Orlando permits are handled at City Hall, 400 S. Orange Ave., first floor. Permitting: 407-246-2271. Zoning questions: City Planning, 407-246-2269.
Last checked Oct. 9, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Orlando Permitting Services Division and City Planning Division.
Building permits in Orlando come from the city’s Permitting Services Division, on the first floor of City Hall, 400 S. Orange Ave., phone 407-246-2271. Zoning questions go to the City Planning Division on the sixth floor, 407-246-2269. Florida law requires a permit for most projects, even small ones, the city says.
Who to call
- Permits, plan review, fees: Permitting Services, 407-246-2271, orlando.gov permits
- Inspections by phone: automated line, 407-246-4444; by text, send INSPECTION to 866-205-3881; text-line questions, 407-246-3254
- Zoning, rezonings, variances: City Planning, 407-246-2269
- Outside city limits? Your permits come from Orange County, not the city. Check with the city’s service area lookup.
How a permit works
The city’s permit guide sets out the steps:
- Apply. Fill in the right application from the city’s forms page. Allow two business days for processing. The digital permitting guide helps you work out which permits you need.
- Submit plans. Plans are reviewed digitally through ProjectDox; you get a link by email once the application is processed. Commercial projects first pay a nonrefundable 25% plan review deposit.
- Notice of Commencement. If the project is worth more than $5,000, file a Notice of Commencement with the Orange County Comptroller before work starts, post a certified copy at the job site and give the city a copy.
- Check status and pay. The city’s permit lookup shows reviews, fees and inspections. Fees are invoiced by email once reviews are approved.
- Download and post the approved plans, printed to scale, at the job site.
- Get inspections. A permit that goes six months without an inspection expires.
- Close it out. An open permit can cause trouble when you sell. Confirm the status reads final.
Fees are listed on the city’s development and impact fees page. Some work on single-family homes, and temporary hurricane and flood protection, may qualify for a residential permit exemption.
Inspections
Schedule online, by text or by phone, the city’s inspection page says. Keep the approved plans, the permit card, the recorded Notice of Commencement and any engineering documents at the site, with the permit visible from the street. Failed inspections and same-day cancellations can bring a fee; a same-day cancellation costs $50. Certain single-family and duplex projects can use a virtual inspection.
How busy the permit office is
The city processed about 3,000 permit applications a month over the past year, its open data portal shows. Building permits were the most common type. Recorded home sales are on our real estate transfers page.
Zoning: what you can build
Every property in the city sits in a zoning district that sets its allowed uses and basic standards. To find yours, enter the address in the Orlando Information Locator and select Planning and Development. Anything after a “/” in the zoning code is an overlay, which adds rules. The zoning code is Chapter 58 of the City Code.
For a project of any size, the city offers a pre-application meeting with a planner. Accessory dwelling units, backyard chickens, murals and donation bins all have their own city permits, listed on the City Planning page. Homes in a historic district need a certificate of appropriateness before exterior changes.
The boards that hear zoning cases
Both boards are volunteer advisory boards of nine members. City Council makes the final decision on what they recommend.
Municipal Planning Board. Hears rezonings, annexations, conditional uses, master plans and planned developments. It meets on a Tuesday at 9 a.m. in Council Chambers, City Hall, in person only, the board’s schedule says. Remaining 2026 meetings: Tuesday, Oct. 20; Tuesday, Nov. 17; and Tuesday, Dec. 15. Register to speak or send written comments at least 24 hours ahead through orlando.gov/publiccomments.
Board of Zoning Adjustment. Hears variances and appeals of zoning decisions. It meets at 2 p.m. in Council Chambers. Remaining 2026 hearings, from the board’s schedule: Tuesday, Oct. 27; Tuesday, Nov. 17; and Tuesday, Dec. 15.
The city lists every open case with its tentative hearing date on its open development applications map. Cases due at the Oct. 20 planning board include a 24-hour gym at 1500 Park Center Drive and a proposal to rename Corporate Boulevard as Pastor Riva Lane.
What this means for you
- Check you are inside city limits before you apply.
- Projects over $5,000 need a recorded Notice of Commencement before work starts.
- Get an inspection within six months or the permit expires.
- Want a say on a rezoning near you? Watch the open applications map and comment 24 hours before the hearing.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for small projects in Orlando?
Usually yes. Florida law requires a permit for most projects, even small ones, the city says. Its online permitting guide helps you work out which permits your project needs.
How do I find my property’s zoning in Orlando?
Enter your address in the city’s Orlando Information Locator map and select Planning and Development. If your property is outside city limits, the Orange County Property Appraiser’s map shows its jurisdiction and zoning.
How do I schedule a building inspection in Orlando?
Online through the city’s permit lookup site, by texting INSPECTION to 866-205-3881, or by calling the automated line at 407-246-4444. A permit open six months without an inspection expires.
When does the Orlando Municipal Planning Board meet?
On a Tuesday each month at 9 a.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall. The remaining 2026 meetings are Oct. 20, Nov. 17 and Dec. 15.
Do I need a Notice of Commencement in Orlando?
Yes, if the project is worth more than $5,000. File it with the Orange County Comptroller before work starts, post a certified copy at the job site and give a copy to the city.
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