Growth FAQ - Building

How long will it take to obtain a building permit?

Generally, commercial building permits require 7 workdays for expedited reviews for qualifying projects and 21 workdays for standard reviews. Residential building permits require 7 workdays for a permit issued under the Residential Guarantee Program (discussed below), 5 workdays for minor projects (< $25,000), and 14 workdays for major projects (> $25,000).

The size and scope of a project affects the amount of time needed to review a permit. For example, a multi-story mixed use building that occupies an entire city block is more complex than a 1,000 square foot convenience store. Please call our staff at 850-891-7001, option 2 to discuss the review time for your specific project. We continuously assess our permitting process to make it as fast and efficient as possible, while always upholding our role in preserving the public's health and safety and protecting the environment. One example of our efforts is the Residential Guarantee Program. It applies to single family homes or townhomes, or duplexes on a single lot. The program guarantees a 7-business day review time, or the application fee is refunded.