Outdoor
Pool Enclosure / Screen Cage: Cost, Permits & Timeline
Building or rebuilding an aluminum screen enclosure over a pool or patio. Florida requires engineered plans and wind-load calculations for these structures.
Verified August 2026
Typical cost
$18,000
$9,000 – $42,000
per sq ft of enclosure
$18 – $40
Permit
Required
$180 – $700
Timeline
1-2 weeks of work
1-2 weeks of work, 4-10 weeks including engineering and permitting
Do you need a permit for pool enclosure / screen cage?
Yes
Pool Enclosure / Screen Cage is permitted and inspected work in nearly every jurisdiction. Typical fees run $180 to $700, and a licensed contractor generally has to pull the permit.
What drives the cost
- Enclosure footprint and height
- Mansard versus gable roof style
- Screen type including no-see-um and pet screen
- Design wind speed for the parcel
- Existing deck footing capacity
Permit, inspections and documents
| Permit status | required |
|---|---|
| Typical permit fee | $180 – $700 |
| Licensed contractor required | Usually yes |
| Owner-builder allowed | Yes, on owner-occupied homes |
| Inspections | Footing / anchor inspection, Framing inspection, Final inspection |
| Timeline | 1-2 weeks of work, 4-10 weeks including engineering and permitting |
| DIY difficulty | 5/5 difficulty |
Documents typically required
- • Permit application
- • Engineered structural plans
- • Survey with setbacks
- • Wind-load calculations
Pool Enclosure / Screen Cage cost by city
Local labor and material pricing applied to the national baseline.
| City | Typical range | vs national |
|---|---|---|
| Miami | $10,600 – $49,600 | +18% |
| Tampa | $9,400 – $43,700 | +4% |
| Orlando | $9,200 – $42,800 | +2% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $10,300 – $47,900 | +14% |
| Jacksonville | $8,600 – $40,300 | -4% |
| West Palm Beach | $10,100 – $47,000 | +12% |
| St. Petersburg | $9,300 – $43,300 | +3% |
| Fort Myers | $9,800 – $45,800 | +9% |
| Cape Coral | $9,600 – $44,900 | +7% |
| Sarasota | $9,700 – $45,400 | +8% |
| Naples | $11,200 – $52,100 | +24% |
| Port St. Lucie | $9,200 – $42,800 | +2% |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for a pool cage?
Yes. Screen enclosures are engineered structures in Florida and require a building permit with signed and sealed plans plus wind-load calculations.
Sources
Sources & verification
Last verified August 2026. Cost figures are modeled estimates based on national baselines adjusted for local labor and material pricing — they are not quotes. Permit rules change; confirm with the building department before starting work.