Do I need a permit for plumbing fixture or repiping in Unincorporated St. Johns County?
Yes. In Florida, plumbing fixture or repiping generally requires a permit, and Unincorporated St. Johns County is no exception.
Repiping, meaning replacing supply, drain, waste, or vent piping, requires a plumbing permit in Florida. A straightforward like-for-like replacement of a faucet, sink, or toilet, and clearing stoppages or fixing leaks, is generally exempt as long as no pipe or valve is moved or replaced. As soon as concealed pipe must be removed and replaced, it is treated as new work that needs a permit.
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
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. The rough inspection has to happen before walls are closed, so confirm scheduling lead time when you pull the permit. St. Johns County's permit guidance quotes FBC 105.1, which requires a permit to alter, repair, or replace a plumbing system, and its fee schedule charges plumbing fees for installation, alteration, or repair of water piping. Plumbing contractors can apply online through a Private Account. Work may not be covered before the rough inspection is approved. Inspections are requested through the county's automated line at 904-827-6842 or a Private Account online, and requests made before 7:00 a.m. are performed the same day.
Documents you may need
- Plumbing permit applicationLikely required
- Contractor license and insuranceLikely required
- Riser or isometric diagram or scope descriptionSometimes required
- St. Johns County Plumbing Permit ApplicationLikely required
- Licensed plumbing contractor registered with St. Johns CountyLikely required
Possible inspections
- Rough plumbing inspection
- Final inspection
- Rough plumbing inspection (303)
- Top out inspection (302)
- Plumbing final inspection (304)
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit for plumbing fixture or repiping in Unincorporated St. Johns County?
- Yes. In Florida, plumbing fixture or repiping 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.