Lake Wales, FL Permit Fees (2026)

Building permit fees and building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical/HVAC, and roofing permit fees for Lake Wales, straight from the official fee schedule, with a free permit fee calculator below.

Lake Wales building fees rise automatically every October 1 under City Code Sec. 7-201(b), by June's annual CPI or 2.5 percent, whichever is greater. These estimates use the city's schedule prepared for October 1, 2026. See the official notice

Building Permit

In Lake Wales, a building permit for a $50,000 remodel runs $733.59 in permit fees, and a $20,000 re-roof $345.17. Totals include the documented surcharges and minimum fees. Each figure is that single permit only: a job that combines trades, like a kitchen remodel with electrical and plumbing work, pays each applicable permit. Pick a project to load it in the calculator below.

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Source

Article IX, Schedule of Fees (Table 7-201), prepared for October 1, 2026 under the City Code Sec. 7-201(b) annual adjustment; schedule adopted by Ordinance 2025-20

Covers building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical/HVAC, and roofing permits.

Official Fee Schedule

Apply online at the Lake Wales permit portal, or call 863-676-5115.

How Lake Wales values a job: Building permits are priced on total valuation: the greater of the contract price or 95 percent of the average cost per square foot in the current ICC Building Valuation Data chart. Commercial trade permits are priced on that trade's own valuation (the electrical, mechanical or plumbing scope), not the whole project cost.

Schedule effective October 1, 2026. Last verified: October 5, 2026

This schedule took effect after Florida's HB 803 (July 2026). We check sources weekly. What HB 803 changed

Lake Wales Permit Fee Schedule

Every documented rule for each permit type, straight from the official schedule.

Building Permit Fees in Lake Wales

All projects

tiered rates by job value, minimum $65.03‡

As printed; the $967.31 and $3,861.72 band bases exceed the $905.54 and $3,643.31 the band below reaches

Up to $1,000

$65.03

Over $1,000, up to $100,000

$65.03 plus $8.49 per additional $1,000

Over $100,000, up to $500,000

$967.31 plus $6.69 per additional $1,000

Over $500,000

$3,861.72 plus $4.98 per additional $1,000

Demolition

$124.54 flat

Moving permit

$181.55 flat

Certificate of Occupancy – Commercial (new construction)

$65.03‡

Certificate of Occupancy – Residential (new construction)

$49.57‡

Plan Checking Fee

50% of the permit fee‡

State Building Code Administrators Surcharge (F.S. 468.631)

1.5% of the permit fee, minimum $2.00†

State Building Permit Surcharge (F.S. 553.721)

1% of the permit fee, minimum $2.00†

Certificate of Occupancy – Commercial (Alteration) (remodel/alteration) (if applicable)

$65.03

Certificate of Occupancy – Residential (Alteration) (remodel/alteration) (if applicable)

$49.57

† Corroborated across official sources, but not printed line-for-line in the linked schedule.

‡ Awaiting confirmation from the jurisdiction.

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Homeowners and contractors planning a project check Lake Wales building permit fees here first. One sponsor per trade, flat monthly rate.

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Lake Wales Permit Fee Calculator

Pick a permit type and adjust the job value. Total updates instantly, itemized below.

Permit type

Project type

Kind of work

Job type

3 documented rates for this permit type; pick the one that matches your job.

Job value ($)

$2,500$500,000

Estimated building permit fee

$733.59

Included in this total

Building Permit Fee$481.04‡

$65.03 + 49 × $8.49 per $1,000 over $1,000, minimum $65.03 (see the fee table above)

As printed; the $967.31 and $3,861.72 band bases exceed the $905.54 and $3,643.31 the band below reaches

Plan Checking Fee$240.52‡

State Building Code Administrators Surcharge (F.S. 468.631)$7.22

State Building Permit Surcharge (F.S. 553.721)$4.81

Total Estimate$733.59

‡ Awaiting confirmation from the jurisdiction.

Building permits are priced on total valuation: the greater of the contract price or 95 percent of the average cost per square foot in the current ICC Building Valuation Data chart. Commercial trade permits are priced on that trade's own valuation (the electrical, mechanical or plumbing scope), not the whole project cost.

Estimate only. Confirm with the Lake Wales building department before applying. Apply online. Phone: 863-676-5115. Permit fees only; excludes impact fees, utility connection charges, and other non-permit charges.

Sponsor This Page

Be the Featured General Contractor in Lake Wales

Homeowners and contractors planning a project check Lake Wales building permit fees here first. One sponsor per trade, flat monthly rate.

Advertise on This Page

How to Apply for a Permit in Lake Wales

Lake Wales issues its own building permits through the Building Division in the Growth Management Department at 201 W Central Avenue. Licensed contractors apply online through the city's Contractor Online Portal and must request portal access before their first submittal. Owner builders do not qualify for a portal login but can use the portal's public view to look up permits, and may submit applications, documents and questions by email to permitting@lakewalesfl.gov or in person. Inspection requests go through the portal or by phone before 4 p.m. the day before the inspection is needed; owner builders call requests in by telephone. Projects may instead use a licensed private provider for plan review or inspections under the city's separate printed private provider fee schedule, after filing a Private Provider Registration Form.

Source: Lake Wales application instructions

Apply online: Lake Wales permit portal

Building Department Contact

Phone: 863-676-5115 ext. 9201
Email: permitting@lakewalesfl.gov
Address: 201 W Central Avenue, Lake Wales, FL 33853
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Source: Official contact page

Lake Wales Permit Fee FAQs

How Much Does a Building Permit Cost in Lake Wales?

The building permit for a $50,000 residential remodel runs $733.59, including the documented surcharges and minimum fees. The estimate is built from Lake Wales's sourced fee schedule, and it covers the building permit alone; a job that combines trades pays each applicable permit. Calculate your job's value for an itemized total.

How Much Does a Roofing Permit Cost in Lake Wales?

The roofing permit for a $20,000 residential re-roof runs $345.17, based on Lake Wales's sourced fee schedule.

How Are Permit Fees Calculated in Lake Wales?

A residential building permit is tiered rates by job value, minimum $65.03. Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical / HVAC permits are priced per unit; Roofing permits scale with the value of the job. New construction is priced separately from remodel and alteration work; the calculator asks which kind of job yours is. Every rate comes straight from the sourced fee schedule above. Enter your job's details for an itemized total.

What Surcharges Are Added to Permits in Lake Wales?

On top of the base permit fee, the sourced schedule adds Plan Checking Fee (50% of the permit fee), State Building Code Administrators Surcharge (F.S. 468.631) (1.5% of the permit fee, minimum $2.00) and State Building Permit Surcharge (F.S. 553.721) (1% of the permit fee, minimum $2.00). These are included in every estimate on this page.

Do I Need a Permit for a Small Residential Job in Lake Wales?

Florida's HB 803 (effective July 2026) exempts certain single-family work under $7,500 from permitting statewide, excluding electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical, and gas work. Confirm with the building department whether your job qualifies before skipping a permit. Read what HB 803 changed and what it saves.

Where Do These Fees Come From?

Every figure on this page is sourced from Article IX, Schedule of Fees (Table 7-201), prepared for October 1, 2026 under the City Code Sec. 7-201(b) annual adjustment; schedule adopted by Ordinance 2025-20. See the official schedule. Last verified October 5, 2026.

Other Jurisdictions in Polk County

Jobs inside another city's limits are permitted by that city; unincorporated areas by the county.

Unincorporated Polk County Auburndale Bartow Davenport Dundee Fort Meade Frostproof Haines City Highland Park Hillcrest Heights Lake Alfred Lake HamiltonLake WalesLakeland Mulberry Polk City Winter Haven

New to Florida permit fees? Read our Florida permit fee guide: how schedules are set, the statutory surcharges, and what HB 803 changed in 2026. Pulling a commercial permit or a small residential job? See what HB 803 lets you save. Wondering whether fees changed this year? See which Florida fee schedules are new.