What do these permits involve in Escambia County?

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County Local Business Tax Receipt

County Code Sec. 90-91 requires a local business tax "for the privilege of engaging in or managing any business, profession or occupation within the county", administered under F.S. Ch. 205. The rate schedule attached to the article under Sec. 90-95 charges $26.25 for each listed classification, including Restaurants/Eating Establishments, Retail 5% Wholesale Allowed, Health Studio, Barber Shop, Cosmetologist, Nail Technician, Tanning Salon, Auto Repair, Veterinarian, Pet Services/Grooming and each contractor trade. Catering, Drive In/Curb Service and Take Out Service are marked with a footnote: "This tax is in addition to the tax imposed for Restaurants/Eating Establishments." The Tax Collector's Know Before You Go page states that a receipt is needed for each location and for each category of business conducted there, and that even a one-person or home-based business needs one unless it qualifies for an exemption; the page lists exemptions for qualifying sole owners who are disabled, 65 or older or widowed with minor dependent children, and for qualifying majority owners who are veterans, military spouses, public-assistance recipients or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level. The Tax Collector's Business Tax Receipts page publishes the same $26.25 annual fee, a September 30 expiration and a July to September renewal window, and states that restaurants, food concessions, take-out and catering are inspected by DBPR's Division of Hotels and Restaurants before a receipt is issued. Under Sec. 18-81, a contractor must show the Tax Collector the county contractor registration before the receipt is issued. Sec. 90-92(b) states that a receipt does not authorize business in violation of zoning or any other law. F.S. 509.102(2)(a) reserves licensing of mobile food dispensing vehicles to the state, so this record does not cover food trucks. The Tax Collector's page states that businesses within the City of Pensacola limits "require a city BTR as well as an Escambia County BTR."

County Building Permits (Unincorporated Escambia and Town of Century)

County Code Sec. 14-84 requires any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to install or alter any regulated electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, to apply to the Escambia County Building Services Department and obtain the required permit first. The Building Services page states that the department conducts plan reviews, issues building permits and inspects new buildings and major improvements built in "the unincorporated areas of the county and the town of Century", so a restaurant fit-out, salon remodel or new retail building in those areas is permitted here; a site inside the City of Pensacola is outside that scope. The Plan Review page states that a separate building permit is required for each individual building, that application forms must be printed and hand-delivered, mailed or, depending on the form, faxed, and that fee estimate forms give only an estimate, with the final cost set at the end of the permit application process. Sec. 14-163 ties fees to a schedule set by the Board of County Commissioners. Building Services: 3363 West Park Place, Pensacola (850-595-3550; North Office in Cantonment, 850-587-5770).

Fire Plan Review, Fire Protection System and Operational Permits, and Commercial Fire Inspections

The Escambia County Fire Rescue Office of Fire Prevention's Fire Marshal/Fire Inspections page states that the office "reviews plans, issues permits and conducts inspections for fire protection systems, special-event tents, operational permits and fireworks exhibitions", and that fire and life-safety inspections are performed for commercial buildings throughout Escambia County, excluding the City of Pensacola. The page posts application packets for fire alarm, fire pump, fire sprinkler, dry chemical, fire suppression, underground, tent and fireworks permits, and a Hood Suppression Application Packet for kitchen hood suppression systems. Plans may be submitted in the office or by mail (a completed application packet, three sets of stamped and sealed shop drawings, cut sheets and calculations) or by email (one electronic set). Inspections are requested through the county's MGO customer portal, the automated line at 866-957-3764 (option 5) or by email to fireinspections@myescambia.com, and the page states that all inspections are handled on a case-by-case basis. Office of Fire Prevention: 850-595-1810.

Zoning Verification and Land Use Certificate (Unincorporated Escambia)

Land Development Code Sec. 2-2.2(a) states that "Verification of permitted land use is required to authorize any use or development of land regulated by the LDC", and Sec. 2-2.2(b) sends the application to the planning official. The section adds that verification documents whether an existing or proposed use conforms at the site but does not itself grant authorization to proceed. The fees above come from the "Planning & Zoning Fee Schedule, October 2021", which the Planning and Zoning Division's current page links with the words "To view a list of Planning and Zoning fees, click here"; it is dated October 2021 and is the schedule the county publishes today. The Planning and Zoning page warns of fraudulent emails demanding payment, and states that genuine invoices come from a county staff member with a myescambia.com address and are paid in person by cash or check or through the MyGovernmentOnline portal. These rules apply in unincorporated Escambia County. Planning and Zoning: 850-595-3475, zoninginfo@myescambia.com.

Permit	Issuing agency	Fee	Renews	Last checked
County Local Business Tax Receipt	Escambia County Tax Collector	$26.25 a year for each business category at each location (County Code Sec. 90-95 rate schedule); county tax only	annual; each receipt expires on September 30 (County Code Sec. 90-92(a)); the Tax Collector's page states receipts are renewable during July, August and September	2026-10-20
County Building Permits (Unincorporated Escambia and Town of Century)only if it applies to you	Escambia County Building Services Department	County Code Sec. 14-163 charges permit fees "in accordance with the schedule as established by the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners"; that schedule is not published on the Building Services, Plan Review or Permitting Forms pages. The Plan Review page offers fee estimate forms; contact Building Services at 850-595-3550 for the current amount.	per permit	2026-10-20
Fire Plan Review, Fire Protection System and Operational Permits, and Commercial Fire Inspectionsonly if it applies to you	Escambia County Fire Rescue, Office of Fire Prevention	Fire plan review, permit and inspection fees are not published on the Office of Fire Prevention's Fire Marshal/Fire Inspections page, which offers permit fee estimate forms; contact the office at 850-595-1810 for the current amount.	per permit or inspection; inspections are scheduled case by case, per the office's page	2026-10-20
Zoning Verification and Land Use Certificate (Unincorporated Escambia)only if it applies to you	Escambia County Development Services, Planning and Zoning Division	Per the Planning & Zoning Fee Schedule, October 2021: front counter fees — Zoning Verification (written) $30.00; Land Use Letter $110.00; Land Use Certificate, Commercial Site Renovation $95.00; Land Use Certificate, Commercial Site New Development $110.00. Development Review Committee fees — Site Plan, Major $2,550.00; Site Plan, Minor $1,025.00. Board of Adjustment fees — Conditional Use $1,530.00; Variance $515.00. The schedule states that all fees besides the front counter fees include the $5 technology fee, that a $5 technology fee is added to each land use permit issued, and that a 3% surcharge applies to credit card payments.	per application; a verification or certificate applies to the site and use described	2026-10-20

Business licenses and permits in Escambia County, Florida

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Permits that apply to every type of business in Escambia County