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Yes. For permit applications, click here and select "Permit Application" under "Permits & Construction". For other forms, click here and select "Forms" under "Building Department Information".

Any person, firm, corporation, or governmental agency proposing to construct, erect, alter, modify, repair, or demolish any building within Putnam County must first obtain a permit from Planning & Development Services.  Please review our brochure, When is a Building Permit Required?

No. The role of the Building Department is to provide a plan review of the construction documents provided by the permit applicant and to inspect the work according to the approved plans.

Yes. The Building Department can perform a site visit to evaluate the site conditions and advise a permit applicant as to specific requirement regarding permitting. Structural and/or design advice is not within the scope of this office and you would need to consult with a design professional or contractor for structural and/or design services. To schedule a site vist, please call (386) 329-0307 and staff will assist you.

No. The Building Department cannot recommend any individual or business. However, our website does have a list of all construction contractors who are liecensed and insured within Putnam County. You may access this list here. This list is updated everyweekday at 6:00 pm.

No, HUD approved mobile homes must have the shingles removed prior to installing the new shingles.

Yes, DOT requires an access permit when adding a new driveway or making a significant change to an existing driveway that enters a State road. Contact DOT at (904) 825-5036.

Yes, persons who own their own property and are improving such property for their own use and occupancy may act as owner builders. This also applies to commercial property limited to $75,000.00. See Florida Statute 489.103(7)

No. The Building Department cannot recommend any individual or business. However, our website does have a list of all construction contractors who are liecensed and insured within Putnam County. You may access this list here. This list is updated everyweekday at 6:00 pm.

The first step in getting your local contractors license is to submit a completed application.  Please click here to be directed to the local authorized contractor application and procedures for obtaining an authorized contractor license. If you should have further questions regarding this process please call (386) 329-0461 for assistance.   For information about obtaining a Florida Certified License please contact the Department of Business & Professional Regulation at: 

Department of Business & Professional Regulation

Phone: (850)487-1395

Below you find a link to Putnam County Ordinance 2004-13 "Contractors Licensing Ordinance of Putnam County, Florida". Section 17 of this ordinance lists and defies the types of contractor licenses currently required by the County.   Contractors Licensing Ordinance of Putnam County, Florida Florida Certified License information can be found at: Department of Business & Professional Regulation

Ordinance 2004-13 sets the minimum Liability Insurance Coverage required for General and Building Contractors are:

• $300,000 per accident
• $50,000 per person
• $50,000 property damage

Ordinance 2004-13 sets the minimum Liability Insurance Coverage required for all other License types are:

• $100,000 per accident
• $50,000 per person
• $25,000 property damage

Workers' Compensation Coverage or a valid exemption is also required.  For more information on the statutory requirements for Workers' Compensation, or on how to obtain an exemption, please contact the Division of Workers' Compensation.

 

Florida Division of Workers' Compensation

Phone: (850) 413-1601

Please provide the following information in order to register with the county so that you may obtain permits or sign onto existing permits:
 

• Provide a copy of your State Certified License
• Provide a copy of your State Qualified Business License (if applicable)
• Provide Liability Insurance Certificate
• Provide Workers' Compensation Certificate Coverage or a valid exemption
• Provide current contact information
• The records maintenance fee is $50.00.  Please make checks payable to BOCC

All insurance certificates must have Putnam County Planning & Development services listed as the certificate holder.

Please follow the link below for our standard form for this process:

Procedures for Registering a Florida State License

Please provide the following information in order to reciprocate your license:

• Letter of Reciprocity directly from the licensing official in which you obtained your license.  Putnam County requires a 75% or higher on the technical portion of the exam.  Putnam County also requires a 75% on the business & law exam or completion of the Business Exemption Course that meets the requirements of the Putnam County Ordinance.
• Complete the reciprocity application. The application fee is $100
• Provide proof of Liability Insurance
• Provide proof of Workers' Compensation Coverage or a valid exemption.
• Provide a copy of your Business Tax Receipt (Occupational License)
• Provide a copy of your State Registered License (if applicable)
• Authorized Contractor License fee is $120

You may be granted a temporary work authority when you present the above applicable information.  We will accept a faxed copy of the Letter of Reciprocity from the Licensing Official, but a hard copy must be mailed directly from the Licensing Official before you are scheduled to appear before the Contractors and Building Trades Examiners Board in order to make your license permanent in our county. All insurance certificates submitted to this office must have our department listed as the certificate holder. Below is a link to our Reciprocity Application which includes the procedures and requirements for reciprocating your license. Reciprocity Application

Hiring an unlicensed contractor puts you at risk for financial harm and penalty by law.  If you hire an unlicensed contractor you are responsible for deducting F.I.C.A. and withholding tax and provide Workers' Compensation coverage for that individual per Chapter 489.193(7) Florida Statutes.
 
Without Workers' Compensation insurance, you could be held liable for any injuries received on your property.  Typically your homeowners' insurance policy will not honor your claim if the work performed required a licensed contractor.  You could be responsible for thousands of dollars in medical bills. 
 

Chapter 455.227(j), Florida Statutes states that any person who knowingly aides, assists, procures, employs, or advises an unlicensed individual can be charged with a first degree misdemeanor and may face fines up to $5,000 for each offense.
 

It is important to know that owners of property do not receive a discounted permit fee for obtaining a permit themselves.  A licensed contractor in good standing with the Building Department will always sign onto your permit.  If you would like to check whether the person you intend on hiring is licensed, you may do so by clicking on the link below:

Check for current and active contractors

No. A replacement of your mobile home with a new or used mobile home would not create any new development and is exempt from impact fees.

No. Replacing your mobile home with a new site built home does not constitute new development of your property and would not be subject to impact fees.

Yes. Unless exempted, any permit application received by the Building Division after the close of business on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 will be subject to impact fees.

An existing structure is a building located within the jurisdiction of Putnam County which has been previously legally occupied or used for its intended purpose and existed on October 10, 2006.

If your addition does not create a new dwelling, impact fees will not apply to your project.

No. Accessory structures are not subject to impact fees provided that they do not create new dwelling units or new development.

No. Swimming pools, much like accessory structures, are exempt from impact fees.

Any new development within Putnam County may be subject to impact fees regardless of the County residency status of the permit applicant.

Yes. Any new development within Putnam County is subject to impact fees; however, new development designated by the Impact Fee Administrator as qualified housing for older persons may be exempt from the Public School impact fee. Contact the Building Division at (386) 329-0307 for more information about this exemption.

No. A guest house as deemed by the Putnam County Land Development Code shall not include a kitchen and is therefore not considered a new dwelling.

Yes. An apartment creates a new dwelling unit and it will be subject to impact fees.

Moving your mobile home to a new location within Putnam County is exempt from impact fees. If you then add a new development to the property where your mobile home was originally located, impact fees would apply.

If you currently hold a permit or are issued one prior to Wednesday, February 28, 2007, and allow it to expire, impact fees may apply when you seek to renew your permit. It is important to keep your permit active; if you have questions about permit timelines and expiration, please contact the Building Division at (386) 329-0307.

No. If any home meets the definition of an existing building and existed on October 10, 2006 an exemption to the impact fees would be provided for its replacement.

Yes. The Building Department can perform a site visit to evaluate the site conditions and advise a permit applicant as to specific requirement regarding permitting. Structural and/or design advice is not within the scope of this office and you would need to consult with a design professional or contractor for structural and/or design services. To schedule a site vist, please call (386) 329-0307 and staff will assist you.

Yes. Staff can assist you in scheduling a time and a place to discuss your project with you.  Please call (386) 329-0307 for assistance.

To schedule an inspection, please call the Automated Inspection Request System (AIRS) at (386) 326-3005. Follow the recorded instructions. The cut-off time for an inspection request is 7:00 a.m. for a same-day inspection. If, due to specific circumstances, you need to schedule a specific time, please call (386) 329-0307 and staff will attempt to acommodate your needs.

A stem wall foundation is a foundation which is pourd continiuously around the perimiter of the main supporting element of a structure (footer). A reinforced wall is then built on top of this footer in order to raise a wood or concrete floor level.

A monolithic foundation is a foundation in which the floor construction and footing a poured simulteaneously as one unit.

"Gable end" is a term used to describe the roofline of a structure. Gable ends are typically built with the end wall constructed all the way to the roofline and are usually balloon framed.

"Balloon framing" is a method of constructing an end wall which consists of studs vertically spanned from the foundation or floor all the way to the direct underside of the roof.

A hip roof is a method of roof construction which has a shed slope in all directions.

Florida law allows the Building Department 10 business days to administratively accept permit applications and 30 business days to review residential plans. Plans submitted to the Putnam County Building Department have an average review of four business days.

No. The role of the Building Department is to provide a plan review of the construction documents provided by the permit applicant and to inspect the work according to the approved plans.

Yes. Staff can assist you in scheduling a time and a place to discuss your project with you. Please call (386) 329-0307 for assistance.

No, HUD approved mobile homes must have the shingles removed prior to installing the new shingles.

The Recording Department is located at 518 St. John's Avenue, Palatka, across from the Putnam County Court House.

Notice of Commencement forms are available here or in the Putnam County Planning and Development building located at 515 Reid Street Palatka, Florida

Yes, individuals who own their own property and are improving such property for their own use and occupancy may act as owner builders. This also applies to commercial property limited to $75,000.00. See Florida Statute 489.103(7)

The Recording Department is located at 518 St. John's Avenue Palatka, across from the Putnam County Court House.

Permit applications are available here or or in the Putnam County Planning Development Services building located at 515 Reid Street Palatka, FL.

The Health Department is located at 2801 Kennedy Street on the corner of Kennedy Street and Westover Drive.

Site plan guides are available in the Putnam County Planning & Development Services building located at 515 Reid Street Palatka, FL.

A flood plain is land which is lower than surrounding land within a specified area. This land is subject to higher than normal water levels based upon a 100 year reoccurrence flood plain chart. Flood plain areas are not necessairly located near bodies of water. More information is available at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Wetland Evaluation and Delineation website.

It is a crucial step in structural design to overcome complications associated with construction located within a flood plain. Complications associated with construction within a flood palin can include special foundation requirements, elevated floors, elevated equipment, re-evalution of the location of your proposed structure, the allowed and permitted use of fill, and free flow construction. Your design professional can help you determine potential complications if your project is located within a flood pain.

"Drawn to scale" is a term used to describe the delineation of distance and measurement on a set of plans or on a site plan. For example, "1/4 inch per foot" simply means that each 1/4 of linear distance on the plans is equivalent to one linear foot of real construction distance. In this example a linear dstance of forty feet would be equivalent to ten linear inches on paper.

Yes. For permit applications, click here and select "Permit Application" under "Permits & Construction". For other forms, click here and select "Forms" under "Building Department Information".

Any person, firm, corporation, or governmental agency proposing to construct, erect, alter, modify, repair, or demolish any building within Putnam County must first obtain a permit from Planning & Development Services.  Please review our brochure: When is a Building Permit Required?

No. The role of the Building Department is to provide a plan review of the construction documents provided by the permit applicant and to inspect the work according to the approved plans.

Yes. The Building Department can perform a site visit to evaluate the site conditions and advise a permit applicant as to specific requirement regarding permitting. Structural and/or design advice is not within the scope of this office and you would need to consult with a design professional or contractor for structural and/or design services. To schedule a site vist, please call (386) 329-0307 and staff will assist you.

No. The Building Department cannot recommend any individual or business. However, our website does have a list of all construction contractors who are liecensed and insured within Putnam County. You may access this list here. This list is updated everyweekday at 6:00 pm.

Yes, the Florida Department of Trasnportation (DOT) requires an access permit when adding a new driveway or making a significant change to an existing driveway that enters a State road. Contact DOT at (904) 825-5036.