Building Division
Welcome!
Welcome! The City of Sanford Building Division issues building permits, performs field inspections, and issues certificates of occupancy to ensure conformance of construction in the City through strict enforcement of the Florida Building Code, State Statutes and City Ordinances. Our Customer Portal All Building Permitting and information is on the Citizenserve online portal. You can also check the status of your permit, pay fees, view policies, view submittal requirements, download forms or schedule inspections through Citizenserve. All plan review is electronic, requiring digital signatures from the design professional. Paper plans are no longer accepted. Please visit the Submittal Requirements page for Electronic Plan Review Policy and Procedures. Building Department (407) 688-5150 Email: Building Department Apply Online Visit our website where you can access all of our online services from your home, office, or mobile device. Inspection Scheduling and Information Building Inspections can be scheduled online, by phone or by text message. To schedule online: Please visit Citizenserve online portal To schedule by phone or text: Please call 1.888.606.3726 Permit FAQs All Permitting is done through the Citizenserve online portal. Storm Damage Repair Information Storm Damage Information Sheet (in the instructions there is a link with the application) What permits can I apply for and what are their guidelines? Permitting guidelines for projects listed below can be accessed through Citizenserve by clicking here. Aluminum Structure Boat Dock & Boat Ramp Commercial Permit – Dumpster Enclosure Commercial Permit – New Construction Deck Permit Demolition Permit Door-Window EV Charger Fence Permit – Commercial Fence Permit – Residential Foundation Stabilization Permit Framing Repair – Wall & Roof Gas Permit Gas Permit Worksheet Generator Permit Manufactured & Mobile Home – Additions, Alterations and Carports Permit Manufactured & Mobile Home – New Construction Permit Master File Plumbing – Grease Trap & Oil Interceptor Permit Pool – Above Ground Pool Above Ground Checklist Pool – Commercial Pool – Residential Pool Residential Safety Act Affirmation (Updated July 2025) Residential Alteration Residential Permit – New Construction Roof Permit – Commercial Roof Permit – Residential-Updated July 1, 2025 Shed Gazebo Pergola Shed Affidavit 120 Square Feet or Less Sign Permit – Freestanding and Wall Slab Permit Solar Permit – Photovoltaic Solar Permit – Pool & Water Heating Wall Permit Are permits required to remove trees? Yes. Arbor permits are issued by our Planning and Development Services Division. Please contact 407.688.5140 ext. 5144 or contact Christopher Smith at [email protected] Do I need a permit to replace my fence? Maintenance of fencing is required to prevent dilapidated or hazardous conditions. Please review our Fence Permit Checklist for these regulations. Please check the City of Sanford Land Development Regulation on types of fencing allowed within the City Schedule F, section 5.0. How do I pull a Building permit? Permits are to be applied for using the Citizenserve online portal. Paper applications and paper plans are no longer accepted. Please contact our office for additional information at 407-688-5150. Do I need a contractor to pull permits? Florida Statute allows commercial or residential property owners to erect, alter, modify, repair, or demolish any building, total value not to exceed $75,000 for commercial construction, for his/her own use. Properties to be offered for sale or lease within one year of completion of construction are exempt from this ruling and all work shall be done by licensed contractors. Proof of ownership is required for all permits. Please see Florida Statute 489.103 for complete information. How do I choose a contractor? Ask for and check references and ask to see their state license(s). State law requires the license number to be on the business card and proposal. Check for any license complaints for your contractor. Check We can check our business tax records to see if any complaints have been made in reference to a specific contractor located within our jurisdiction. If a contractor asks you to secure the permit this is a red flag and if you choose to do this you are at risk. Do sub-contractors have to pull permits? We require the general or building contractor pull the main permit. Then all state licensed sub-contractors must pull their own permits. Does the City restrict the hours of operation regarding construction noise? Yes. The City of Sanford strictly regulates construction noise to protect residential peace and prevent public nuisances. Construction noise and the operation of heavy equipment are governed under Section 38-74 (Construction) of the Sanford Code of Ordinances. Allowed Operating Hours Under City Code, noise-generating construction activities are restricted to standard daytime hours: Monday through Saturday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM (or dusk) Sundays & City Holidays: Prohibited (no heavy construction noise, power equipment, framing, or site preparation permitted without prior authorization) Key Points for Property Owners & Contractors Building Permits Do Not Waive Noise Rules Having an active Sanford building permit allows you to perform structural and development work, but it does not give automatic permission to operate outside allowed noise hours. Off-Hours / Nighttime Work Permits If a project requires work outside standard hours (such as early morning concrete pours or emergency utility connections), contractors must submit a Noise Variance Application to the City for advance approval. Enforcement & Penalties Construction noise violations are enforced by Sanford Code Enforcement and the Sanford Police Department. Unapproved off-hours work can result in: Immediate Stop-Work Orders issued on site. Fines assessed per violation day. Inspection holds or delays in obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy. For specific project guidelines or to check whether your site activities require a noise waiver, contact the City of Sanford Building Division or Code Enforcement. The Noise Ordinance is regulated by City Code Section 38-74. – Construction. Customer Portal Launched The City of Sanford has launched a new Customer Service Portal to help you manage your account online. To get started: Click the link below and enter your email address. You will receive a confirmation email with a link to complete your registration. Have your account number (found on your utility bill) ready. Important: Your account number must be entered as 9 digits. If your bill shows fewer than 9 digits, add zeros at the beginning. Example: If your account number is 12345, enter it as 000012345. Once logged in, you’ll be able to explore features such as tracking your water usage and more. Sign Up for the Customer Service Portal
