What do these permits involve in Leon County?

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Commercial Building Permit (Unincorporated Leon County)

Leon County Code Sec. 5-1.05 requires any owner or agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to install or alter a regulated electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, to apply to the building official and obtain a permit first. Sec. 5-1.09(a) places all building permit fees in the DSEM fee schedule adopted by resolution of the Board of County Commissioners. The figures in this record are from the DSEM fee schedule titled "REVISED JUNE 1, 2022" (effective dates as printed: Development Services & Environmental Services, October 1, 2008; Building Plans Review & Inspection, 6/1/22; page footers "Rev 7/1/16"), which the county's Building Plans Review and Inspection page links as "View current fee schedule". The schedule charges commercial work per square foot under roof in four occupancy tiers, each with separate plan review and inspection rates for building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and gas; the tier follows the occupancy group of the building as the schedule names it. Its footnotes set a $135.00 minimum for a single-trade permit and a $90.00 minimum base fee per trade on a multi-trade project when the square-foot fee falls short, and it adds a 3% technology fee on plans review and inspection fees, $90.00 for a temporary certificate of occupancy and $90.00 for an additional inspection. Work started without a permit is charged double the plan review and inspection fees, and Code Sec. 5-1.09(d)(1) likewise sets "two times the established permit fees". Under F.S. 125.56(1) the county enforces the Florida Building Code within its territory outside the corporate limits of any municipality, so these permits apply in unincorporated Leon County; a site inside the City of Tallahassee is permitted by the City. Building Plans Review and Inspection Division, Renaissance Center, 435 N. Macomb St., 2nd Floor, Tallahassee (850-606-1300).

City of Tallahassee Fire Plan Review on County Commercial Building Permits

The county's Life Safety and Fire Protection Permitting Process page states that "All New Commercial Building Permits in Leon County must go through a Fire review conducted by the City of Tallahassee Fire Plans Review", that the fire and building plan reviews begin together once Development Services approves the initial site plan review, and that "The Leon County Building permit will be issued once both reviews are approved." Fire protection subcontractors send post-issuance fire protection information (sprinkler, fire alarm, hood suppression, underground fireline, bi-directional amplifier) to DSEM_Intake@leoncountyfl.gov with the county permit number. Standalone fire alarm and suppression permits for existing buildings also require a Leon County building permit. The page states that "Fire Protection Inspections can only be scheduled through the City's dispatch office at 850-891-7040." The fee for new commercial construction, $0.02 per square foot under roof, is listed as the City of Tallahassee fire plan review fee in the DSEM fee schedule titled "REVISED JUNE 1, 2022" (effective dates as printed: Development Services & Environmental Services, October 1, 2008; Building Plans Review & Inspection, 6/1/22; page footers "Rev 7/1/16"), which the county's Building Plans Review and Inspection page links as "View current fee schedule". The Tallahassee Fire Department's Commercial Businesses page states that its Prevention Division "oversees inspections to all businesses within the City of Tallahassee and Leon County" and that "All commercial buildings must have a final fire inspection prior to being issued a certificate of occupancy."

Permitted Use Verification (PUV) Certificate (Unincorporated Leon County)

A Permitted Use Verification certificate tells an applicant whether a proposed use in unincorporated Leon County is generally consistent with the Leon County Code of Laws and whether further site and development plan or permitting review is needed. Form D-8 (Revised 4/5/24) states "APPLICATION FEE: $242" and covers a change of use, a new structure or addition, and a subdivision; it asks for the zoning district, existing and proposed use, building square footage, and sewer, water and driveway arrangements. The Development Services page states that to schedule a free pre-submittal meeting for "new or an expansion of existing non-residential uses", a PUV "shall be filed with DSEM and determined 'eligible' or 'conditional'", and that "A Permitted Use Verification (PUV) is required to determine eligibility for many of the exempt processes." The $242 fee and the $60 fee for a revision to a PUV are also listed in the DSEM fee schedule titled "REVISED JUNE 1, 2022" (effective dates as printed: Development Services & Environmental Services, October 1, 2008; Building Plans Review & Inspection, 6/1/22; page footers "Rev 7/1/16"), which the county's Building Plans Review and Inspection page links as "View current fee schedule". The form states that the certificate is an administrative action and does not grant development approval or vested rights. Development Services Division, 435 N. Macomb St., 2nd Floor (850-606-1300).

Letter of Zoning Verification (Change of Use or Tenancy without Expansion)

DSEM's Form D-10, the Letter of Zoning Verification Application (Revised 4/5/24), states "APPLICATION FEE: $90" and offers a request type for "Change of Use/Tenancy without Expansion", where the applicant writes in the use, for example a restaurant or office; its other request types are a residential group home, a temporary alcohol permit review for events under 250 people, and specific zoning questions. The form states that submitting it results in a Letter of Zoning Certificate that indicates "if the subject property is zoned appropriately for the requested use and whether it is a legal lot of record." A business moving into an existing space in unincorporated Leon County without expanding it can use this application to have the zoning of that use confirmed. The form adds that the certificate is an administrative action that does not grant development approval, and that it "does not negate the requirement of submitting for a permitted use verification (PUV) application for further or more extensive development." The same $90 amount appears as "Letter of Zoning Certification" in the DSEM fee schedule titled "REVISED JUNE 1, 2022" (effective dates as printed: Development Services & Environmental Services, October 1, 2008; Building Plans Review & Inspection, 6/1/22; page footers "Rev 7/1/16"), which the county's Building Plans Review and Inspection page links as "View current fee schedule". Development Services Division (850-606-1300).

Sign Permit (Unincorporated Leon County)

DSEM's Form B-10 Sign Permit Application (rev 3/27/24) covers permanent, temporary and directional on-site and off-site signs, new or altered, and is reviewed by Development Services, Building Plans Review and Inspection, and Environmental Services. The applicant supplies a scaled site plan and construction drawings of the sign face, supporting structure, foundation, wall connection details, illumination wiring and wind analysis, which the form requires to be "signed, sealed, and dated by a Design Professional registered in the State of Florida", plus a letter of permission or lease and the property owner's notarized permission. By applying, the owner permits county inspection under Code Secs. 10-1.105 and 10-4.212. The building fees are flat amounts listed in the DSEM fee schedule titled "REVISED JUNE 1, 2022" (effective dates as printed: Development Services & Environmental Services, October 1, 2008; Building Plans Review & Inspection, 6/1/22; page footers "Rev 7/1/16"), which the county's Building Plans Review and Inspection page links as "View current fee schedule": $212.78 for a wall-mounted sign and $376.67 for a monument or pole-mounted sign, including billboards; under the schedule's footnote 1 the $90.00 multi-trade base fee for each mechanical, electrical, plumbing or gas trade is added when that work is required, as for an illuminated sign. The schedule lists a Temporary Sign Application at $60. Development Services Division, 435 N. Macomb St., 2nd Floor (850-606-1300).

Permit	Issuing agency	Fee	Renews	Last checked
Commercial Building Permit (Unincorporated Leon County)only if it applies to you	Leon County Development Support & Environmental Management, Building Plans Review and Inspection Division	Per square foot under roof (including porches, garages, carports, interior alterations, additions and detached accessory structures), by the occupancy tier the DSEM fee schedule names, listed as building / mechanical / electrical / plumbing / gas. Commercial Tier 1 (Factory, Storage, Utility): plan review $0.10 / $0.04 / $0.09 / $0.03 / $0.02; inspection $0.15 / $0.07 / $0.12 / $0.04 / $0.02. Commercial Tier 2 (R1, R2 including multifamily, R4): plan review $0.16 / $0.08 / $0.12 / $0.07 / $0.03; inspection $0.15 / $0.07 / $0.11 / $0.05 / $0.02. Commercial Tier 3 (Business, Mercantile): plan review $0.16 / $0.10 / $0.12 / $0.07 / $0.03; inspection $0.15 / $0.09 / $0.12 / $0.06 / $0.02. Commercial Tier 4 (Assembly, Educational, High-Hazard, Institutional): plan review $0.16 / $0.11 / $0.13 / $0.07 / $0.05; inspection $0.15 / $0.10 / $0.12 / $0.06 / $0.03. Minimum permit fee $135.00 for a single-trade permit when the square-foot fee does not reach $135.00; on a multi-trade project, a $90.00 minimum base fee for each trade whose square-foot fee does not reach $90.00. Technology Fee 3% of the plans review and inspection fees. Temporary Certificate of Occupancy $90.00. Additional Inspection $90.00. Construction work without a permit: double the plan review and inspection fees.	per permit	2026-10-20
City of Tallahassee Fire Plan Review on County Commercial Building Permitsonly if it applies to you	City of Tallahassee Fire Plans Review	City of Tallahassee Fire Plan Review Fee for New Commercial Construction: $0.02 per sq. ft. under roof, as listed in the Leon County DSEM fee schedule revised June 1, 2022. Commercial alterations also go through City fire plan review; no amount for alterations is stated in this record.	per building permit	2026-10-20
Permitted Use Verification (PUV) Certificate (Unincorporated Leon County)only if it applies to you	Leon County Development Support & Environmental Management, Development Services Division	$242 per application (Form D-8, Revised 4/5/24); a revision to a PUV is $60	per application; one certificate for each proposed use or development	2026-10-20
Letter of Zoning Verification (Change of Use or Tenancy without Expansion)only if it applies to you	Leon County Development Support & Environmental Management, Development Services Division	$90 per application (Form D-10, Revised 4/5/24)	per application; one certificate for the property and requested use	2026-10-20
Sign Permit (Unincorporated Leon County)only if it applies to you	Leon County Development Support & Environmental Management, Development Services Division	Per the DSEM fee schedule revised June 1, 2022 (Building Plans Review & Inspection effective 6/1/22): wall-mounted signs $212.78; monument signs and pole-mounted signs (including billboards) $376.67. Footnote 1: "If mechanical, electrical, plumbing, or gas is required, the applicable base fee(s) for multi-trade projects will be added" ($90.00 per trade). Temporary Sign Application $60 (Development Services fee).	per sign permit	2026-10-20

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