​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Our office receives many questions regarding the topics below. If you are unable to find the information you need,​​​ please call 239-533-5801.
 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Table of Contents:​​

Certifications​​​​

Inspections

Fees


<Bookmark>Certifications​

An Elevation Certificate (EC) is an administrative tool of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Elevation Certificates are to be used to provide elevation information necessary to ensure compliance with community floodplain management ordinances, to determine the proper insurance premium rate, or to support a request for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). 

A FEMA Elevation Certificate must be submitted prior to the tie beam inspection (103), or before the inspection of the lowest horizontal member of the structure (105).  The Finished Construction Elevation Certificate must be submitted prior to the 106 structural final. For information on submitting elevation certificates please visit Submitting Elevation Certifications.

You may search for elevation Certificates on eConnect​. "Building Under Construction" certificates are posted as PART (partial) while "Finished Construction" certificates are posted as DONE (final).

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Florida Building code 1816.1 requires: Termite protection shall be provided by registered termiticides, including soil-applied pesticides, baiting systems and pesticides applied to wood, or other approved methods of termite protection labeled for use as a preventative treatment to new construction. Upon completion of the application of the termite protective treatment, a Termite Certificate ​must be submitted to the Building Inspections Department by the licensed pest control company or owner builder. The certificate must contain the following information (date & time of treatment, site address, name of applicator, scientific chemical name, product brand name, percent concentration, # of gallons, and square/linear footage of area treated)  and the final statement: "The building has received a complete treatment for the prevention of subterranean termites. Treatment is in accordance with rules and laws established by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.” The certificates can be faxed to 239-485-5555 or by email to inspections@leegov.com.

​​Termite Certificates are posted on eConnect under the Permit/Sub permit Activity as Termite Cert Req./Issued. The comments field will show the pest company name if complete or missing items if incomplete.

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  • <Bookmark>Coastal Construction Certification of Compliance:

Lee County Land Development Code reference Chapter 6 Section 6-332 (5):​ Certification of compliance. Plans for buildings in the coastal building zone must be signed and sealed by an architect or engineer registered in the state. Upon completion of the building and prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, a statement must be filed with the building official, the statement must be signed and sealed by an architect or engineer registered in the state and substantially contain the following wording: "To the best of my knowledge and belief the above-described construction of all structural load bearing components complies with the permitted documents and plans submitted to the Building Department." This original sealed letter must be submitted to the inspections office at 1825 Hendry Street, 3rd floor or by email to inspections@leegov.com with an approved Lee County registered electronic signature.

Threshold Building inspections required by the Florida Statutes 553.79(5) and pursuant to a structural inspection plan prepared by the engineer or architect of record requires a Final Threshold Letter to be submitted prior to the issuance of Certification of Occupancy. This letter must contain the following passage:  “To the best of my knowledge and belief, the construction of all structural load bearing components described in the inspection plan complies with the permitted documents, and the specialty shoring design professional engineer has ascertained that the shoring and re-shoring conforms with the shoring and re-shoring plans submitted to the enforcement agency.” This original sealed letter must be submitted to the Inspections Department office at 1825 Hendry Street, 3rd floor or by email to inspections@leegov.com with an approved Lee County registered electronic signature.

  • <Bookmark>Obtaining Certificate of Occupancy & Certificate of Compliance:
Certificates of Occupancy and Compliance can be printed from eConnect​ by scrolling down past the fees table to Documents for Activities. Click on blue line next to Certificate of Occ. Issued (F) or Compliance Cert Issued (F) to print the document. Or to receive it by fax, call 239-533-8997 and press option 6. You will be asked to enter the permit number and after site address verification, you enter your 10 digit fax number (including the area code). Please note, if you are calling from Naples, press 2 for calling outside the local calling area. 
  • <Bookmark>Roof Inspection Affidavit/Hurricane Mitigation:

Florida Statute, 553.844, requires a roof inspection affidavit​ be submitted when a tear off re-roof is done on an existing residential structure.  The form must be submitted prior to the final roof inspection (503). It can be faxed to 239-485-5555 or emailed to inspections@leegov.com.  

  • <Bookmark>Construction Debris Solid Waste Approval:
Per Lee County Ordinance 07-25, on residential and commercial properties with certain construction values, you must show proof that you have taken the construction debris to a proper recycling facility. Please contact the Solid Waste Office​​ at 239-533-8000 for details. Once they have approved your documents, they will enter their approval into the DCD program. If you wish not to submit debris receipts, you can pay the diversion fee. The cost depends on the nature of the construction. Please contact the Solid Waste office for fee amount. 

<Bookmark>Inspections

Residential driveway and/or culvert inspections are scheduled through the automated system at 239-533-8997 and handled by the Department of Transportation​ staff. Please contact them directly at 239-533-9300 for more information.  Fence inspections which are not required as a part of a pool barrier are performed by the Lee County Code Enforcement Department. Pool barrier fences will be performed by the Building Inspections Department. All inspection requests are scheduled through the automated system​ and will be performed the following day. If you will not be home, please leave your permit board and drawing available to the inspector. The results of the inspections are available one eConnect​ or by calling 239-533-8997. If after your inspection you have any questions please call Lee County Code Enforcement at 239-533-8895.  Development Services​ site inspections (landscaping, parking, utility, etc.) are initiated by the Engineer of Record submitting a Letter of Substantial Compliance to Development Services. For more information, please call Development Services at 239-533-8587 or visit Certificate of Compliance Inspections
Public lodging and food service establishment require approval from the Department of Business & Professional Regulation Hotels and Restaurants Division​. The Division of Environmental Health, which inspects septic systems, is located on the second floor of the Regional Service Center at 2295 Victoria Ave., downtown Fort Myers. To schedule inspections, please call their office at 239-690-2100. Once the Health Department approves the inspections, they will send the Building Inspections Department an email with the approval code. Sign inspections are performed by the Lee County Code Enforcement Office. Inspection requests are scheduled through the automated system and will be performed the following day. Please leave your permit board and drawing available to the inspector. The results of the inspections are available through eConnect or by calling 239-533-8997. If after your inspection you have any questions, please call Mary Zettel with Code Enforcement at 239-533-8895.  Well inspections are completed by the Natural Resources Wells Department. For more information, please call 239-533-8540.
  • <Bookmark>Turtle Lighting & Environmental Inspections:
Turtle Lighting and Landscaping Inspections are requested through Environmental Sciences​. Please call 239-533-8585.

<Bookmark>Fees

The curbside garbage and recycling fees on single family, duplex, triplex, and four-unit apartments are due before a Certificate of Occupancy can be issued and are added to the permit when the final mechanical (AC) inspection is passed. Solid Waste fees can be paid by credit card online​. For information on collection and recycling services, visit Lee County Solid Waste.
You can pay all fees associated with an eConnect case online. Fees can be paid over the phone by calling 239-533-8997, press * (star). Fees can also be paid with the 1st floor cashier at 1500 Monroe St., downtown Fort Myers.

  • <Bookmark>Re-Inspection Fees Due Before Inspections Requested:
Any and all re-inspection and/or revision fees must be paid prior to any further inspections being requested. The payment may be made online; by phone at 239-533-8997; in person at the cashier desk at 1500 Monroe St., downtown Fort Myers; or by mail to: PO Box 398, Fort Myers, FL 33902-0398.

 

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