Do I need a permit for pavers, driveway, or hardscape in St. Augustine?
It depends. Whether pavers, driveway, or hardscape needs a permit in St. Augustine comes down to the details of your project.
Whether pavers or a driveway need a permit varies by jurisdiction and by what and where you are paving. Some jurisdictions require a zoning permit for any residential pavers or driveway, while others trigger a permit mainly by slab size and location. Any work in the public right-of-way, such as a driveway approach, commonly needs a separate right-of-way permit.
Florida and local notes for St. Augustine
Impervious-surface and drainage limits can restrict how much of a lot you may pave. Work touching the public right-of-way usually needs a separate right-of-way or driveway-connection permit. Pavers in an easement may require an acknowledgement and can be at risk if a utility needs access. St. Johns County's own permitting office is the St. Johns County Building Department, reachable on (904) 827-6800 at https://www.sjcfl.us/departments/building-department/. Its online permit portal is https://webapp.sjcfl.us/WATSWebX/Permit/SearchPermit.aspx. 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. Patios are often exempt while driveway and right-of-way work is not, so confirm which side of that line your project falls on. St. Augustine lists driveways and patios among the work that usually requires a permit. The city requires a Residential Lot Grading Plan when lot coverage or impervious surface increases by 500 square feet or more. St. Augustine does not require a building permit for improvements under $7,500 on a single-family home (effective July 1, 2026), but only after the city approves an exemption request filed through a land development application with the contract or cost documents. Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas, structural work, and property in a flood hazard area still need permits at any cost, and starting without an approved exemption doubles the permit fees.
Documents you may need
- Permit or zoning applicationSometimes required
- Site plan or survey showing paved area and property linesLikely required
- Right-of-way or driveway-connection permit (if in the right-of-way)Sometimes required
- Easement acknowledgement (if applicable)Sometimes required
- Building permit application through the Permit PortalSometimes required
- Impervious Surface Ratio (ISR) WorksheetSometimes required
- Residential Lot Grading Plan when impervious surface increases by 500 square feet or moreSometimes required
- Right-of-Way Permit from Public Works for work in the city right-of-waySometimes required
Possible inspections
- Subgrade or drainage inspection where required
- Final inspection
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit for pavers, driveway, or hardscape in St. Augustine?
- It depends. Whether pavers, driveway, or hardscape needs a permit in St. Augustine comes down to the details of your project. The documents and inspections sections on this page list what the building department typically asks for.
- Who issues the permit in St. Augustine?
- The local building department for St. Augustine 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.