Building Department
Welcome to the City of Margate Building Department. Our staff strives daily to make our department the best permitting divisions in the nation by providing a “customer friendly” atmosphere.Our goal is to educate consumers to ensure the Health, Safety and Welfare of the people who Live, Work and Play in the City of Margate through compliance with the provisions of all applicable Building Codes and other Governmental Agencies regulating construction within the city.
We cannot design or build your project for you; however, we will cite the minimum code requirements that govern your project.
The Building Department is responsible for ensuring compliance with the Florida Building Code including but not limited to;
• Reviewing plans for compliance with the applicable codes.
• Inspecting the work at progressive stages.
• Collecting permit fees
• Issuing Certificates of Completion.
• Issuing Certificates of Occupancy.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Building Department is located at 901 NW 66 Avenue Margate, Florida 33063
• Phone # 954-970-3004
• Fax Line # 954-970-3412
• Inspection Line # 954-970-3112
• E-MAIL: building@margatefl.com
BUSINESS HOURS
Permit Window open Monday through Thursday from 7:30AM to 5:30 PM (the last sign in is at 5:00 PM).
Inspectors may be reached by phone Monday through Thursday from 7:00 am to 7:30 AM and from 4:30 PM to 5:00 PM.
Inspections are conducted between 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM each business day
Office closes 6:00 PM
Inspection requests called in prior to 2:00pm will be conducted the next business day, requests after 2:00pm will be conducted the 2nd business day.
Each Wednesday afternoon from 2:00pm until 4:00 pm Plan Reviewers and Chief Inspectors are on hand, on a first come first served basis, for a professional day to answer and assist contractors, architects, and engineers.
You may use our Automated Inspection System to Retrieve Inspection Results and Check Plan Review Comments.
The guide contained herein is intended to help you through the permit, plan review and inspection process.
PERMIT FEES
Permit fees paid to obtain a permit cover the cost of services the Building Department provides to ensure the project meets the requirements of The Florida Building Code. These services include review of the submitted plans and inspections during the course of construction to verify the work is being performed according to the approved plans, permitted documents and compliance with the applicable codes governing the project.
CLICK HERE FOR PERMIT FEES
The City Building Departments main concern is the life, safety and welfare of the residence.
We cannot design or build your project for you; however, we will cite code requirements that have to be met.
PERMIT APPLICATIONS
Application for a permit will be accepted from only qualified applicants in
accordance with the rules of the Broward County Central Examining Board,
Ordinance 78-9 and Chapter 9 of the Broward County Codes; the State of Florida
by authority of Chapter 489 Part One of the Florida Statutes; or other Examining
boards as specifically approved by the Broward County Board of Rules and
Appeals.
OWNER BUILDER EXEMPTION FROM LICENSURE
State law requires construction to be done by licensed contractors. You have
applied for a permit under an exemption to that law. The exemption allows you as
the owner of your property to act as your own contractor even though you do not
have a license. You must supervise the construction yourself. You may build or
improve a one-family or two-family residence or a farm outbuilding. You may also
build or improve a commercial building at a cost of $25,000 or less. The
building must be for your own use and occupancy. It may not be built for sale or
lease. If you sell or lease a building you have built yourself within one (1)
year after the construction is complete, the law will presume that you built it
for sale or lease, which is a violation of this exemption. You may not hire an
unlicensed person as your contractor. It is your responsibility to make sure
that people employed by you have licenses required by state law and by county or
municipal licensing ordinances. Any person working on your building who is not
licensed must work under your supervision and must be employed by you, which
means that you must deduct F.I.C.A., and withholding tax and provide worker’s
compensation for that employee, all as prescribed by law. Your construction must
comply with all applicable laws, ordinances, building codes, and zoning
regulations.
The Florida Department of Professional Regulation (DPR) can request the Circuit
Court to impose a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per incident and also be
entitled to the collection of fees and cost incurred.
For your information, the Owner/Builder may become liable and responsible for
the employees he hires to assist in the construction project. The responsibility
may include the following where required by law:
1. Worker’s Compensation (for workers injured on the job).
2. Social Security Tax (must be deducted from the employee’s wages and matched
with the owner’s funds).
3. Unemployment Compensation (may or may not be required).
4. Liability Coverage.
5. Federal Withholding Tax.
PERMITS REQUIRED
A building permit is required to:
Construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, remove, or demolish any building,
structure, or any part thereof; or any equipment, device or facility therein or
thereon; or to change the Occupancy of a building from one use Group to another
requiring greater strength, means of egress, fire, and sanitary provisions; or
to change to an unauthorized or prohibited use; or to install or alter any
equipment for which provision is made or the installation of which is regulated
by this code; without first having filed application and obtained a permit
therefore from the Building Official. A permit shall be deemed issued when
signed by the Building Official and impressed with the seal of the governmental
agency issuing said permit.
EXAMPLES OF CONSTRUCTION REQUIRING PERMITS
Included but not limited to:
| New Buildings | Additions | Alterations |
| Assisted Living Facilities | Porch Enclosures | Porches |
| Carport Enclosures | Exterior Door Replacement | Water Heaters |
| Air Conditioning Equipment Changes | Hurricane Shutters | Re-Roofing |
| Installation of Electrical Systems | Window Replacement | Signs |
| Swimming Pools/Spa’s | Wind Breaker Systems | Patios |
| Installation of Electrical Devices & Fixtures | Screen Enclosures | Security Systems |
| Driveways/Walks/ Generator Slabs | Addition of Plumbing Fixtures | Standby Generators |
| Replacement of Sewer & Water Lines | Installation of Backflow Preventers | Sheds |
| Re-Certification of Backflow Preventers | Installation of Siding/Soffit/Fascia | Canopies |
If you are unsure if a permit is required for specific work please contact the Chief Inspector of the discipline and discuss you plans with Him/Her.
TO EXPEDITE THE PERMITTING PROCESS PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT THE YOU HAVE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING APPLICABLE ITEMS, IN DUPLICATE, IN YOUR PACKAGE PRIOR TO SUBMITTAL.1. Permit application completely filled out, executed by the contractor and owner, signatures notarized.
a. Job location
b. Description of the work covered by this permit
c. Owner information
d. Property folio number (Tax ID Number from your tax bill)
e. Fee simple title holder if other than owner
f. Architect information
g. Engineer information
h. Contractor information
i. Bonding company information
j. Mortgage Lender information
k. Proof of notification to Home Owner Association of contemplated improvements.
2. Two (2) sets of plans drawn to scale (signed and sealed by the designer when required).
3. Notice of commencement is required for all permits exceeding $ 2500.00 in construction value. $ 7,500.00 for AC change outs.
4. Structural calculations signed and sealed by the designer of record.
5. Product Approvals for roofs, utility sheds, windows, shutters, exterior doors, skylights, etc. reviewed and approved by the designer of record.
6. Current signed and sealed surveys by a licensed surveyor.
7. Three (3) sets of energy calculation forms, signed and sealed and heating/cooling load calculations.
8. Proof of property ownership.
9. Proof of approval by the Department of Business and professional Regulation, Division of Hotel and Restaurants (954-956-5692).
10. Proof of approval by the Army Corps of Engineers (561-686-3441) and Department of Natural Resource Protection (954-519-1230) for dredge and fill activities or structures within the jurisdictional waterways.
11. Proof of approval by Department of Planning and Environmental Protection (DPEP) (954-519-1250 for new buildings, additions to non residential buildings, interior commercial alterations, commercial pools, land clearing, and demolition, docks, seawalls, boat ramps, bulkheads, and emergency generators.
12. Documented proof of total estimated construction cost.
PERMIT TIME LIMITATIONS
Permits shall expire and become null and void if work authorized by such permit is not commenced within 180 days from the date of the permit or if such work when commenced is suspended or abandoned for a period of 90 days.
If a new building permit is not obtained within 180 days from the date the initial permit became null and void, The Building Official shall require that any work which has been commenced or completed be removed from the building site.
The Building Official may revoke a permit or approval issued under the provisions of the Florida Building Code in case of any false statement or misrepresentation of fact in the application or on plans and/or specifications on which the permit or approval was based.
PLAN REVIEW PROCESS
The plan review time is dependant on all of the aforementioned documentation and completeness of the permit application. The application will be reviewed for compliance with all pertinent laws and will be approved or rejected if all laws are not complied with.
Within 15 working days after plans and/or specifications are submitted and accepted for a building permit, the Building Official shall notify the applicant in writing that the permit is ready for issuance or that additional information is required.
Not more than 60 calendar days after the date of such notification, where such additional information has not been submitted or the permit has not been purchased, the application and/or permit shall become null and void.
Where an application and/or permit has become null and void an applicant may again apply, and such application shall be processed as though there had been no previous application.
INSPECTIONS
The permit and all approved permitted documents must be placed in the front yard of the property where it can be seen and accessible for the inspector for examination.
Required inspections have to be made in order and prior to concealment. Any concealed work that required an inspection will have to be totally removed. If you are unsure if an inspection is required please contact the inspector in the discipline and he will advise you. All permits require a final inspection when the work is completed.
Inspections for windows, doors, additions, alterations, etc. that require an inspector to enter the premises an adult must be present to allow entry, or the inspection will be denied.
For roof inspections or any inspection requiring the use of a ladder, OSHA requires the ladder to be safe and in satisfactory condition, extend at least 3’ above the walking surface and tied off. Step ladders cannot be used for this purpose.
Inspectors cannot make appointments; however, if you contact the inspector in the discipline to be inspected, prior to 8:00 AM, he will give you a window of time that he will be at that location.
VIOLATION NOTICES
When a violation of the building code or the approved plan is not followed a violation notice will be issued citing the code provisions. This is a notice that your contractor has a correction to make and schedule another inspection prior to proceeding with the work.
In some cases a plan revision may be required; in this case the revision must be submitted and approved prior to rescheduling the inspection that failed prior to proceeding with the work.
When a re-inspection fee is charged, THIS IS NOT A FINE, The fee covers the cost of added inspections not contemplated in the original permit fee that is based upon a limited number of inspections.
Inspections cannot be scheduled until the re-inspection fee is paid.
When in the opinion of the Building Official projects become unsafe during construction or when work in started without a permit a STOP WORK ORDER will be issued and the work must be stopped.
109.6 It shall be assumed that the responsible individual(s) in charge of the work shall have themselves inspected the work an found it to be in compliance with applicable code requirements before the request for inspection or re-inspection is made. In is not the function of the Building Department Inspectors to Supervise or Provide a Punch list for a required inspection as a substitute for the role of the Licensed Contractor who obtained the permit.
Re-Inspection Fee Policy
To cancel a scheduled inspection call the Building department between 7:30 and 8
AM
Note: Approved Plans and Permit Card and Previous Red Tag (if any) must be
posted in front of the job-site for each inspection requested.
A Re-Inspection fee may be placed on a rejection tag, at the discretion of the
inspector, for any of the following reasons:
|
Florida Building Code, including the Broward County Administrative Provisions found in Chapter 1 |
|
| 109.6 | Inspection not canceled before 8 AM |
| 109.6 | Job not ready, qualifier has not pre-inspected the work |
| 106.9: 106.10.1.1 | Plans/Permit Card Not Posted in Front of Jobsite |
| 109.6 | Corrections not made from the previous inspection |
| 109.1.14 | No Ladder/Building Locked/Unable to Inspect |
| OSHA 1926.502 | Job-Site safety: Safety Rails not in place. Etc. |
| OSHA 1926.1053 | Ladder unsafe, Secured top and Bottom, top not 3’ above surface |
| NFPC 1-128.29-5.1.6 | Tar Kettle not attended |
| NFPC 1-128.29-5.1.6 | 2-20 BC Fire Extinguishers within 25’ Accessible and Visible |
| 1817.1 | Pool excavation does not have temporary safety fence |
| 109.3: 109.4: 109.8 | Missed Mandatory Inspection/ Work Covered: Structural, Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical |
| 106.10.2.5 | Repeated Correction Notices (Red Tags) for same violation(s) |
| 106.10.2.5 | Note: Deficiencies must be corrected within 10 (ten) days |
| Any | Specific Code Violation |
CERTIFICATES OF
OCCUPANCY/COMPLETION
DOCUMENTATION FOR FINAL INSPECTION WHEN APPLICABLE
INCLUDES BUT NOT LIMITED TO
Approval from Department of Planning and Environmental Planning-DPEP
Approval from Engineering & Zoning-DEES
Backflow Certification
Certificate of Insulation
Certificate of Soil Compaction
Construction site is clean, free of debris and all construction trailers and
unused materials removed from site
Final Landscape Inspection-DEES
Final Special Inspector Certification including inspection reports
Final Survey including Elevation Certificate
Hurricane Mitigation Affidavit
Private Provider Certification
Roof Truss Installation Affidavit
Roof Tile Pull Test
Shutter Operation Affidavit
Test and Balance reports-Mechanical
If you are unsure please contact the Building Department to verify the required
documentation for your specific permit.
Final inspections will be made upon completion of the work, approval of required
documentation, and approval of other governmental agencies having jurisdiction.
After all of the required inspections are completed and all required
documentation for the permitted work is received a CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY or
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION will be issued.
A building or structure SHALL NOT be used for its intended use until the
appropriate certificate is issued.