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Seminole County

Seminole County Development Services, Building Division

In short

Seminole County Development Services, Building Division issues 3 permits we publish for Seminole County, last verified 2026-10-15. Each carries the fee as the agency publishes it, with a link to the schedule it was read from.

What this agency issues

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Commercial Building Permits (Unincorporated Seminole)only if it applies to youSeminole County Development Services, Building DivisionPer the Seminole County Permit Fee Schedule, Revised October 2026 (temporary fees under Resolution 2026-R-61): new building up to 5,000 sq ft, single story — Admin $75.00, Permit/Inspection $1,500.00 plus $165.00 per inspection assigned, Plans Review $600.00, Tech $100.00. New building over 5,000 sq ft and/or multi-story — Admin $75.00, Permit/Inspection $18,000.00 up to 10,000 sq ft plus $1,200.00 per additional 5,000 sq ft, mechanical, plumbing and electrical $165.00 minimum each (per inspection assigned), Plans Review $1,500.00, Tech $100.00. Commercial alterations — Admin $75.00, Permit/Inspection $165.00 minimum (per inspection assigned) plus $1,200.00 per 5,000 sq ft above 5,000 sq ft, Plans Review $400.00, Tech $25.00. Commercial electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits $180.00 per inspection; commercial HVAC change-out $250.00; commercial water-heater replacement $250.00; gas permit $250.00 minimum; commercial re-roof $350.00 up to 10,000 sq ft; signs $350.00; commercial pools $1,160.00; Temporary Certificate of Occupancy $1,500.00; re-inspection $100.00 (first).per permit2026-10-15
Change of Use or Change of Occupancy Permit (Unincorporated Seminole)only if it applies to youSeminole County Development Services, Building DivisionThe Revised October 2026 permit fee schedule contains no separate change-of-use line; the building permit for the change is charged at that schedule's commercial rates (for an alteration: Admin $75.00, Permit/Inspection $165.00 minimum per inspection assigned, Plans Review $400.00, Tech $25.00).one-time, for each change from one commercial use to another or from residential to commercial use2026-10-15
Contractor License Administration Filing with the Building Divisiononly if it applies to youSeminole County Development Services, Building DivisionThe License Administration form (Revised 01/02/2025) states no filing fee. The Revised October 2026 permit fee schedule charges $40.00 for a change of primary contractor and $10.00 for a change of sub-contractor on a permit.ongoing while the contractor's state license and insurance remain current; the form is resubmitted with updated documents2026-10-15

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

About each permit

Commercial Building Permits (Unincorporated Seminole)

The Seminole County Permit Fee Schedule, Revised October 2026, linked as the full fee schedule from the Building Division's New State Legislation Affecting Permits page, states that the county's permit fees are based on "actual cost of service" as required by HB 803 and that the fees "are temporary based on Resolution 2026-R-61 approved by the BCC". The Board of County Commissioners' Legistar record shows Resolution #2026-R-61, authorizing the Building Official and Development Services Director to adjust permitting and development fees to match state law, approved on June 23, 2026. The county's page adds that the schedule reflects interim updates, that the county is conducting a comprehensive fee study and that additional fee adjustments may be made on its completion; it also notes that from January 1, 2027 development application fees must be based on the actual cost of review under HB 399. The schedule applies a $75.00 administrative fee to all permits unless otherwise noted, gives each commercial permit three free re-inspections or partial-pass results before re-inspection fees apply, and doubles the total permit fee for an owner-builder (triples it for a licensed contractor) as a stop-work-order penalty. The county's Building pages announce that online permitting is moving to the county's new OneStop system, launching October 19, 2026, with in-person and phone service available. Under F.S. 125.56(1) the county enforces the building code outside the corporate limits of any municipality, so these permits apply in unincorporated Seminole County; a site inside a city is permitted by that city. Building Division: 1101 East First Street, Sanford (407-665-7050).

Change of Use or Change of Occupancy Permit (Unincorporated Seminole)

The Building Division's Guidelines for Change of Use or Residential to Commercial (Revised 04/10/2024), linked from its Forms & Applications page, set out what is needed to obtain a building permit for a change from one commercial use to another or from a residential use to a commercial use. The property must be zoned for the proposed use (the Planning and Development Division verifies zoning at 407-665-7371), an approved site plan is needed if site alterations require one, a building contractor is required, and plans must show how the space will comply with the new use, sealed by a Florida-licensed architect or engineer where structural work or fire-rated assemblies are involved. Plans must show existing and proposed floor plans, code criteria, construction type, sprinkler status, previous and proposed occupancy, adjacent occupancies and fire-rated separations, and the proposed use must meet the change of occupancy provisions of the Florida Building Code – Existing Building. The guidelines recommend a pre-application meeting with the Planning and Development Division. The Tax Collector's 2025 Business Tax Receipt Application sends a new business in unincorporated Seminole County to the Building Division to determine whether a permit is needed for modifications or a change in occupancy (407-665-7050). This applies in unincorporated Seminole County under F.S. 125.56(1).

Contractor License Administration Filing with the Building Division

The Building Division's License Administration form (Revised 01/02/2025), linked from its Forms & Applications page, lists what contractors file with the Division. Certified contractors submit a copy of their current state license (DBPR, State Fire Marshal, DACS Bureau of LP Gas, DHSMV or similar) and proof of workers' compensation coverage or an exemption certificate and general liability insurance, by fax (407-665-7486), email (BPCustomerservice@seminolecountyfl.gov) or in person. Registered contractors must have the Florida jurisdiction or testing agency send the county a letter confirming the exam passed, with license classification and date, provide the same insurance proof, disclose any disciplinary action in a Florida jurisdiction in the past twelve months, and submit the form and insurance documents in person at the Building Division. The Building Official's letter of June 8, 2026 states that the county's Contractors Licensing Board has been reorganized as the Building Codes Board of Appeals, which oversees disciplinary actions against County licensed Registered contractors. The Revised October 2026 permit fee schedule charges $40.00 to change the primary contractor and $10.00 to change a sub-contractor on a permit. Building Division: 1101 East First Street, Sanford (407-665-7050).

Contact

Jurisdiction
Seminole County
Phone
407-665-7050

Contact details are taken from the agency’s own site or its published fee schedule. Where we have not verified a phone number we leave it blank rather than guess.

Sources

Every fee and term above was read from one of these government pages on the date shown.

  1. Board of County Commissioners, Matter 2026-0519 — approval of Resolution #2026-R-61 on June 23, 2026 (action history)Seminole County Board of County Commissioners (Legistar) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-15
  2. Building Division Forms & ApplicationsSeminole County Development Services, Building Division · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-15
  3. Florida Statutes §125.56 (2026) — county enforcement of the Florida Building Code and Florida Fire Prevention CodeFlorida Legislature (Online Sunshine) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  4. Guidelines for Change of Use or Residential to Commercial (Revised 04/10/2024)Seminole County Building Division · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-15
  5. License Administration form (Revised 01/02/2025)Seminole County Building Division · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-15
  6. New State Legislation Affecting PermitsSeminole County Development Services, Building Division · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-15
  7. Seminole County Business Tax Receipt Application (2025)Seminole County Tax Collector · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-15
  8. Seminole County Permit Fee Schedule, Revised October 2026 (temporary fees under Resolution 2026-R-61)Seminole County Development Services, Building Division · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-15
  9. Upcoming Changes in the Seminole County Building Division (letter from the Building Official, June 8, 2026)Seminole County Building Division · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-15

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Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.