its safety inspection or be filled until a permanent enclosure or barrier is in place. Under LDC 4-928, a pool enclosure must be open-mesh screening on at least three sides from 3 1/2 feet above grade up. If two or more sides are opaque, it must meet principal building setbacks, and a solid roof must be flat unless it meets principal setbacks. Open-mesh enclosures may be as close as 5 feet to a seawalled canal, 10 feet to a non-seawalled artificial water body, or 25 feet to a natural water body without a seawall (LDC 4-1894).
Documents you may need
- Permit applicationLikely required
- Signed and sealed engineered drawings with wind-load calculationsLikely required
- Site plan showing setbacksLikely required
- Aluminum member and anchoring specificationsSometimes required
- Residential Building Permit Application (Pool Enclosure or Screen Room)Likely required
- Site plan showing setbacks and any water body within 25 feetLikely required
- Engineered enclosure drawings or mastered plansLikely required
Possible inspections
- Footing or slab inspection for a new slab
- Framing or structural inspection
- Final inspection
- Footing inspection
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit for screen enclosure or pool cage in Bonita Springs?
- Yes. In Florida, screen enclosure or pool cage generally requires a permit, and Bonita Springs is no exception. The documents and inspections sections on this page list what the building department typically asks for.
- Who issues the permit in Bonita Springs?
- The local building department for Bonita Springs handles permitting. This page lists its contact details and online portal. Your mailing city is not always the permitting authority, so confirm the jurisdiction before you apply.
- How do I find out the exact requirements for my project?
- Run the free PermitRoadmap check for your specific project and answers. It returns the likely permits, documents, inspections, and next steps, each linked to its official source.
PermitRoadmap is an independent informational service and is not affiliated with any city, county, state agency, or permitting authority. Results are informational and do not replace confirming requirements with the local permitting authority.