Building Inspections

DIVISION INFORMATION

Building Inspections is a division of the Development Services Department. 

The current adopted codes are the  2017 National Electrical Code and the 2020 Florida Building Codes, (7th Edition) which includes Residential, Building, Existing Building, Energy Conservation, Accessibility, Fuel and Gas, Plumbing, and Mechanical.  

The tentative date for adoption of the 2023 Florida Building Code and 2020 National Electric Code is December 31, 2023.  

To view past, current, and proposed dates, please visit the Florida Building Code and Effective Dates, viewable on the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation's website.  

HOURS OF OPERATION

Our operating hours are 7:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. The permit counter is open to the public from 7:30 a.m. through 12:30 p.m.  Meetings after our public hours may be scheduled by appointment. 

Inspectors are available to meet in the office between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. They are also available by appointment only between 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.   

If you need to meet with the Building Official or Building Inspections Specialist, you may do so during public hours or by appointment after 12:30 p.m. To ensure a meeting time, please e-mail inspections@cityofpensacola.com.

PLAN REVIEW

*PLEASE NOTE: Applications for Zoning and Site Approval must be submitted and approved prior to submitting a building permit for residential new dwellings, additions, pools, accessory structures, house moves, and manufactured homes. The building permit will be submitted as an "Add to Existing" application under the approved zoning project.

All permit applications with plan review must be submitted electronically using My Government Online (MGO) at  mygovernmentonline.org,   Guidelines for creating an account and submitting an application through MGO are available here.

If the permit requires plan review, original pdf files must be uploaded into the MGO system during the upload portion of the application process. As of April 1st, 2020, paper plans are no longer being accepted.

All documents must be uploaded into the permit application through the MGO portal. All documents that are required as part of the application and permit such as NOCs must be uploaded. Paper documents will not be accepted except for owner-builder forms.

SUB PERMITS

All sub-permits associated with a project for Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Gas, Roofing and Fire Systems must be submitted online as an "Add-to-Existing" permit type. 

CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION

New or renewal contractor registration must be a complete package submitted through the MGO application portal or emailed to inspections@cityofpensacola.com.

PERMIT EXTENSIONS OR RENEWALS

Permits are valid for 180 days from the date of issuance. Each passed inspection extends the length of the permit 180 days from the date of inspection. Inactivity or abandonment will cause the permit to expire, and extension or renewal is by payment fees. Permit Extension Requests (for permits expiring soon) and Permit Renewal Requests (for expired permits) must be submitted by email to inspections@cityofpensacola.com.

INSPECTIONS

Inspections for mygovernmentonline.org permits must be scheduled either online through the MGO customer portal or via telephone using the IVR system accessed by dialing (866) 957-3764, option 5.  To view a list of required inspections, please visit our Inspections page.

QUESTIONS

For customer portal and account questions, please call My Government Online at (866) 957-3764.

For permit-related questions, please e-mail inspections@cityofpensacola.com or call Building Inspections at (850) 436-5600.

CONTRACTOR COMPLAINTS

Escambia County and the State of Florida both have avenues for investigating concerns  and complaints owners may have regarding their contractors.  Please view our contractor complaint information sheet to contact either of these agencies.  Also, view our printable, tri-fold Contractor Complaint Brochure.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Building Inspections is ready to help you realize your building ideas in order to promote the preservation, growth, and development of the City of Pensacola. We work in conjunction with other government agencies to ensure community safety and welfare. Please feel free to contact or visit our offices if you have any questions.

We recommend that you contact us before you begin to make improvements or changes to your property. We can help you anticipate all possible requirements and assist with the construction process from plan review to on-site inspections, so you are confident the project is appropriately located, adequately designed, and constructed in compliance with City Codes and the Florida Building Code.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For any questions regarding building codes, please email e-mail the Building Official  Jonathan Bilby.

For permitting questions, please e-mail inspections@cityofpensacola.com.

For Plan Review questions please e-mail Building Inspections Specialist Robbie Weekley.