Do I need a permit for screen enclosure or pool cage in Unincorporated St. Johns County?
Most likely yes. Screen enclosure or pool cage usually requires a permit in Florida. Confirm the specifics with Unincorporated St. Johns County.
Building a new aluminum screen enclosure or pool cage requires a building permit statewide, and the frame must be designed to Florida Building Code wind-load provisions with signed and sealed engineering. Replacing only the screen mesh is usually not permitted work, but new construction or structural frame repair is. A pool cage that serves as the pool safety barrier has added requirements.
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
Site-specific engineered wind-load drawings are effectively required for a new enclosure. Setbacks, easements, and HOA rules still apply. Re-screening mesh only is generally exempt; structural work is not. 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. Screen enclosures are engineered for wind load in Florida, so expect signed and sealed drawings and a structural review. St. Johns County's Homeowner Sunroom Enclosure Affidavit makes the owner acknowledge the sunroom category being permitted, and warns that adding temperature control or removing the doors or windows to the house can make the room noncompliant. Under Land Development Code Sec. 6.01.03.H.3, covered patios and covered pools may project into the rear yard but must stay 10 feet from the lot line where the rear setback is 20 feet or more, 5 feet where it is less, and 5 feet from side lot lines. Sec. 6.04.06.F.7.d bars screened enclosures and other permanent structures from any public or private drainage or utility easement unless the County Administrator approves.
Documents you may need
- Permit applicationLikely required
- Signed and sealed engineered drawings with wind-load calculationsLikely required
- Site plan showing setbacksLikely required
- Aluminum member and anchoring specificationsSometimes required
- Building Permit ApplicationLikely required
- Homeowner Sunroom Enclosure Affidavit (sunroom category I through V)Sometimes required
- Clearance Sheet with approved site planLikely required
- Engineering or approved design manual detailsSometimes required
Possible inspections
- Footing or slab inspection for a new slab
- Framing or structural inspection
- Final inspection
- Foundation inspection where footings are poured
- Final inspection (123)
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit for screen enclosure or pool cage in Unincorporated St. Johns County?
- Most likely yes. Screen enclosure or pool cage usually requires a permit in Florida. Confirm the specifics with Unincorporated St. Johns County. 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.