Permit Requirements

Protect Yourself & Your Investment. To help you avoid costly mistakes, the City of Margate has prepared a guide for hiring home contractors and getting City permits. Click here to read it.

A Building Permit (PDF) or (Fillable PDF) 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
  • To change the occupancy of a building from one use group to another requiring greater strength, means of egress, fire, and sanitary provisions
  • To change to an unauthorized or prohibited use
  • 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

Examples include but are 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 
  • Reroofing
  • Installation of Electrical Systems 
  • Window Replacement 
  • Signs
  • Swimming Pools or Spas 
  • Wind Breaker Systems 
  • Patios
  • Installation of Electrical Devices and Fixtures 
  • Screen Enclosures 
  • Security Systems
  • Driveways or Walks or Generator Slabs 
  • Addition of Plumbing Fixtures 
  • Standby Generators
  • Replacement of Sewer and Water Lines 
  • Installation of Backflow Preventers 
  • Sheds
  • Recertification of Backflow Preventers 
  • Installation of Siding or Soffit or Fascia 
  • Canopies

If you are unsure if a permit is required for work, please contact the Chief Inspector.

Permit Application

To expedite the permitting process, please make sure that you have all of the following applicable items prior to submitting in ProjectDox.

  • Permit application completely filled out, executed by the contractor and owner, signatures notarized.
    • Job location
    • Description of the work covered by this permit
    • Owner information
    • Property folio number (Tax ID Number from your tax bill)
    • Fee simple title holder if other than owner
    • Architect information
    • Engineer information
    • Contractor information
    • Bonding company information
    • Mortgage Lender information
  • Plans drawn to scale (signed and sealed by the designer when required)
  • Notice of commencement is required for all permits exceeding $2,500 in construction value. $7,500 for AC change outs
  • Structural calculations signed and sealed by the designer of record
  • Product Approvals for roofs, utility sheds, windows, shutters, exterior doors, skylights, etc. reviewed and approved by the designer of record
  • Current signed and sealed surveys by a licensed surveyor
  • Energy calculation forms, signed and sealed, with heating/cooling load calculations
  • Proof of property ownership
  • Proof of approval by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Hotel and Restaurants 954-956-5692
  • Proof of approval by the Army Corps of Engineers at 561-686-3441 and call the Department of Natural Resource Protection at 954-519-1230 for dredge and fill activities or structures within the jurisdictional waterways
  • Proof of approval by Department of Planning and Environmental Protection (DPEP) at https://webapps.broward.org/EPermits/ 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
  • 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.