For a wall alteration under Orange County’s permitting authority, a townhouse uses the commercial application process even though it follows the residential Florida Building Code. Condominium units and apartment complexes are also routed as commercial structures. Choosing “residential” simply because someone lives there can send the proposal down the wrong path. County One-Stop guide
This is a routing guide for wall work, not permission to remove a wall. First establish that Orange County handles the address; an Orlando mailing address does not establish City or County jurisdiction.
Building type and application route are different questions
The County’s distinctions produce this comparison:
| Building described in the County guide | Where to start the application | What not to infer |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family home or two-family dwelling/duplex | Residential process | A wall is nonstructural merely because it is inside the home |
| Townhouse | Commercial process; the guide identifies the residential code for townhouses | Commercial intake changes the townhouse into a commercial occupancy |
| Condominium unit or apartment complex | Commercial process | A unit owner’s interior project automatically qualifies for the single-family checklist |
These are published intake distinctions, not LSL classifications of an individual building. If the building description is uncertain, send the address and proposed wall work to Building Safety before selecting an application. The One-Stop guide provides residential and commercial reviewer contacts through 407-836-5550.
Give the reviewer a wall-specific question
Use the following as a short inquiry outline, not a County form or a substitute for plans:
At [address and unit], the property record describes the building as [type]. The proposed work changes [identified wall/opening] from [existing arrangement] to [proposed arrangement]. The wall adjoins [room, unit or common space]. We know [documented facts] and have not established [structural, fire-separation or service questions]. Which application route and plan requirements apply?
An existing/proposed sketch is more useful than “drywall work.” Mark the wall’s location, rooms on either side, openings being added or removed, and known electrical, plumbing or ductwork conflicts. Do not mark a wall “non-load-bearing” or “not fire-rated” unless that conclusion has been established by the appropriate professional or record. Unknown is a useful answer at intake; a guess can conceal the issue the reviewer needs to resolve.
LSL adds this inquiry outline to separate three decisions: the application route, the technical wall design, and any private permission. Association consent does not answer the County’s permit question, and this guide does not interpret association documents or determine common-element ownership.
Why the residential alteration page is not a universal wall checklist
For work within its stated residential scope, the County’s alteration instructions call for a detailed description and generally plans. They also identify existing and proposed room layouts and sleeping-room egress information where applicable. Those details explain why “patch and paint” and “move an opening” are different descriptions; they do not establish the requirements for every condominium project.
After the County confirms the route, use that route’s current submission requirements and the project’s review comments. Resolve structural support, separation and affected service questions before treating the proposed wall layout as ready to build. Required trade work is a separate issue from selecting the building application.
Review basis
LSL read the County’s One-Stop guide and residential alteration instructions on September 20, 2026, then created the building-type comparison and inquiry outline. The former generic record ledger has been removed. No private plans, building classification, association documents or wall condition were inspected. Recheck the linked application guidance when filing.