Building Permit Fees
How to Pay for Building Permit Fees
The Town processes building permits online with MyGovernmentOnline (MGO) and fees for permits, inspections, revisions, etc. can go through the MGO portal. Payments will also still be accepted at Town Hall by cash or check. A processing fee will apply to all online payments. For payments made online with credit cards, debit cards, and online payment systems that fee is based on a percentage. For bank payments (ACH), the fee is a flat fee. This means that there is a threshold from which a bank payment's processing fee will be less than the fee for using another online payment option. Check to see what makes sense for your payment! In-person payments can only be made with cash or check, but no processing fees will apply.
Following submittal and acceptance of your digital building permit application, you'll receive a notification when fees have been added to your project for payment. This does not mean the building permit has been issued yet.
Fee Schedule
The Town Council has, via resolution, adopted a fee schedule regarding building permit applications. These fees shall be used solely for carrying out the Town's responsibilities in enforcing the Florida Building Code. See the Building Permit and Inspection Utilization Report for more information regarding the finances of the Town's Building Department.
The permit fee is based on the value of the work, including materials and labor, for which the building permit is being issued, such as new construction, renovation, electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing, demolition, roofing, equipment and permanent systems, etc. All sub-contractor work shall be included in the main contractor's permit application's value of work, except for sub-contractor work related to gas, for which a separate permit must be pulled independently of other work. If, in the opinion of the Building Official, the claimed valuation of the work is underestimated, the Building Official is authorized by state law to estimate the appropriate value of work. The contractor may voluntarily submit evidence to support the valuation of work.
In addition to building permit fees, the Town is required to collect two types of surcharge fees on behalf of the State, which are currently calculated as 1.5% of the permit fee ($2 minimum) and 1% of the permit fee ($2 minimum). These are remitted to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation on a quarterly basis. The Town is authorized to retain 10% of the surcharge fees.
Additionally, the Town accepts impact fees associated with new construction on behalf of Indian River County. These are passed along to the County on a monthly basis.
If the application is canceled in writing prior to the first review by the Building Official, then a full refund shall be made. If the application is canceled in writing after the first review by the Building Official (whether the application is approved or not) and prior to the start of any physical work, then 50% of the fee is refundable. Once any physical work has commenced on a project with an approved permit application, the entire permit fee is non-refundable.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Building Permit |
0.5% of value of work or $50.00, whichever is greater, not to exceed $5,000.00 (subject to additional fees as set forth in this fee schedule) |
| Revision to an issued permit | $50 plus 0.5% of added value of work for portion that is in excess of $10,000 and below $1,000,000 for total job value inclusive of current and any prior revisions. |
|
Work started prior to the issuance of a permit |
Double permit fee |
| Failure to schedule inspection | $50.00 |
| Re-inspection | $50.00 |
| Special inspection (in-person) | $190.00 |
| Special inspection (virtual) | $95.00 |
| Replacement of expired permit | $100.00 |
Special inspections are inspections requested to take place outside of the regular timeframe(s) for inspections in Orchid. It is at the discretion of the Building Official which such special inspections are eligible for virtual special inspection, and which require in-person inspection. All inspections scheduled to be completed within Orchid's regular timeframe(s) for inspections are in-person inspections.
