Building permits and zoning in Gainesville

Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Gainesville Building Division, its building common questions and the Planning Division.

Permits and zoning in Gainesville run through the city’s Department of Sustainable Development, at the Thomas Center, Building B, 306 NE Sixth Ave., open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Most applications start online in PermitGNV, the city’s permit portal, which also lets you look up past permits, schedule inspections and report a code violation.

Who to call

• Building permits and inspections: Building Division, 352-334-5050, building@gainesvillefl.gov
• Zoning, land use and “can I build this here”: Planning Division (Planner of the Day), 352-334-5023
• Main City Hall line: 352-334-5000, 200 E. University Ave.
• Outside city limits: Alachua County Growth Management, Building 352-374-5243, Planning and Zoning 352-374-5249

First, check that you are in the city

A Gainesville address does not always mean the City of Gainesville. Look up the parcel on the Alachua County Property Appraiser’s site and check the tax district: 3600 is the City of Gainesville, 1700 is the City of Alachua, and most others are unincorporated county, the city says. County properties get permits from Alachua County Growth Management at the County Annex, 10 SW Second Ave. Its Building Division is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday.

The same parcel page lists the property’s zoning.

When you need a permit

The Florida Building Code requires a permit to build, enlarge, alter, repair, move or demolish a building, change its use, or install or replace electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing or impact-resistant systems. Gainesville applies the 2023 Florida Building Code, 8th Edition, for applications made since Dec. 31, 2023.

Work without a permit can bring a stop-work order from Code Enforcement and double permit fees, the city says, and a notice of violation with more fees or fines if the permit still is not pulled.

How to apply

From the city’s building application process page:

1. Online: register in PermitGNV, choose “Submit an Application” under Building Permits and pay. Contractors must be state-certified and verified first.
2. By email or mail: send the signed application; a permit expeditor contacts you about fees. Mail goes to City of Gainesville Building Division, P.O. Box 490, Station 9, Gainesville, FL 32627.
3. In person: Thomas Center Building B, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

After payment, the city emails you either the permit or a link to upload plans to ProjectDox, its electronic plan review site. Plan review can take up to 15 business days. Fee estimates are under the Reports tab in PermitGNV. Fees are paid by check, money order or card.

Homeowners can pull permits for a home they live in, but must sign the application and owner affidavits in person. State law (Chapter 489) bars the owner exemption for property that is for sale, rent or lease. Bring the application, a tax bill or recorded deed and your driver’s license. If a contractor asks you to pull the permit for their work, the city warns that it makes you liable for the work.

After the permit is issued, download the permit card from PermitGNV and schedule each inspection it lists. A permit expires if work has not started, or no inspection has been requested, within 180 days.

Checking a contractor

Ask for the state license and references, and verify the license with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which shows whether it is valid and whether complaints have been filed.

Zoning, rezoning and the boards that decide

Zoning rules are in the city’s Land Development Code, Chapter 30 of the Gainesville Code of Ordinances.

• City Plan Board: seven residents appointed by the City Commission, plus a nonvoting School Board member. It reviews land use and zoning changes, special use permits and changes to the Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code, and sends recommendations to the City Commission. It meets monthly on a Thursday; the city posts each year’s dates on the City Plan Board page.
• Development Review Board: seven members who review major development plans and design plats under Chapter 30. It meets monthly on a Tuesday; dates are on the Development Review Board page.
• Historic Preservation Board: the city also has a Historic Preservation Board; work on historic properties starts with the Historic Preservation page.

Questions about what a zoning district allows go to the Planner of the Day, 352-334-5023, through the form on the Planning Division page.

What this means for you

• Confirm city or county before you apply; they are separate offices.
• Plan for up to three weeks of plan review on anything bigger than a simple permit.
• Owners of rentals need a licensed contractor to pull the permit.

Related: property taxes, Gainesville history and landmarks and moving to Gainesville.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I get a building permit in Gainesville?

Apply online through PermitGNV, by email or mail, or in person at the Building Division, Thomas Center Building B, 306 NE Sixth Ave., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Call 352-334-5050.

How long does a Gainesville building permit take?

Plan review can take up to 15 business days, depending on the size of the project and the quality of the submittal, the city says. Simple permits may be issued without plan review.

How do I find the zoning of my property in Gainesville?

Look up the parcel on the Alachua County Property Appraiser’s site, which lists zoning, or call the city’s Planner of the Day at 352-334-5023.

Can a homeowner pull their own permit in Gainesville?

Yes, for a home they live in, but not for a rental. The owner must sign the application and affidavits in person at the Building Division, as state law requires.

Is my address in the City of Gainesville or Alachua County?

Check the tax district on the property appraiser’s parcel page. District 3600 is the city; most other districts are unincorporated county, which issues its own permits at 352-374-5243.