Do I need a permit for interior remodeling in Unincorporated Marion County?

Florida and local notes for Unincorporated Marion County

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas, and structural work still need a permit regardless of cost. HB 803 bars splitting a project to stay under $7,500 and does not apply in flood-hazard areas. Local departments implement HB 803 individually, so confirm the policy in your jurisdiction. Marion County's own permitting office is the Marion County Building Safety office, reachable on (352) 438-2400 at https://www.marionfl.org/agencies-departments/departments-facilities-offices/building-safety. Its online permit portal is https://permits.marionfl.org. 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. Each trade normally needs its own permit on top of the building permit, so ask which trade permits your scope will require. Unincorporated Marion County addresses are permitted by Marion County Building Safety (2710 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, 352-438-2400), and all permit documents are submitted electronically through the Civic Access portal. Marion's Request for Residential Permit Exemption (F.S. 553.79(1)(g)) covers single-family work under $7,500 outside a flood hazard area with no structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, or gas work. Work may not start until Building Safety approves it in writing, and no after-the-fact permit is issued later. Marion County Code Sec. 5.5-33(g) exempts additions, alterations, or repairs up to $5,000 on a single-family residence, but not in mapped flood hazard areas unless the building official finds the work is not a substantial improvement. Marion County Code Sec. 5.5-33(g)(2) still requires permits for any structural beam change and for electrical work over 25 amps or $5,000, even within the county's exemption.