Seawall permits in Charlotte County

What the county requires

For a residential seawall in unincorporated Charlotte County, the county's permit page lists:

• An application for construction permit and an affidavit for accessory structures
• Drawings, plans, and engineering that are signed and sealed and show the full extent of the work
• A recorded Notice of Commencement for any job where the direct contract price is over $5,000, submitted before the first inspection is scheduled

Work that reaches into state or federal waters can also need authorization from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Your contractor should know whether your job does.

Who can pull the permit

The county lists these license types as eligible for a residential seawall permit: certified building, general, marine, and residential contractors; registered building, general, and residential contractors; and local marine construction licensees.

Owner-builders can pull the permit themselves, but they may not rent or sell the property within one year of completing the permit. For most homeowners, the right answer is a licensed contractor pulling it in their own name.

Before work starts

• Look up the contractor's license on MyFloridaLicense.com.
• Confirm the permit is issued and in the contractor's name.
• Record the Notice of Commencement if your job is over $5,000.
• Keep a copy of the permit and approved drawings with your house records. Future buyers will ask.

Not in unincorporated Charlotte County?

Punta Gorda and the Sarasota County side of Englewood have their own permit offices and rules. Confirm the jurisdiction before anything else.