Home renovation & remodeling in DeSoto County

Remodeling in DeSoto County

Install & Design helps homeowners in Arcadia, Nocatee and the rest of DeSoto County with roofs, windows, doors and gutters that stand up to Florida storms and heavy summer rain. As a licensed Florida general contractor (CGC052877), we also handle kitchens, bathrooms, HVAC, plumbing and electrical work, so one team can manage your whole project. Get an instant planning estimate online, then book a free on-site visit.

Permits in DeSoto County

Who issues building permits in DeSoto County and Arcadia? The DeSoto County Building Department handles plan review, inspections and permits for homes in DeSoto County. The City of Arcadia forms also send people to the county building department for building permits, while the city handles its own zoning approvals. If you are not sure which office covers your address, check with the DeSoto County Building Department at building@desotobocc.com or 863-993-4811. Roof permits: What the county asks for: DeSoto County has its own permit checklist for roof jobs. It asks for the product approvals or manufacturer's specifications for each roofing product used. It also asks for an asbestos statement when existing building material is being removed. Arcadia Historic District homes may need extra approval: If your home is in the Historic District, your project may also need approval from the Historic Preservation Committee. Ask the City of Arcadia Planning & Zoning Department whether this applies to your home. The homeowner must sign off on the permit: If a permit expires, code enforcement cases are filed against the property owner. Because of this, DeSoto County needs the owner to sign off before it will process a permit application. Usually a recorded Notice of Commencement, a signed and notarized application, or the owner's signature on the estimate or work proposal is enough.

Incomplete applications are not accepted: The DeSoto County Building Department does not accept incomplete permit applications. The county posts checklists for different project types to help you gather every document you need before you apply.

Applying online vs. in person, and looking up past permits: Only contractors can apply for permits through the county's online Citizen Self-Service Portal. Under Florida law, homeowners pulling their own owner-builder permit must apply in person at the Building Department. Anyone can use the portal to look up permit history by address or parcel number and to follow a permit's progress.

Good to know in DeSoto County

Flood zones: build 1 foot above base flood elevation: If your home is in a flood zone, flood rules can apply to big remodels as well as new homes. DeSoto County requires new or substantially improved buildings to sit at least one foot above the base flood elevation. Building higher than that may lower your flood insurance premium. The county runs a public flood website where you can look up the flood risk for your property before you plan. Elevation certificates for substantial improvements: In mapped high-risk flood areas (Special Flood Hazard Areas), DeSoto County must have a record showing that new buildings and substantial improvements are properly elevated. The county uses the FEMA Elevation Certificate for this. A licensed surveyor prepares it, and it goes in with the building permit. The same certificate can also help you get flood insurance. The county only has certificates for buildings finished after it joined the National Flood Insurance Program, so an older home may not have one on file. Inside Arcadia city limits? Check city zoning too: The City of Arcadia has its own Land Development Code and Planning & Zoning office. Under that code, no building permit is issued for work that doesn't follow the city's code. City forms send you to the DeSoto County Building Department for the building permit itself. If your home is inside Arcadia city limits, check with the city about zoning approval as well. Homes outside city limits deal only with the county. Notice of Commencement on larger jobs: In DeSoto County, a Notice of Commencement is required for permits with a contract cost of $5,000 or more. For HVAC permits, the threshold is $15,000 or more. It must be recorded with the Clerk of Courts office. The county needs the homeowner's sign-off: Code enforcement cases for expired permits are filed against the property owner, not the contractor. So DeSoto County needs the owner to acknowledge a permit application before it is processed. A recorded Notice of Commencement, a signed and notarized permit application, or the owner's signature on an estimate usually covers this. The county also does not accept incomplete permit applications.