If you’re planning a screen enclosure or pool cage in Northeast Florida, permitting isn’t optional — and understanding the process upfront saves a lot of confusion later.
Yes, You Need a Permit
Every screen enclosure structure in Duval, St. Johns, Clay, and Nassau County requires a building permit. This applies whether you’re building a new pool cage, screening in an existing lanai, or doing a full tear-down and rebuild. Florida’s building code requires these structures to be engineered to current wind load requirements — this isn’t bureaucratic red tape, it’s what keeps your enclosure standing through a Florida storm.
What the Permit Process Actually Involves
- Design and engineering. Your contractor prepares drawings and engineering documentation showing the structure meets Florida wind load codes for your specific location and wind zone.
- Application submission. The permit application, along with engineering drawings, goes to your county’s building department.
- Review. County review times vary but typically run two to four weeks, depending on the jurisdiction’s current workload.
- Construction. Once the permit is approved, construction can begin.
- Final inspection. After the enclosure is built, a county inspector verifies it was built to the approved plans before the permit is closed out.
HOA Approval Is a Separate Step
If your community has a homeowners association, you’ll likely need architectural review approval in addition to the county permit. Many HOAs require design drawings, material specifications, and color approval before construction can start. A good contractor handles both processes simultaneously so they don’t add extra time to your project.
Why This Matters Even If You’re Tempted to Skip It
Unpermitted structures create real problems down the line: they can complicate a home sale, they may not be covered by insurance in the event of storm damage, and code enforcement can require removal or retroactive permitting — which is more expensive and stressful than doing it right the first time.
We Handle the Whole Process
Kish Enclosures manages the full permitting process — county application, engineering documentation, and HOA submissions — on every project. You don’t contact the county or fill out a single form.
Get Started
Call Wayne or JT Kish at (904) 805-4343 for a free estimate, and we’ll walk you through exactly what your specific project and county require. Or use our free estimate form online.
FL Certified Specialty Contractor — Lic. #SCC131149801 | Licensed & Insured