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PermitRoadmap

Do I need a permit for addition or structural alteration in Unincorporated Martin County?

Permit required

Yes. In Florida, addition or structural alteration generally requires a permit, and Unincorporated Martin County is no exception.

A building permit is required for any addition and for structural alterations such as removing or altering load-bearing walls, changing the footprint, or altering the roof structure. The Florida Building Code only exempts ordinary minor repairs that do not cut into walls or remove load-bearing supports, so structural work is never exempt. Additions usually trigger zoning review and, in flood areas, elevation requirements.

Get the checklist for your addition or structural alteration in Unincorporated Martin County. A free check first, then a free printable Permit Prep Pack.

Local detail for Unincorporated Martin County: Permits for unincorporated Martin County. Applications submitted through the Accela Citizen Access (ACA) online permit system.

Florida and local notes for Unincorporated Martin County

Structural work is specifically excluded from the HB 803 $7,500 exemption. Signed and sealed engineered plans are commonly required. Additions often trigger setback, lot-coverage, and floodplain review. Martin County's own permitting office is the Martin County Building Department, reachable on (772) 288-5400 at https://www.martin.fl.us/building. Its online permit portal is https://www.martin.fl.us/resources/online-permit-system. 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. An addition means a full plan review, so confirm submittal requirements and current review times before you commission drawings. An addition on a septic-served property needs a Florida Department of Health septic tank permit with the approved stamped plans before Martin County will issue the building permit. Properties on sewer do not need it. Martin County uses its own Form 100, Design Certificate for Wind Load, and its own Product Approval Checklist, both signed and sealed by the design professional unless the information is on the plans. Manual J load calculations for Martin County use West Palm Beach design conditions of 91 degrees summer and 45 degrees winter dry bulb.

Documents you may need

  • Permit applicationLikely required
  • Signed and sealed construction and structural plansLikely required
  • Site plan or surveyLikely required
  • Florida Energy Code forms for conditioned spaceSometimes required
  • Notice of commencementSometimes required
  • Martin County Building Permit Application (Accela Citizen Access portal or permit counter)Likely required
  • Survey or signed and sealed site plan with NAVD elevations, drainage, flood zone, setbacks, and easements (survey dated no earlier than October 4, 2002)Likely required
  • Health Department septic permit with stamped plans if on septic and adding living spaceSometimes required
  • Complete set of sealed plansLikely required
  • Florida Energy Code form and Manual J (West Palm Beach design temperatures)Likely required
  • Martin County Form 100, Design Certificate for Wind LoadLikely required
  • Martin County Product Approval Checklist signed and sealed by the architect or engineerLikely required

Possible inspections

  • Footing and foundation inspection
  • Framing inspection, with rough electrical, plumbing, and mechanical
  • Insulation inspection
  • Final inspection
  • Foundation, framing, and trade inspections listed on the permit

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for addition or structural alteration in Unincorporated Martin County?
Yes. In Florida, addition or structural alteration generally requires a permit, and Unincorporated Martin County is no exception. The documents and inspections sections on this page list what the building department typically asks for.
Who issues the permit in Unincorporated Martin County?
The local building department for Unincorporated Martin County 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.