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PermitRoadmap

Do I need a permit for addition or structural alteration in Unincorporated St. Johns County?

Permit required

Yes. In Florida, addition or structural alteration generally requires a permit, and Unincorporated St. Johns 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 St. Johns County. A free check first, then a free printable Permit Prep Pack.

Local detail for Unincorporated St. Johns County: Covers all unincorporated communities including Ponte Vedra, Fruit Cove, World Golf Village, Vilano Beach, Crescent Beach, and Hastings.

Florida and local notes for Unincorporated St. Johns 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. 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. An addition means a full plan review, so confirm submittal requirements and current review times before you commission drawings. Building permit applications in St. Johns County are generally accepted only after a Clearance Sheet is issued. The Clearance Sheet carries the address, flood information, zoning setbacks, and minimum floor elevations, and is valid for 6 months. The county's Renovations and Remodeling Affidavit notes that opening protection is required for additions and remodels valued at $50,000 or more when the home is valued at $750,000 or more, except homes permitted under the Florida Building Code. HOAs registered with the county under the RARA program receive automatic notice when a clearance sheet or building permit application for exterior construction is submitted. Unincorporated St. Johns County addresses are permitted by the St. Johns County Building Department at the Permit Center, 4040 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine (904-827-6800). Addresses inside the City of St. Augustine are permitted by the city's Planning and Building Department, not the county.

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
  • Clearance Sheet with approved site planLikely required
  • Building Permit ApplicationLikely required
  • Two sets of building plans (FBC 107)Likely required
  • Two sets of energy forms including Manual J and DLikely required
  • Two sets of truss engineering and signed Product Approval formsLikely required
  • Notice of Commencement (recorded copy before first inspection)Likely required

Possible inspections

  • Footing and foundation inspection
  • Framing inspection, with rough electrical, plumbing, and mechanical
  • Insulation inspection
  • Final inspection
  • Foundation or footing inspection (101)
  • Slab inspection (102)
  • Framing inspection (105)
  • Insulation inspection (109)
  • Final inspection (123)

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for addition or structural alteration in Unincorporated St. Johns County?
Yes. In Florida, addition or structural alteration generally requires a permit, and Unincorporated St. Johns 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 St. Johns County?
The local building department for Unincorporated St. Johns 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.