Cleared
Registry

Whole building

Room addition (attached) — incl. sunroom / lanai conversion / garage conversion

Adding conditioned or unconditioned floor area attached to the existing house, or converting an existing lanai/garage to living space.

partialHB 803: excludedreviewed never

Who can pull the permit

  • CGCCertified General Contractor
  • CBCCertified Building Contractor
  • CRCCertified Residential Contractor
  • OWNER-BUILDEROwner-occupied 1–2 family (FS 489.103(7))

Subs under the prime's permit: EC, ER, CFC, RF, CAC, CMC, RA

Decision — first matching row wins

#WhenPermitTypeReason
1otherwiseyesBuilding — Addition/Alteration (with MEP sub-permits)Any attached addition or conversion of an existing lanai/garage to conditioned living space is structural work under FBC §105.1 — always permitted, and excluded from HB 803 (structural carve-out) regardless of the new area's value. Garage conversions additionally trigger a parking-requirement/zoning review since the garage often counts toward required off-street parking.

Inputs the rule needs

  • conditionedConditioned (heated/cooled living space)?required
  • footprint_changeNew foundation / footprint (vs. converting existing enclosed space)?

Documents (base)

  1. Owner authorization / signed permit application (owner or agent signature, notarized where the authority requires)
  2. Site plan / survey showing property lines, setbacks, easements, septic and the proposed work with the addition footprint, setbacks and impervious area
  3. Signed & sealed architectural/structural drawings, energy calcs (FBC-EC)
  4. Florida Product Approvals for new openings/roofing
  5. Notice of Commencement — recorded with the Clerk of Court and a certified copy (or notarised statement of filing) given to the building department BEFORE the first inspection. Statutory floor is a direct contract over $5,000 (FS 713.135(1)(e)); HVAC repair/replace under $15,000 exempt; lien-law protection applies above $2,500 (FS 713.02(5)). Authorities differ: Collier applies $2,500 (Bulletin B-44, pool checklist) and charges a $5 NOC admin fee; Lee will not ISSUE the permit until the NOC is recorded ($5,000+); Fort Myers, Bonita, Fort Myers Beach $5,000; Marco Island / Sanibel per statute (posted on site before first inspection)
  6. Contractor registration current with the county (license, GL insurance, workers' comp or exemption on file)

Sources