Short answer: in unincorporated Pinellas County, a water heater changeout permit is $85, a standard A/C changeout $140, window or door replacement $145 for up to 20 openings, and a re-roof $180 for the first 20 squares. A remodel is figured at $11 per $1,000 of the job's value, with a minimum of $100 per inspection. Cities that run their own building department set their own fees: Clearwater charges $33 plus $7.25 per $1,000 of value, and Dunedin 0.80% of the construction value. Florida adds two surcharges totaling 2.5% of the permit fee.
These are the fees the building departments publish, not contractor prices. If you hire a contractor, the permit fee is usually part of the quote. Our Pinellas County permit guide covers which jobs need a permit in the first place.
Pinellas County building permit fee schedule
Pinellas County issues permits for unincorporated Pinellas (including Palm Harbor) and for Safety Harbor, Oldsmar, Indian Rocks Beach, Belleair Beach, Belleair Shore and Kenneth City. Its fees are set in the county's FY27 budget, which runs October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027. The building fees are the same as the year before.
| Job | Pinellas County permit fee (FY27) | Do it yourself? |
|---|---|---|
| Water heater equal changeout, same location | $85 | No: plumbing work and its permit; hire a licensed plumber |
| Water heater relocate, or tank to tankless | $200 | No: plumbing work and its permit; hire a licensed plumber |
| A/C equal changeout | $140 | No: refrigerant work and its permit; hire a licensed A/C contractor |
| A/C changeout with electric | $240 | No: hire licensed A/C and electrical contractors |
| A/C changeout with electric and ducts | $340 | No: hire licensed A/C and electrical contractors |
| Windows, doors, shutters or garage doors (up to 20 openings) | $145, then $5 per extra opening | Some of it: as an owner-builder, with a permit |
| Re-roof (first 20 squares) | $180, then $1.50 per square | No: hire a licensed roofing contractor |
| Vinyl siding, soffit and fascia, or stucco over frame | $135 | Some of it: as an owner-builder, with a permit |
| Prefab shed over 100 sq ft | $175 | Some of it: as an owner-builder, with a permit |
| Remodel or repair (combination permit, up to $600,000) | $11 per $1,000 of value; minimum $100 per inspection | Some of it: trade work needs licensed contractors |
| Plumbing fixture replacement | $100 | No: plumbing work and its permit; hire a licensed plumber |
| Bathtub to shower conversion | $275 | Some of it: plumbing by a licensed plumber |
| Residential electrical service change | $135 | No: hire a licensed electrician |
The county also lists the fees people tend to forget:
- Plan review for residential work: 25% of the permit fee, at least $125. The remodel fee above already includes it.
- Re-inspection: $75.
- Reinstating an expired permit: $125.
- Releasing a stop work order: $200.
- Changing contractors on a permit: $125.
- Zoning clearance (often needed for fences and sheds that don't need a building permit): $80 for a standard review in FY27, up from $75.
- Technology fee: $3 on express permits like re-roofs, windows, A/C and water heaters.
The county doesn't require a building permit for "minor repairs where the valuation does not exceed $500.00, unless there is a structural component, or includes electrical, mechanical, or plumbing trades," or for fences of chain link, vinyl or wood 6 feet or less.
How much does a permit cost in Clearwater and other cities?
Cities with their own building department each publish a schedule. Here's what we could confirm from their own pages:
| Building department | How the permit fee is figured | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Clearwater | $33 plus $7.25 per $1,000 of value, up to $100,000; one- and two-family plan review is $16 plus $1 per $1,000 | A $10,000 job: $105.50, before plan review and surcharges |
| Dunedin | Building: 0.80% of the construction value, $60 minimum; plan review 25% of the permit fee. Trade permits: $70 plus $5 per $1,000. Fences: $50 | A $10,000 building job: $80, plus $20 plan review |
| Tarpon Springs | $75 base for $500 to $5,000; then $6 per extra $1,000 up to $50,000. Small one-trip trade permits: $75 | A $10,000 job: $105 |
| Pinellas Park | $100 for the first $1,000, then $5.75 per $1,000 up to $50,000; trade permits $0.05 per sq ft, $100 minimum; plan review the greater of $100 or half the permit fees | A $10,000 job: $151.75, plus a $10 technology fee |
| St. Petersburg, Largo, Seminole | Set by city code; we couldn't confirm the current amounts | Ask the building department or use its portal |
The examples are our arithmetic from each city's published schedule. Clearwater's schedule page says it is "current as of Feb. 2, 2022," and the city offers an online fee estimator; Dunedin has one too. Largo says "all of our fees are based on the value of the job, including labor and materials."
State surcharges and other costs
Florida adds two surcharges to every permit: 1% of the permit fee for the Florida Building Commission (s. 553.721) and 1.5% for the Construction Recovery Fund and the building inspectors' board (s. 468.631), each with a $2 minimum. Pinellas County's schedule sums them up as "2.5% of permit fees value or $4.00 minimum."
Florida law requires a Notice of Commencement to be recorded with the Clerk before work starts on most jobs over $2,500 (ss. 713.13(1)(a), 713.02(5)). The building department must get a copy before the first inspection when the contract is over $5,000, or $15,000 or more for an A/C repair or replacement (s. 713.135(1)(e), (f)). Under the statewide recording fees in s. 28.24, that works out to about $10 for the first page and $8.50 for each additional page, by our math. Clearwater adds a $10 filing fee.
What it costs to start without a permit
Starting first and permitting later costs more everywhere we checked:
| Building department | After-the-fact permit fee |
|---|---|
| Pinellas County | Two times the normal permit fee; 10 times for the same contractor again within 12 months |
| Clearwater | Triple the permit fee; 10 times for a repeat by the same contractor |
| Pinellas Park | Twice the original fee, plus a stop work order |
| Tarpon Springs | Double the normal permit fees |
| Madeira Beach | Fines or penalties "at 5 times the normal rate" |
Pinellas Park also says you may have to uncover finished work so it can be inspected.
What drives the cost of a permit
- The job's value. Most remodel and repair permits are a rate per $1,000 of the contract value, including labor and materials. Pinellas County sets a floor: remodel fees can't be based on less than 40% of the ICC building valuation for the work area.
- Flat-fee jobs. Water heaters, A/C changeouts, re-roofs and window packages often have a set price.
- Plan review. Jobs that need drawings pay a separate plan review fee.
- The number of trades. A bathroom with plumbing and electrical can mean more than one permit or a combination permit.
- Flood zone reviews. Pinellas County adds 25% to plan review for substantial damage or improvement reviews in a flood zone, and $15 for its flood ordinance review.
- Mistakes. Failed inspections, expired permits and stop work orders all add fees.
Pinellas notes
- Check who issues your permit first. The county's fees don't apply in cities with their own building department. Look up your address on the Property Appraiser's site; the parcel page shows the tax district.
- Some small jobs may skip the permit. Since July 1, 2026, Florida law lets single-family owners request an exemption for some work under $7,500, outside flood hazard areas and not including electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas or structural work (s. 553.79(1)(g)). Each building department handles the request its own way; our permit guide has the details.
- Permit history costs nothing to check online. The county also sells a permit and property information request for $60 per address. Our permit lookup guide shows the free way.
If you're planning a remodel, our renovations and permitted work service includes pulling the permits for the work we do. Electrical, plumbing, A/C and roofing are done by licensed trade partners, who pull their own permits.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a building permit in Florida?
There's no statewide fee. Each county and city building department sets its own schedule, so a Pinellas County water heater permit is $85 while Clearwater figures most permits by job value. Florida adds surcharges of 1% and 1.5% of the permit fee (ss. 553.721 and 468.631).
How much does a roof permit cost in Pinellas County?
In unincorporated Pinellas, a re-roof permit is $180 for the first 20 squares plus $1.50 for each additional square, according to the county's FY27 fee schedule. Cities with their own building department set their own fees.
How much does a permit cost for a fence or shed?
In unincorporated Pinellas, fences 6 feet or less and one-story sheds under 100 square feet with no utilities don't need a building permit, but a zoning clearance may apply ($80 for a standard review in FY27). A prefab shed over 100 square feet is $175. Dunedin charges $50 for a fence permit.
Is there a Pinellas County permit fee calculator?
We didn't find one on the county's site; its fees are in the published schedule in the county budget. Clearwater and Dunedin both have online permit fee estimators.
What happens if you don't get a permit?
You'll usually pay more when you do get one. Pinellas County charges two times the normal permit fee for work started without a permit, Clearwater triple, and Pinellas Park twice the fee plus a stop work order.
Sources
- Pinellas County: FY27 Adopted Budget, Building and Development Review Services fee schedule, pp. 616–625 (PDF)
- Pinellas County: Building departments in Pinellas County
- Pinellas County: Permitting guide
- City of Clearwater: Building permit fee schedule
- City of Clearwater: Estimate your permit fees
- City of Dunedin: Permits and inspections (fee schedule and calculator)
- City of Tarpon Springs: Building Development Guide to Permitting (PDF)
- City of Pinellas Park: Resolution 2026-13, administrative fee schedule (PDF)
- City of Pinellas Park: Building FAQs
- City of Largo: Permits FAQ
- City of Madeira Beach: Building Department FAQs
- Florida Statutes s. 553.721, Surcharge (2026)
- Florida Statutes s. 468.631, Building Code Administrators and Inspectors Fund (2026)
- Florida Statutes s. 553.79, Permits (2026)
- Florida Statutes s. 713.13, Notice of commencement (2026)
- Florida Statutes s. 713.02, Types of lienors and exemptions (2026)
- Florida Statutes s. 713.135, Notice of commencement and applicability of lien (2026)
- Florida Statutes s. 28.24, Service charges by clerk of the circuit court (2026)
These ranges come from the published sources listed above (Tampa Bay, Florida or national, as marked). They aren't PHRS prices or quotes. These are the building departments' published fees, not our prices. Each city sets its own schedule, so confirm the current fee with the building department for your address.
General information, not legal, insurance or engineering advice. Rules change and vary by city; confirm with your building department, DBPR, your insurer, an attorney or an engineer as fits.