Building Inspection
Building Inspection Division
The City of Lakeland's Building Inspection Division is dedicated to maintaining the safety of homeowners and businesses in Lakeland. We provide inspection services on residential and commercial buildings to ensure compliance with the minimum standards, pursuant to the Florida Building Code. This enforcement ensures the health, safety and welfare of Lakeland's citizens.
To better serve you, ePlan is now the exclusive method for plans submission, review and approval.
Paper plans for site plans and permits requiring signed and sealed drawings are no longer being accepted.
Affidavit Inspection Announcement
Affidavit Inspection Announcement
Effective July 1, 2023, affidavit inspections for roof permits will be accepted under the following conditions:
- The roof affidavit will only be accepted if inspections cannot be scheduled during regular business hours or due to inclement weather and is for residential shingle roofs only.
- Roofing affidavit use must be preapproved by Building Inspection. To start the preapproval process, click here.
- Pursuant to Chapter 468, Florida Statutes, affidavits will only be accepted from licensed contractors, architects, or engineers. No owner-builder affidavits will be accepted.
- Affidavits must be provided for all roof inspections associated with the permit, i.e. decking, in-progress, and final. Physical inspections cannot be completed when prior inspections were accomplished by affidavit.
- An affidavit will not be accepted after any failed onsite roof deck or in progress inspection.
- Qualifiers shall provide comprehensive photographic evidence to cover all work performed in compliance with Florida Building Code. This evidence must be submitted as supplementary evidence to the affidavit. Photos should provide specific details of the installation, drip edge, deck nailing, underlayment, valleys, hips and ridge attachments and job location identifiers.
A $40 processing fee will be assessed for affidavit processing.
Affidavits are not required for inspection and approval of residential roof permits. Traditional inspections remain fully available for scheduling via eTRAKiT or by calling the Building Inspection Division's Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system at 863.213.0481.
We are here to serve you, so please contact us with any questions or concerns.
Building Inspection Division
Express Permitting
Contractors & Repair Info After Declared Emergency:
Protect Your Home & Business From Unlicensed Activity!
In the aftermath of emergency, many Lakeland-area homes and businesses need storm-related repairs and qualified contractors are in high demand. Unfortunately, these are prime conditions for scam artists and unlicensed contractors to take advantage of property owners.
Avoid becoming a victim of unlicensed activity:
- Know if your repair requires a state contractor's license
- Get more than one estimate
- Verify the contractor's license and permit
- Report unlicensed activity
Find more information and tips here.
Not sure what work needs to be done?
The My Safe Florida Home Program, administered by the State of Florida, Bureau of Emergency Management, is offering free hurricane home inspections to owners of any site-built, single-family residential Florida property constructed before 2008. The owner will receive an inspection report and recommended improvements.
Homeowners can register using the My Safe Florida Home Participant Portal.
Verify a License
The Building Inspection Division is committed to protecting homeowners and businesses from unlicensed activity. Florida's Department of Business & Professional Regulation can assist you in verifying a license to prevent scammers and keep you safe.
Protection Against Termites
Effective May 9, 2022, all new Residential Construction will require proof of termite treatment, pursuant to 2020 FBC R318 Protection Against Termites. The Final Treatment Certificate is to be uploaded into eTRAKiT attachments and the BLDG TERMITE CERT Inspection scheduled, prior to scheduling the Building Final.
This inspection is for certificate verification only and is performed in-house. The Building Final will not be issued until the Final Termite Treatment Certificate is on file. Please contact our office at 863-834-6012 if you have any questions.
Building Permit and Inspection Utilization Report
Per FS Chapter 553.80 (7)(b)
| 1. Direct and indirect costs incurred by the local government to enforce the Florida Building Code, including costs related to: | |
|---|---|
| a. Personnel services costs, including salary and related employee benefit costs incurred by the local government to enforce the Florida Building Code. | $2,407,489 |
| b. Operating expenditures and expenses. | $934,530 |
| 2. Permit and inspection utilization information, including: | |
| a. Number of building permits applications submitted. | 10,468 |
| b. Number of building permits issued or approved. | 9,937 |
| c. Number of building inspections and reinspections requested. | 44,197 |
| d. Number of building inspections and reinspections conducted. | 44,228 |
| e. Number of building inspections conducted by a private provider. | 422 |
| f. Number audits conducted by the local government of private provider building inspections. | 0 |
| g. Number of personnel dedicated by the local government to enforce the Florida Building Code, issue building permits, and conduct inspections. | 25 |
| 3. Revenue information, including: | |
| a. Revenue derived from fees pursuant to paragraph (a). | $2,949,933 |
| b. Revenue derived from fines pursuant to paragraph (a). | $0 |
| c. When applicable, investment earnings from the local government's investment of revenue derived from fees and fines pursuant to paragraph (a). | $70,957 |
| d. Balances carried forward by the local government pursuant to paragraph (a). | $1,293,793 |
| e. Balances refunded by the local government pursuant to paragraph (a). | $0 |
| f. Revenue derived from other sources, including local government general revenue. | $0 |
*Data is from: 10/1/2021-9/30/2022
Training
Staff is dedicated to helping you make the transition smooth. Group and one-on-one training is available free of charge.
Please contact eplanhelp@lakelandgov.net for assistance or for more information.
