Building permits in Lee County, Florida
Of the 10 common home projects we have verified in Lee County, 7 need a permit outright and 3 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
By Mario Bailey Last checked · 4 official sources
Verified against official sources- Project types verified
- 10
- in Lee County
Lee County Community Development, Building and Permitting Services
- 1500 Monroe St., Fort Myers, FL 33901
- Phone: 239-533-8329
- Email: econnect@leegov.com
- Official permit page
- Permit portal
- Official fee schedule
Look up a permit in Lee County
Lee County permit records are public, and you can check a property's permit history by address or permit number online.
What needs a permit in Lee County
Of the 10 common home projects we have verified in Lee County, 7 need a permit outright and 3 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
Fee schedule effective 2026-04-15: $50 application fee and $35 technology fee per application plus an operational support fee, for every permit type below. The fee column shows what differs by project.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Residential accessory structure plan review $35 to $50 initial, regulatory review $25... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Electrical trade plan review $35 initial, inspections $75 per record covering up to 2... |
| Fence Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Residential fence plan review $35 initial, regulatory review $25, structural inspections... |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Portable HVAC equipment and replacement of any part that does not alter the equipment's approval or make it unsafe are exempt per Florida Building Code section 105.2. | Residential mechanical plan review $25 initial, inspections $75 per record covering up... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | A permit is required to construct, enlarge, alter, or repair a structure, including structural slabs, unenclosed structures, porches, and screen, glass, or vinyl rooms; the county refers residents to Florida Building Code 105.2 and Land Development Code 6-117 for work not requiring a permit. | Fees follow the residential accessory structure table when the patio is permitted as an... |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Residential plumbing plan review $25 initial, inspections $75 per record covering up to... |
| Pool Permit | It depends | All in-ground pool construction or renovation requires a permit; an above-ground pool requires a permit when its water depth is 24 inches or more. | Residential pool plan review $35 initial, regulatory review $25, structural, electrical... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | Under s. 553.79(1)(g) F.S., effective 2026-07-01, the county must exempt work on a single-family dwelling valued at less than $7,500 upon written request, but the exemption does not apply to structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, or gas work or to property in a flood hazard area. | Roofing plan review $25 initial, structural inspection $100, roofing fees assessed per... |
| Shed Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Residential accessory structure plan review $35 to $50 initial, regulatory review $25... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Solar plan review $25 initial, regulatory review $25, ground or roof mounted PV... |
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Lee County permit fees compared with nearby Florida localities
| Florida locality | Deck Permit | HVAC Permit | Electrical Permit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County | Residential accessory structure plan review $35 to $50... | Residential mechanical plan review $25 initial... | Electrical trade plan review $35 initial, inspections $75... |
| Alachua County | No deck-specific flat fee is published. | Flat fee: Res Mechanical Alt/Repair $110.00, per the... | No electrical-specific flat fee is published |
| Brevard County | Not published | Brevard's Residential HVAC/Mechanical Permit Application... | Brevard's Residential Electrical Permit Application fee... |
| Broward County | No separate deck fee line | Mechanical (air conditioning and ventilation) permit is... | Electrical permit is the greater of a $125 minimum base... |
Each cell is the opening clause of that Florida jurisdiction's own fee schedule; the full wording and source sit on each permit page.
Lee County permit questions, answered from the data
- Do you need a permit in Lee County?
- For most projects, yes. Of the 10 permit types we have verified for Lee County, 7 always require a permit (for example a deck permit), 3 depend on size or scope (a patio permit, for instance). Each Lee County permit type's page states the exact rule and its source.
- How much does a permit cost in Lee County?
- Lee County publishes a fee for 10 of the 10 permit types we cover, each quoted on its page from the jurisdiction's own schedule (linked on every page that carries one). Fees are set by Lee County Community Development, Building and Permitting Services; we do not estimate or mark them up.
- Where do you apply for a permit in Lee County?
- Lee County Community Development, Building and Permitting Services issues permits in Lee County, with an online portal for applications, plan uploads and status checks, and takes questions at 239-533-8329. The Lee County official page and portal are linked in the office section above.
How the Lee County pages were verified. 10 permit types, 14 distinct official sources, most recently checked . Every rule is read from Lee County Community Development, Building and Permitting Services or the applicable code and cited on its page; anything we could not confirm for Lee County is marked rather than estimated. How we verify.