What do these permits involve in Lee County?

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County Local Business Tax Receipt

Lee County Code § 26-58 (Ord. No. 07-02, § 3, adopted February 13, 2007) sets the county local business tax at an annual flat rate of $30.00 for all professionals, occupations or businesses, and that is the figure stated here, as set in the County Code. The Lee County Tax Collector's 2026 Business Tax Application (Form #151, dated June 2026) prints $50.00 for a full year (October to September). Because the Code and the form state different amounts, contact the Lee County Tax Collector to confirm the amount charged before paying. Under § 26-58, a receipt that begins April through June carries one-half of the year's tax and one that begins July through September carries one-fourth. Under § 26-59, a flea market pays $30.00 multiplied by the average number of weekly vendors over the preceding October 1 to September 30 period. Under § 26-62, each receipt covers one occupation, business or profession. Under § 26-65, the Tax Collector confirms with the city or county zoning office that the location is properly zoned before issuing the receipt. Under § 26-66, a receipt not paid by September 30 is delinquent, with a penalty of 10 percent for October plus 5 percent for each later month, capped at 25 percent of the tax, and engaging in business without a receipt carries a penalty of 25 percent of the tax due. The Tax Collector's Business Tax Checklist states that a business located within city limits must obtain a city business tax receipt or city zoning approval before applying for the county receipt, so the county receipt is held in addition to the city one.

Zoning Approval and Certificate of Use (commercial location)

Lee County Community Development's Building Permit Fee Schedule states: "Any business operating from a commercial location requires an approved Certificate of Use." Lee County Code § 26-65 requires the Tax Collector to confirm with the appropriate city and county departments that a business is properly zoned for its use before issuing the county business tax receipt, so this approval comes first. The Tax Collector's Business Tax Checklist directs a business in unincorporated Lee County operating from a commercial location to Lee County Community Development, 1500 Monroe St., Fort Myers (239-533-8329), for zoning requirements and approval, and directs a business inside city limits to its city for city zoning approval. The checklist also routes some home-based businesses in unincorporated Lee County through a separate affidavit process. This record gives no dollar amount for the Certificate of Use; contact Community Development for the amount.

Failing Septic System Repair Permit

A business premises whose septic system is failing needs a repair permit from the Florida Department of Health in Lee County, a State agency office. The DOH-Lee Failing Septic System Repair Application Requirements page states that the permit application fee is $350, payable to DOH-Lee County or online. The application must be signed by the owner or an authorized representative, engineer or licensed contractor and include the Existing System and System Repair Evaluation Form and a site plan. The page states that when commercial sewage flow exceeds 1,000 gallons per day, or the drain field will exceed 1,000 square feet, an engineer must submit detailed signed and sealed construction plans, and that commercial applicants provide the last 18 months of water usage unless the building is served by a well.

Building Permit (Lee County Community Development)

Lee County Community Development's Building Permit Fee Schedule was approved by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners on March 17, 2026 and took effect April 15, 2026, after an updated cost analysis of permitting and inspection services; the figures here are as published on that fee page. The page states that the Application Fee, Technology Fee and Operational Support Fee apply to each application, and that the Operational Support Fee is a percentage of total review and inspection fees (excluding conditional reviews) that may fluctuate with revenue and expenditure trends. The schedule sets fees by record type (accessory structures, additions, fire, new buildings, pools, remodeling, signs, temporary uses and others), so a build-out, change of use, sign or new building for any of these industries is priced under its own record type. The fee page states that its updates apply only to Community Development building permit fees and do not include Department of Transportation right-of-way and driveway permits, Natural Resources well permits, or building impact fees, each of which has its own schedule.

Well Permit (Natural Resources Division)

A business that drills, replaces or repairs a well, including a commercial supply well, a fire-protection well or a geothermal well, needs a well permit from the Lee County Natural Resources Division. The figures here are as published on the Division's live Well Permitting Fees page, headed "New Fees 02-1-18" (February 1, 2018), which is the most recent schedule the page shows. Commercial and residential wells are priced separately, wells serving public water systems are $500 per well, and monitor wells and test borings carry their own fees. Community Development's Building Permit Fee Schedule states that its April 15, 2026 fee updates do not affect Natural Resources well permits, so this well schedule stands on its own. The page links to an online payment portal for these fees.

New Onsite Sewage (Septic) System Construction Permit

A business premises that will be served by a new septic system (onsite sewage treatment and disposal system) needs a construction permit from the Florida Department of Health in Lee County, a State agency office rather than a county department. The DOH-Lee New Septic System Application Requirements page states that Lee County's application fee is $390; if a site evaluation is needed the applicant is billed an additional $155; an additional $100 is charged for inspections on outer islands only accessible by boat; and the Performance Based Treatment System application fee is $465. All fees are payable to the Florida Department of Health in Lee County, and the page directs online payment to MyFloridaEHPermit.com. The page also states that non-residential establishments must submit a floor plan showing the plumbing plan, and that all new septic applications in unincorporated Lee County must be designed by a Florida licensed professional engineer.

Permit	Issuing agency	Fee	Renews	Last checked
County Local Business Tax Receipt	Lee County Tax Collector, Business Tax	$30 per year, the annual flat tax for each business, profession or occupation set in Lee County Code § 26-58(a); one-half of the year's tax for a receipt commencing April through June and one-fourth for one commencing July through September	annual; under Lee County Code § 26-66(a) receipts are sold beginning July 1, are due on or before September 30, and expire on September 30 of the following year	2026-10-06
Zoning Approval and Certificate of Use (commercial location)only if it applies to you	Lee County Department of Community Development	The Certificate of Use charge is set in the Use/Occupancy section of Lee County Community Development's Building Permit Fee Schedule (effective April 15, 2026). This record states no amount; contact Lee County Community Development (239-533-8329) for the amount that applies to a given location.	one-time per business location and use; a new location or a change of use needs a new approval	2026-10-06
Failing Septic System Repair Permitonly if it applies to you	Florida Department of Health in Lee County, Environmental Health	$350 application fee per repair permit	one-time per repair permit	2026-10-06
Building Permit (Lee County Community Development)only if it applies to you	Lee County Department of Community Development	Every application: Application Fee $50, Technology Fee $35, and an Operational Support Fee assessed as a percentage of total review and inspection fees. Commercial/multi-family plan review: $75 per review discipline initial, $25 per discipline resubmission; residential plan review $50 initial, $25 resubmission. Inspections for minor work (2,500 sq ft work area or less): $50 per required inspection per discipline; roofing $100. Inspections for major work (over 2,500 sq ft work area): structural $0.15 per sq ft ($500 minimum), electrical $0.04 per sq ft ($150 minimum), mechanical $0.035 per sq ft ($125 minimum), plumbing $0.04 per sq ft ($150 minimum), roofing $100. Contractor change $50 per request; completion permit $200 (commercial/multi-family) or $100 (other types); permit extension $50; temporary certificate of occupancy or completion (30 days) $100 initial; work without a permit is charged double the total review and inspection fees, $200 minimum.	one-time per construction project; extensions are charged separately	2026-10-06
Well Permit (Natural Resources Division)only if it applies to you	Lee County Natural Resources Division, Groundwater	Commercial: well $350; replacement $400; elevator shaft drilling $150 and grouting $150 per shaft; fire protection $275; horizontal $200; geothermal $300; grounding rod $200; repair permit $350. Residential: well $275; replacement $325; fire protection $150; horizontal $150; geothermal $300; duplex $350; duplex replacement $400; repair permit $275. Wells serving public water systems $500 per well; recovery well $300. Monitor wells: $275 per well deeper than the first confining unit (Lower Tamiami Aquifer and deeper), $50 per well in the water-table aquifer. Test borings: $200 per permit for the first 4 borings, $50 for each additional boring.	one-time per well or boring permit	2026-10-06
New Onsite Sewage (Septic) System Construction Permitonly if it applies to you	Florida Department of Health in Lee County, Environmental Health	$390 application fee per new system; plus $155 if a site evaluation is needed, $100 for inspections on outer islands accessible only by boat; a Performance Based Treatment System application is $465	one-time per new system construction permit	2026-10-06

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