Do I need a permit for addition or structural alteration in Highland Park?
Highland Park does not issue residential building permits. The Village of Highland Park does not run its own building department. The village states that it must first review and approve any building permit (using its Permit Authorization Form, handled by the City Manager at citymanager@highlandpark-fl.org) before the application is submitted to Polk County, and the Polk County Building Division (330 W. Church St., Bartow, 863-534-6080) then issues the permit through the Polk County Access Portal. The village also contracts with Polk County for code enforcement. The phone and address listed are the village office.
The requirements below come from Florida rules and describe the standard the work must still meet. They are not a statement that Highland Park will issue you a permit.
Yes. In Florida, addition or structural alteration generally requires a permit, and Highland Park 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 your exact answer
Answer a few questions to see the specific permits, documents, and next steps for your addition or structural alteration in Highland Park.
Check my projectLocal and county notes for Highland Park
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. Polk County's own permitting office is the Polk County Building Division, reachable on 863-534-6080 at https://www.polkfl.gov/services/building/. Its online permit portal is https://aca-prod.accela.com/POLKCO/. 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.
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
Possible inspections
- Footing and foundation inspection
- Framing inspection, with rough electrical, plumbing, and mechanical
- Insulation inspection
- Final inspection
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit for addition or structural alteration in Highland Park?
- Yes. In Florida, addition or structural alteration generally requires a permit, and Highland Park is no exception. The documents and inspections sections on this page list what the building department typically asks for.
- Who issues the permit in Highland Park?
- The local building department for Highland Park 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.