Southwest Florida
Home permits and project costs in Lee County, FL
Lee County has about 834,573 residents and its seat is Fort Myers. If your address is outside city limits, Lee County — a home-rule charter county — is your permit authority.
Verified August 2026
Local cost index
+9%
vs national average
Permit fee index
+21%
vs national baseline
Regulatory complexity
80/100
wind, flood and review load
Coverage priority
81.6/100
research order score
Who issues permits in Lee County?
Depends on your address
Inside city limits, the city building department issues the permit. Outside city limits — unincorporated Lee County — the county building department reviews, permits and inspects the work. Both enforce the same 8th Edition (2023) Florida Building Code, but fee schedules, zoning setbacks and review times differ.
Project costs in Lee County
National baselines adjusted by the regional labor and material index. Modeled estimates, not quotes.
| Project | Typical cost | Permit |
|---|---|---|
| Roof Replacement | $10,400 – $34,900 | Yes |
| AC Replacement | $5,700 – $16,900 | Yes |
| Fence Installation | $2,600 – $12,000 | Usually yes |
| Water Heater Replacement | $1,300 – $5,900 | Yes |
| Pool Installation | $41,400 – $125,400 | Yes |
| Window Replacement | $8,200 – $37,100 | Yes |
| Electrical Panel Replacement | $2,100 – $7,400 | Yes |
| Generator Installation | $7,100 – $24,000 | Yes |
| Solar Panel Installation | $16,400 – $52,300 | Yes |
| Kitchen Remodel | $19,600 – $100,300 | It depends |
| Bathroom Remodel | $9,800 – $45,800 | It depends |
| Driveway Replacement | $4,600 – $20,700 | Usually yes |
| Paver Patio & Walkway | $3,800 – $17,400 | It depends |
| Deck Construction | $6,000 – $30,500 | Yes |
| Shed Installation | $2,000 – $13,100 | It depends |
| Whole-House Repipe | $4,900 – $17,400 | Yes |
| EV Charger Installation | $900 – $4,600 | Yes |
| Hurricane Shutter Installation | $3,500 – $19,600 | Yes |
| Pool Enclosure / Screen Cage | $9,800 – $45,800 | Yes |
| Septic System Replacement | $8,200 – $30,500 | Yes |
| Impact Window Installation | $9,800 – $45,800 | Yes |
| Exterior Door Replacement | $1,000 – $7,100 | Usually yes |
| Garage Door Replacement | $1,500 – $8,200 | Yes |
| Siding Installation | $8,700 – $41,400 | Usually yes |
| Stucco Repair | $1,000 – $17,400 | It depends |
| Soffit & Fascia Replacement | $2,000 – $12,000 | It depends |
| Gutter Installation | $1,000 – $7,100 | Usually no |
| Roof Repair | $400 – $5,200 | It depends |
| Flat Roof Replacement | $6,500 – $30,500 | Yes |
| Attic Insulation | $1,300 – $8,200 | Usually no |
| Ductwork Replacement | $2,700 – $13,100 | Yes |
| Mini Split Installation | $2,600 – $13,600 | Yes |
| Flooring Installation | $2,700 – $21,800 | Usually no |
| Tile Installation | $2,000 – $17,400 | Usually no |
| Interior Painting | $1,600 – $10,400 | Usually no |
| Exterior Painting | $3,100 – $16,400 | Usually no |
| Drywall Repair | $400 – $4,900 | Usually no |
| Kitchen Cabinet Refacing | $4,900 – $21,800 | Usually no |
| Countertop Replacement | $2,400 – $13,100 | Usually no |
| Tub to Shower Conversion | $3,800 – $17,400 | Usually yes |
| Sod Installation | $1,000 – $7,600 | Usually no |
| Irrigation System Installation | $2,400 – $10,900 | It depends |
| Tree Removal | $500 – $6,000 | It depends |
| Outdoor Kitchen | $6,500 – $49,100 | Usually yes |
| Seawall Repair | $8,700 – $103,600 | Yes |
| Dock Construction | $9,800 – $92,700 | Yes |
| Well Installation | $6,000 – $27,300 | Yes |
| Mold Remediation | $1,600 – $16,400 | It depends |
| Water Softener Installation | $1,300 – $7,100 | Usually yes |
| Home Addition | $49,100 – $305,200 | Yes |
County facts
| County seat | Fort Myers |
|---|---|
| Population | 834,573 |
| Government type | Home-rule charter county |
| Region | Southwest Florida |
| Municipalities tracked | 6 |
| Building codeEffective December 31, 2023 | 8th Edition (2023) Florida Building Code |
Cities and towns in Lee County
Municipalities may run their own building department with different fees and rules.
Common questions
Who issues my building permit in Florida?
Whoever governs your address. If you are inside city limits, the city building department usually issues the permit. If you are in an unincorporated area — about half of Florida households — the county building department is the permit authority.
Can I pull my own permit in Florida?
Usually yes, under the owner-builder exemption in Fla. Stat. § 489.103(7), if you own and occupy the home, sign the disclosure statement, and do the work yourself or with employees you directly hire. You also cannot sell the home within one year of completion without explaining the work.
What happens if I skip the permit?
Unpermitted work commonly draws double or triple permit fees, a stop-work order, and an open code case. It also surfaces at resale and can cause an insurance claim on that system to be denied.
Does the Florida Building Code change often?
Florida is on the 8th Edition (2023) Florida Building Code, effective December 31, 2023. The Florida Building Commission updates the code on a three-year cycle, and the 2026 update is currently in process, so local amendments and product approval lists should be rechecked before a job starts.
Do local cities have their own rules on top of the state code?
Yes. Florida allows local amendments under defined conditions, and the Florida Building Commission maintains a searchable local amendment database. Cities also set their own fee schedules, zoning setbacks, fence heights and review timelines.