Notices

A building permit for Change of Use is required when the use or Occupancy Classification of a Building or Tenant Space is changed, as determined by the Florida Building Code – Existing Building Ch. 10 and the Florida Fire Prevention Code. The State of Florida requires a new Certificate of Occupancy to be issued when an existing building changes its use or the type of occupancy as defined in FBC – Existing Building Section 1001.

A building permit for Change of Use will require, at a minimum:

• A Building Code Summary;

• A life safety Plan;

• A Floor Plan of the existing building or tenant space;

• And a Site Plan that shows ADA Parking Spaces and an Accessible Route of travel to the main entrance.

A Florida Registered Design Professional, required for all commercial projects, shall review the building or tenant space in order to determine if additional changes are required.

Some possible changes may include, but not limited to, installation of a fire sprinkler or fire alarm system; additional ingress / egress doors; existing / new restrooms with ADA accessibility; any required changes to the Electrical and Mechanical systems; and, an ADA parking space with a delineated accessible path of travel to an accessible entrance.

A standard Building Permit Application shall be used for all Change of Use projects. Under the Description of Job section add “Change of Use from __________ to __________.” Planning, Zoning and Historical will all need to approve the permit application.

1. Minimum requirements for ALL Change of Use Permits:

2. A completed Building Permit Application.

3. Three copies of the Existing and Proposed floor plan. Include a complete Code Summary and Life Safety Plan. The minimum size drawing sheet shall be 11” x 17”, minimum scale 1/8” = 1’-0”, and minimum lettering size 1/8”.

4. For projects where NO work is required, as defined in FBC – Existing Building Ch. 5, provide a signed and notarized letter from a master electrician, a master plumber and a commercial HVAC contractor, on their letterhead, stating their respective systems meet the minimum requirements of the current building codes and are in good working order.

5. For commercial projects requiring Alterations and Repairs, the following items are required:

6. The Floor Plans shall clearly show the Scope of Work with supplement drawings to describe in enough detail the extent of the work.

7. The registered design professional shall either state on the drawing’s cover sheet that the project is 100% ADA compliant or document compliance with the FBC – Accessibility Code for Building Construction, 2017 Edition Section 202.4.1 Disproportionate Costs.

8. The ADA parking spaces shall be located on the Site Plan meeting the requirements of Section 208 Parking Spaces. The ADA parking Spaces shall not be considered as a Disproportionate Cost.

9. Procedure for a Change of Use Permit:

10. Completely fill out and notarize the general Building Permit Application. Under the Description of Job note Change of Use / Change of Occupancy.

11. Obtain Planning, Zoning and Historical Compliance prior to submitting to the Building Department for review.

12. If Building Department approves, issue a Change of Use permit.

13. Pass Fire Safety and all applicable Building inspections.

14. Issue a new Certificate of Occupancy.