Manatee County Lowers Building Permit Fees

MANATEE COUNTY – More than 50 Manatee County building permit and inspection fees will be reduced by 10 percent, beginning today. The fee reduction comes on top of a 6 percent reduction in fees that began last year. The Manatee County Board of Commissioners approved the reductions during a meeting last week. A state-mandated 3 percent Florida Building Code Surcharge fee still applies to all permits.

The county says that the reduction in fees is the result of a strong rebound in the local economy with building permits fully covering expenses at in the Building division of the Building and Development Services Department. Building and permit fees can only be used to fund the Building Division and cannot supplement other parts of the county budget. 

“This set of lowered permit fees is the latest in a long line of customer improvements we’ve made at the Manatee County Building and Development Services Department over the past few years,” said Director John Barnott. “The new fees will lower the cost of doing business here while adequately covering staff expenses in the Department.” 

 Changes now in effect include: 

• All sheds and residential fences in unincorporated areas must be permitted through the division. The new policy replaces an older policy that only required building permits for sheds over 120-square feet or taller than 8-feet. 

• The Building division will now require a state-issued garage door installation license before approving new garage door installations. 

To learn more about the fees or new requirements, visit the county's building and development website.