Cut Costs with Our Guide to Florida’s Permit Fee Discounts (Up to 75%!)

Per F.S. 553.791 (2) (b) (b), if an owner or contractor retains a private provider for purposes of plans review or building inspection services, the local jurisdiction must reduce the permit fee by the amount of cost savings realized by the local enforcement agency for not having to perform such services.

Such reduction may be calculated on a flat fee or percentage basis, or any other reasonable means by which a local enforcement agency assesses the cost for its plans review or inspection services.

The local jurisdiction may not charge fees for building inspections if the fee owner or contractor hires a private provider to perform such services; however, the local jurisdiction may charge a reasonable administrative fee, which shall be based on the cost that is actually incurred, including the labor cost of the personnel providing the service, by the local jurisdiction or attributable to the local jurisdiction for the clerical and supervisory assistance required, or both.

Florida Municipalities Discounts for Plan Reviews or Inspection Services

Municipality in Florida	Discounts for plan reviews or inspections	Link(s)
City of Clearwater	Plan review fee is 50% reduction, and permit fee is 50% reduction For one or two family residential affordable housing projects, the fee will be reduced by 75%.	Clearwater permit fee discounts Clearwater fee estimator
City of Pinellas Park	Plan Review 70% of plan review fee Building Code Inspections 70% of permit fee	Pinellas Park permit fee discounts (bottom of page 5)
City of Sarasota	Project-dependent; removal of charges for trade inspections (mechanical, electrical, plumbing)	Sarasota permit fee discounts
City of St. Petersburg	Plan review fee is 50% reduction, and permit fee is 50% reduction. For one or two family residential affordable housing projects, the fee will be reduced by 75%.	St. Petersburg permit fee discounts (page 3 and 5)
City of Tampa	Projects outside of FEMA SFHA will reflect a 30% reduction of a standard building permit fee. Projects within a FEMA SFHA will reflect a 15% reduction of a standard building permit fee.	Tampa permit fee discounts SFHA stands for Special Flood Hazard Area. Here’s a map of flood zones.
Hernando County	For plan review and inspections: residential 45% reduction, commercial 55% reduction For inspections only: residential 35% reduction, commercial 45% reduction	Hernando County permit fee discounts
Hillsborough County	Residential and commercial Plan review only – 25% reduction of the total permit fee Inspections Only – 50% reduction of the total permit fee  Plan review and Inspections – 75% reduction of the total permit fee	Hillsborough County permit fee discounts (Page 8)
Manatee County	Flat fee for permits using a private provider Residential New, Alteration, Addition (Non-SFHA) plan review and inspections $260 New, Alteration, Addition (Non-SFHA) inspections only $330 New, Alteration, Addition (SFHA) $600 Commercial New, Alteration, Addition (Non-SFHA) plan review and inspections $300 New, Alteration, Addition (Non-SFHA) inspections only $1400 New, Alteration, Addition (SFHA) $1800	Manatee County Development Services Building Fee Schedule Manatee County Impact Fees SFHA stands for Special Flood Hazard Area. Here’s a map of flood zones.
Pasco County	Charges a flat Administrative fee  SFR $600 Comercial $980	Pasco County permit fee discounts
Pinellas County	Charges a flat Administrative fee Residential and Commercial Plan Review and Inspections – $200 base fee + 25% of calculated plan review and inspections fee Residential and Commercial Inspections Only – $200 base fee + 25% of the calculated inspection fee An additional Surcharge of $250 will be applied when a project is in an SFHA	Charges a flat Administrative fee  SFR $600 Commercial $980
Polk County	Commercial  Plan Review Only – No discount and an additional $75 Administrative fee Inspections Only – a flat fee of $190 or 25% of the building permit fee whichever is greater Plan Review and Inspections – only a $75 Administrative fee Residential  Plan Review Only – No discount and an additional $55 Administrative fee Inspections Only – a flat fee of $75 and the plan review fee  Plan Review and Inspections – only a $55 Administrative fee	Polk County permit fee discounts (page 6 and 7)
Sarasota County	Plan Review – The administrative fee is 30% of the plan review fee  Inspections  – The administrative fee is 30% of the Inspection fee	Sarasota fee schedule (page 19)

This organisation gives no warranty and accepts no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or the completeness of the information and materials contained in this page.

We had to do some digging for this information so you don’t have to. Thanks to the county employees for answering our calls and emails!

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