A City of Orlando project does not qualify for the small-project building-permit exemption just because the estimate looks inexpensive. The enacted provision uses less than $7,500, excludes specified work and flood-hazard property, and requires a written request with scope/value evidence. It took effect July 1, 2026. Enrolled provision Enactment history
Screen the project before preparing the request
LSL’s eight-test screen separates legal conditions from the City’s administrative route. It does not determine a property’s eligibility.
| Test | Question to resolve |
|---|---|
| Authority | Is the property inside City of Orlando limits, rather than merely using an Orlando mailing address? |
| Dwelling | Is the owner’s property within the single-family-dwelling provision? |
| Applicant | Is the request from the owner or the owner’s contractor? |
| Value | Is the documented work value strictly below $7,500? |
| Flood | Is any part of the property in a Florida Building Code-defined flood hazard area? If so, the exemption does not apply |
| Work | Does the scope include electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical or gas work? Those categories are excluded |
| Combined project | Has a larger project been split into smaller parts to evade permitting? The law prohibits this |
| Request | Has the written request and nature/value documentation been submitted to the local enforcement agency? |
An unknown condition is not a passing result. Resolve the complete scope with the City instead of using a contractor’s shorthand description as a trade classification.
Three price examples—not three approvals
The Senate summary says $7,500 or less, but the enrolled text uses a strict less-than condition. These independently reproduced comparisons show why that difference matters:
- $7,499.99 < $7,500: the price alone is below the boundary; every other condition still matters.
- $7,500.00 = $7,500: equality does not meet the strict test.
- $4,000 + $4,000 = $8,000: splitting one project into two smaller portions does not make the combined work eligible through the price rule.
These are hypothetical amounts, not City valuations. The reviewed text does not resolve disputed contract values, taxes or owner-supplied materials for a particular job.
Use the working City route and obtain the actual result
The City exemption page provides its flood-check link, request form and status lookup. Prepare a written contract or other document showing the nature and value of the work. After submission, search the address in Permit Lookup and select the MET case.
The City states a five-business-day review period. That is not automatic approval on day six. Obtain the actual disposition and resolve any conditions or unanswered questions before relying on an exemption.
On September 13, the City’s linked eligibility-details page returned 404 even though the main request page worked. If that link still fails, ask buildingofficial@orlando.gov for the current requirements; do not treat missing guidance as permission.
This small-project provision does not establish an exemption from other approvals or obligations. A changed scope needs a new eligibility check. The separate temporary flood-barrier provision is outside this article.
LSL checked the relevant enrolled pages, legislative history, summary and City workflow on September 13, 2026. No parcel, flood result, contract, application or approval was evaluated.