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Permit Application Process

A completed permit application is required to process building permits for projects at the University of Florida (UF), University of North Florida (UNF), School Board of Alachua County (SBAC), and the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB). All permit applications and supplemental documents are found on our CitizenServe portal.

The following is a brief, not all inclusive, checklist that will provide the information needed for a complete permit application package:

  • A CitizenServe portal account.
  • A completed application submitted through CitizenServe.
    • If multiple buildings are covered by the same project, each building requires a separate permit application. Do not combine multiple buildings into a single permit application – the application will be rejected.
  • Digitally signed and sealed construction documents
    • Submitted under a plan review application at time of application (See below under plan review for requirements)
  • Energy Code Compliance Certification
  • Florida Product Approval – if applicable
  • Notarized Signature Authorization Form – if applicable
  • Notice of Commencement – EH&S will notify applicant if a NOC is required.
  • Proof of current Workers Compensation and General Liability Insurance – uploaded into the applicant’s user account in CitizenServe.
  • State of Florida Contractor Certification (License) – uploaded into the applicant’s user account in CitizenServe.
  • Subcontractor List

PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESS

Permit applications must be submitted per the requirements within the online permit application.

After the permit application package has been received, EH&S will perform a preliminary review for completeness. This process takes up to five (5) business days from application date. If the permit application documents are incomplete, EH&S Building Codes office will notify the applicant, authorized agent (if one is listed on the permit application), and the State Agency project manager by email of the information required to further process the application.

APPROVAL TIMES

Application approval times will vary depending on the scope of the project, application completeness, and if construction documents are required to be reviewed.

  • Permit application and required signed and sealed construction documents submitted at the same time.
    • Within 30 business days after receiving a complete and sufficient application*, for an applicant to obtain the following building permits if the structure is less than 7,500 square feet: residential units, including a single-family residential unit or a single-family residential dwelling, accessory structure, alarm, electrical, irrigation, landscaping, mechanical, plumbing, or roofing.
    • Within 60 business days after receiving a complete and sufficient application*, for an applicant to obtain the following building permits if the structure is 7,500 square feet or more: residential units, including a single-family residential unit or a single-family residential dwelling, accessory structure, alarm, electrical, irrigation, landscaping, mechanical, plumbing, or roofing.
    • Within 60 business days after receiving a complete and sufficient application*, for an applicant to obtain the following building permits: signs or nonresidential buildings that are less than 25,000 square feet.
    • Within 60 business days after receiving a complete and sufficient application*, for an applicant to obtain the following building permits: multifamily residential, not exceeding 50 units; site-plan approvals and subdivision plats not requiring public hearing or public notice; and lot grading and site alteration.
  • Permit application submitted without the required signed and sealed construction documents, and submitted for FSDB, SBAC, UNF, or UF projects without a UF project manager.
    • If a project requires construction plans and the application was submitted without a plan review application, this will increase the application approval time (shown above) as the approval times are for applications that include signed and sealed construction documents to be reviewed. For example, if an application is submitted and plans are required and the plans are submitted a week later, the time to process the application starts at the time we receive the signed and sealed construction documents for review.
  • Permit applications submitted without the required signed and sealed construction documents but have a UF PD&C, DHRE, or IFAS project manager.
    • If the project is managed by a UF PD&C, DHRE, or IFAS project manager, these departments are responsible for uploading plans into ACC/BIM to be sent to EH&S for review and approval. The applicant is not responsible for providing the plans to EH&S for review and approval at time of application. EH&S will notify the applicant and the respective UF project manager if plans have not been received or reviewed. The processing time of applications (shown above) begins when the UF project manager provides S&S construction documents to EH&S for review and approval.
  • Permit applications and plans (NOT signed & sealed for construction) submitted at the same time.
    • The approval times are based on a completed application and the required signed and sealed construction documents. If plans submitted are not signed and sealed for construction, the application processing time will be delayed until EH&S is in receipt of the signed and sealed documents. Once EH&S receives the signed and sealed construction documents, the approval times above will be effective.
  • Permit applications that do not require signed and sealed construction documents.
    • Completed and sufficient permit applications* that do not require signed and sealed construction documents will be processed within (5) business days other than fire alarm and fire sprinkler permits which will be processed within (2) business days*.
  • Plans not submitted as part of an application package.
    • Plans submitted without an application will be reviewed in the order they are received. This review may take up to 60 business days or more.
      • This includes any plans submitted for preliminary review such as 60% CDs or 100% CDs that are not signed and sealed.

*NOTE: To meet the full requirements of a complete and sufficient application, the permit fees shall be paid. A permit will not be issued if fees are not paid.

PLAN REVIEW

  • Where do I submit electronic construction documents?
    • Non-UF Projects: For initial plan review of construction documents, they shall be submitted under a plan review application through the portal account when permit application is submitted.
    • UF Projects: If the project is on UF Campus and has a UF Planning, Design, and Construction (PD&C), Department of Housing and Residence Education (DHRE), or Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences (IFAS) project manager, construction documents are to be submitted through the UF PD&C, DHRE, or IFAS project manager for review and approval through ACC/BIM. This will include any revisions, delegated designs, and shop drawings.
    • Fraternity/Sorority Projects: Fraternity and sorority projects not managed by a UF PD&C project manager shall be submitted under a plan review application through the portal account when permit application is submitted.
    • UF Health/Shands Projects: UF Health/Shands projects not associated with a UF PD&C project manager shall be submitted under a plan review application through the portal account when permit application is submitted.
    • ELECTRONIC PLAN SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS can be found here: Plan Submittal Guidelines

PLAN REVIEW APPROVAL – LETTER OF CODE COMPLIANCE

If the project design has been submitted to EH&S for review in advance of making application for permit, please provide a copy of the Letter of Code Compliance (LOCC) with the permit application package (the review letter will state it is a “letter of code compliance”). The LOCC is sent by the Building Code Administrator to the State Agency project manager once the review process has been completed and plans have been fully reviewed and approved for code compliance. Contact the State Agency project manager in charge of the project that is being permitted for a copy of the LOCC.

BUILDING PERMIT ISSUANCE

After all plans and documentation are received and approved, along with payment of the permit fees, The Building Code Administrator will review the permit application package, and the permit applicant will be notified by email when the permit has been issued. The applicant, authorized agent (if one is on the permit application) and the State Agency project manager will be notified by email of the change of status for the permit.

The required inspections may then be scheduled for the permit using the online Portal.

Permit documents are no longer given or returned to the contractor. Once the project is approved and the permit has been Issued, plans will be available through the online portal if plans are submitted directly to EH&S for review and approval. Plans submitted and approved through BIM360 or ACC will be available through those platforms.

The approved digital plans are to be retained on the jobsite and be available for inspection by the Building Code Administrator or Building Code Inspectors.

The permit card must always be posted at the jobsite and available to the Building Code Administrator or Building Code Inspectors.