The rule of thumb in Florida is simple enough: if the work touches structure, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, the roof or the windows, it needs a permit. Cosmetic work such as painting, flooring over an existing substrate or swapping cabinet doors generally does not.
Why it matters more than it sounds
Permits exist to get the work inspected. Unpermitted work can trigger a stop-work order and fines, but the expensive version usually arrives later: a sale falls through during due diligence, or an insurer declines a claim because the work behind the wall was never signed off.
Common projects that need one
Kitchen and bathroom remodels that move plumbing or add circuits, removing or altering a wall, room additions, re-roofing, window and door replacement, and panel upgrades.
As a certified general contractor we pull permits in our own name and carry the inspections, so this stays our problem rather than yours.
