Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-10-10
67 of Florida's 67 counties — 100% — let an owner build their own home without a licensed contractor. That is the 19th-largest count of any state. The strongest of them on the Bolthole Index is Jefferson County (80/100). Every entry below cites the county’s own official source.
Rules change, and cities inside these counties set their own — treat this as a verified starting point, not legal advice. All 2952 counties nationwide → Florida: no zoning → Florida: rv living → Florida: tiny homes → Florida: no minimum home size → Full Florida profile →
67 of 67 Florida counties · sorted by Index score
The county Building Department provides an 'Owner Builder Statement' form allowing the owner to act as their own contractor (Florida owner-builder provision under FL Statute 489…
Jefferson County FL - Building Department ↗Florida law (F.S. 489.103) provides a statewide owner-builder exemption allowing property owners to act as their own contractor, reflected in the county's owner-authorization pe…
Dixie County Building & Zoning Department ↗Permits where the property owner acts as contractor. An owner-builder affidavit is listed among required permit documents. The county page identifies the owner-acting-as-contrac…
Building Permit ↗Florida Statute 489.103(7) grants an owner-builder exemption to build or improve a one- or two-family residence for their own occupancy (not for sale/lease within one year), sub…
Florida Statutes 489.103 - Owner-Builder Exemption ↗Florida's statewide owner-builder exemption (Fla. Stat. 489.103(7)) lets owners build/improve their own one- or two-family residence without a licensed contractor, subject to a …
Florida Statutes 489.103 (owner-builder exemption) ↗Owners acting as their own contractor when applying for a building permit through the Calhoun County Building Department. Florida Statute 489.103(7) requires the owner to comple…
Owner-Builder Disclosure Statement ↗Owners acting as their own contractor on residential building applications An owner-builder affidavit is required only for owners acting as the contractor.
New Residential Building Permit Application ↗Florida statute 489.103(7) grants a statewide owner-builder exemption allowing owners to build/improve their own residence without a licensed contractor, subject to conditions; …
Florida Statutes 489.103 - Owner-builder exemption ↗Owner-builder building permits issued through the Holmes County Building Department. The owner must provide direct, onsite supervision. The exemption covers building or improvin…
Owner/Builder Permit Affidavit ↗Statewide rule. An owner acting as the owner's own contractor for construction, improvement, maintenance, repair, alteration, or addition to a one-family or two-family residence…
2026 Florida Statutes § 489.103, Exemptions ↗Florida Statute § 489.103(7) provides an owner-builder exemption allowing an owner to build or improve a one- or two-family residence or farm outbuilding for their own use witho…
Florida Statutes § 489.103 – Exemptions ↗Florida Statute 489.103 provides a statewide owner-builder exemption allowing a property owner to act as their own contractor, and Madison County provides owner-builder permit a…
Madison County Building Department - Permit Applications ↗Florida provides a statewide owner-builder exemption under Fla. Stat. 489.103(7) allowing a property owner to act as their own contractor for a one/two-family residence, honored…
Florida Statutes 489.103 - Owner-builder exemption ↗County Building Department processes owner-builder permits under Florida's statewide owner-builder exemption (FS 489.103(7)) via its permit applications and forms.
Gadsden County Permit Applications and Forms ↗Florida's statewide owner-builder exemption (Fla. Stat. 489.103) allows a property owner to act as their own contractor for their own residence, applicable in Taylor County.
Florida Statutes 489.103 (Owner-Builder Exemption) ↗Owners applying for an owner-builder permit for eligible construction. The owner may build or improve a one-family or two-family residence or farm outbuilding; a commercial buil…
Information Packet for Owner/Builders ↗Owner-builders applying for building permits through the Liberty County Building Department. The owner-builder must use the property for the owner's own use or occupancy. The ex…
Liberty County Owner Builder Affidavit ↗Owners applying for building permits under the Florida contractor-license exemption. The owner must personally appear and sign the building permit application in the county offi…
Building Department ↗The county provides an Owner/Builder Disclosure Statement allowing owners to build or improve their own one- or two-family residence for their own use under the Florida owner-bu…
Suwannee County, FL Building Department ↗A property owner acting as the contractor for a building project in unincorporated Bay County. Florida Statute 489.103 permits owner self-performance only under certain and spec…
Building Safety FAQs ↗Statewide rule. An owner acting as the owner's own contractor for construction, improvement, maintenance, repair, alteration, or addition to a one-family or two-family residence…
2026 Florida Statutes § 489.103, Exemptions ↗Florida's statewide owner-builder exemption (Fla. Stat. 489.103) lets a property owner act as their own contractor for their own residence, which applies in Gilchrist County.
Florida Statutes 489.103 (Owner-Builder Exemption) ↗Owners of single-family residences seeking the Walton County Building Department exemption from certain permitting requirements under Florida Building Code Section 102.2.5. The …
Permit Rules ↗Property owners acting as their own contractor under Florida owner-builder provisions. Construction must comply with Wakulla County regulations, the Florida Building Code, and a…
Permit Application and Fees ↗Statewide rule. An owner acting as the owner's own contractor for construction, improvement, maintenance, repair, alteration, or addition to a one-family or two-family residence…
2026 Florida Statutes § 489.103, Exemptions ↗Owner-builder permits for property owners undertaking qualifying construction in Okeechobee County. State law generally requires construction to be performed by a licensed contr…
Owner/Builder Disclosure Statement ↗Statewide rule. An owner acting as the owner's own contractor for construction, improvement, maintenance, repair, alteration, or addition to a one-family or two-family residence…
2026 Florida Statutes § 489.103, Exemptions ↗Property owners applying for an owner-builder permit in Columbia County. Limited to one-family or two-family residences, farm outbuildings, and commercial buildings costing no m…
Owner Builder Disclosure Statement ↗Property owners applying for an owner-builder permit through the DeSoto County Building Department. Owner-builder must provide direct onsite supervision. Permitted work includes…
Owner-Builder Disclosure Statement ↗Owner-builders constructing or improving qualifying property in Putnam County. The owner may build or improve a one-family or two-family residence or farm outbuilding for the ow…
Owner/Builder Disclosure Statement ↗Florida Statute 489.103(7) grants a statewide owner-builder exemption allowing owners to act as their own contractor for a one- or two-family residence for their own use, requir…
Florida Statutes 489.103 (Owner-builder exemption) ↗Statewide rule. An owner acting as the owner's own contractor for construction, improvement, maintenance, repair, alteration, or addition to a one-family or two-family residence…
2026 Florida Statutes § 489.103, Exemptions ↗Owners acting as their own contractor for one-family or two-family residences, farm outbuildings, and certain other work described in the disclosure. The owner must personally a…
Owner-Builder Application for Contractor Exemption ↗Statewide rule. Owner-builders using Florida's contractor-licensing exemption for construction in Highlands County. The owner must act as the owner's own contractor and provide …
2025 Florida Statutes, Chapter 489, Section 103 — Exemptions ↗Owner-builder building permits in Clay County. The applicant must own the property and be named on the deed. The property cannot be owned by a trust, LLC, business, or through p…
Can I Pull a Permit as an Owner-Builder? ↗Owner-occupied homes processed through the Alachua County Building Division The owner must own and occupy the home. The property cannot be offered for sale or lease for one year…
Building Permits ↗Florida Statute 489.103 exempts owners building or improving a one- or two-family residence on their own property for their own use (not for sale/lease within one year), provide…
Florida Statutes 489.103 Exemptions ↗Residential owners seeking to act as their own contractor in Osceola County. Owners may build or improve one- or two-family homes or farm outbuildings for personal use. Unlicens…
osceola.org ↗Owner-builders applying for a permit for work in Glades County. The applicant must qualify as an owner-builder. An owner-builder may do the work personally, hire a licensed cont…
myglades.com ↗Florida Statute 489.103(7) provides a statewide owner-builder exemption (with disclosure statement) applicable in all counties including Hardee.
Florida Statutes 489.103(7) Owner-Builder Exemption ↗Owner-builder eligibility for a new or replacement single-family dwelling permit. An Owner-Builder Disclosure Statement Form must be completed. The owner-builder must not rent o…
Residential Single Family ↗Citrus County provides an Owner-Builder Affidavit allowing property owners to act as their own contractor under Florida's owner-builder exemption.
Citrus County Building Division - Residential Permitting ↗Owner-builder permits for qualifying construction in Hernando County. The owner must personally appear and sign the permit application; power of attorney is not accepted. The pr…
Single Family Owner Builder Application ↗Property owners applying for owner-builder permits through the Polk County permitting process. The disclosure must be completed and signed by the property owner before a buildin…
Owner-Builder Disclosure Statement ↗Homeowner permitting for construction or renovation of a primary residence in the consolidated Jacksonville/Duval County building-permitting jurisdiction. The property must be t…
Residential Permits ↗Under Florida Statute 489.103(7), a property owner may act as their own contractor to build/improve their own one- or two-family residence or farm outbuildings by signing an own…
Florida Statutes 489.103 - Contractor licensing exemptions ↗An owner-builder seeking a Marion County building permit. The owner-builder must be present at application. The owner-builder must personally sign the building permit applicatio…
Owner Builder Disclosure Statement ↗Qualifying owner-builders applying for permits in Martin County. A qualifying owner-builder must appear in person at 900 SE Ruhnke Street, Stuart, to sign the Building Permit Ap…
Do I Need a Building Permit? ↗Owner-builder permits for qualifying owner-occupied construction in Monroe County. The owner must provide direct, onsite supervision. The building or residence must be for the o…
Owner/Builder Affidavit ↗Residential permit applications where the owner acts as owner-builder. An Owner-Builder Declaration of Self-Use or Owner-Builder Disclosure Statement must be submitted. The buil…
Residential Application and Permitting Guide ↗Qualifying work on a single-family dwelling on the owner's property. Work must be valued at less than $7,500. The property cannot be partially or entirely in a flood hazard area.
Central Permitting ↗Owner-builder residential permit applications handled by Sumter County Building Services. For an owner-build permit, the owner must appear in person before permit issuance. The …
Conventional Construction - Residential ↗Owner-builder permits for property owners applying through Lake County Building Services. The owner-builder disclosure statement is required. The owner-builder must personally a…
Single Family Residential Permit Checklist ↗Statewide rule. An owner acting as the owner's own contractor for construction, improvement, maintenance, repair, alteration, or addition to a one-family or two-family residence…
2026 Florida Statutes § 489.103, Exemptions ↗Owner-occupied single-family residences where the homeowner performs the work, uses employees under direct onsite supervision, or hires a licensed contractor for that field. The…
Indian River County Contractor Licensing ↗Florida Statute 489.103 lets an owner act as their own contractor on a one- or two-family home they own for personal use, with direct on-site supervision and a signed disclosure…
Florida Statutes 489.103 - Exemptions (Owner-Builder) ↗A homeowner performing work on the homeowner’s own house in Pasco County. The homeowner’s primary residence must be involved. The property must not be a rental.
Building Construction ↗Owners acting as their own contractors for county building permits in unincorporated Brevard County. Owner/builders must appear in person to file the permit application. Require…
Brevard County Building Permits ↗St. Lucie County recognizes the Florida Statutes 489.103(7) owner-builder exemption allowing owners who own and occupy the home to act as their own contractor.
St. Lucie County Planning & Development Services ↗Under Fla. Stat. 489.103(7), a property owner may act as their own contractor on a one- or two-family home they own by signing the permit application and owner-builder disclosur…
Florida Statutes 489.103 - Contractor Licensing Exemptions (Owner-Builder) ↗A property owner applying as an owner-builder for the owner's own use or occupancy. The applicant must qualify under Florida law. If property is owned by a corporation, LLC, or …
Permitting FAQs ↗Homeowners may apply as owner-builders by completing the Owner-Builder Affidavit and disclosure statement (trusts excluded as of Oct 1, 2023).
Collier County Owner-Builder Building Permit Application ↗Homeowners performing construction on their own primary residence. The property must be in the homeowner's name and be the homeowner's primary residence. If recently purchased a…
Permits for Homeowners ↗Owner-builders applying for Pinellas County building permits. Owner-builders may begin the application but must appear in person for affidavit verification. A valid state-issued…
Permitting Guide ↗A homeowner acting as their own contractor for permitted work. The county states a homeowner can act as their own contractor. The cited page strongly recommends engaging a licen…
Code Violation Permit Process ↗Owner-builder permits for residential and limited commercial work. Residential work is limited to a one-family or two-family residence or farm outbuilding for the owner's own us…
Owner-Builder Permits ↗Broward County provides an Owner-Builder disclosure statement/affidavit for permit applicants under the owner-builder exemption of Florida Statute 489.103, allowing owners to ac…
Broward County Owner-Builder Disclosure Statement ↗Every county here has a full profile — water, land prices, hazard safety, seclusion, and the rest of its building rules. See the Florida state page for all 67 counties ranked, or go back to the national list.
Off-grid gear
Building on land in one of these Florida counties? The kit we'd start with:
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General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.
