St. Johns County issues Ponte Vedra Beach building permits; the Ponte Vedra Zoning District has its own rules and board. Permit Center: 904-827-6800.
Last checked Oct. 10, 2026. Facts on this page come from St. Johns County’s Building Department, Planning and Zoning Division and planning boards pages.
Ponte Vedra Beach is unincorporated, so St. Johns County issues every building permit and decides every rezoning. The county’s Building Department works from the Permit Center at 4040 Lewis Speedway in St. Augustine, open 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. Call 904-827-6800. Part of Ponte Vedra Beach also sits inside the Ponte Vedra Zoning District, which has its own zoning code and its own board.
Who to call
- Building permits and inspections: 904-827-6800, bldcodes@sjcfl.us
- Contractor licensing: 904-827-6820, conlicen@sjcfl.us
- Permit records and stamped plans: 904-827-6822, publicrecordsbldg@sjcfl.us
- Zoning and land use questions: the county’s Planning and Zoning Division; have your parcel (strap) number, owner name and address ready
Do I need a permit?
Permits are required for most improvements before any work starts, and the county says the property owner is responsible for finding out whether one is needed. Mechanical, electrical, plumbing and irrigation permits can be pulled online.
Online tools in the county’s Building E-Services, open around the clock:
- Permit status and inspection history
- Cost estimator for permit and plan review fees
- Plan log with plan review comments
- Contractor search to confirm a contractor is registered in the county
- Private account to schedule or cancel inspections
Fees are on the county’s fee schedule. The county has kept a 30% reduction in general building permit fees, first adopted as COVID-19 relief, “until further notice.”
Rules worth knowing
- Permits expire six months after they are issued or after the last approved inspection. A 90-day extension can be requested in writing for a fee.
- Inspections are the permit holder’s job to schedule, before any work is covered up. The stamped plans must be on site for every inspection.
- Owner-builders may pull their own permit under Florida Statute 489.103.
- Unlicensed contractors: hiring one violates Florida law and carries a $5,000 fine.
- Wind design: projects permitted after Dec. 31, 2023, use the ASCE 7-2022 wind loads. Look up your address on the ATC Hazards by Location site.
- Condos of three stories or more face the state’s structural safety inspection requirements.
Zoning: two rulebooks
Most of unincorporated St. Johns County follows the county’s Land Development Code. Inside the Ponte Vedra Zoning District, the Ponte Vedra Zoning District Regulations govern building height and size, yards, land use intensity and where shops and offices can go. Check the district map to see whether your property is inside it.
A few countywide rules from the Planning and Zoning Division’s FAQ:
- Height: 35 feet, except in some planned unit developments.
- Fences in residential districts: generally 6 feet, and 4 feet within the front 25 feet of the lot. The Ponte Vedra Zoning District adds its own limits.
- Sheds and garages cannot be built before the house is permitted.
- Home offices are allowed with no employees and limits on signs and outdoor storage. A homeowners association must approve in writing where one governs the property.
The county’s Development Tracker maps rezoning applications and special use permits near you, and the iMap shows zoning by parcel.
Who decides, and when they meet
| Board | What it does | When and where |
|---|---|---|
| Ponte Vedra Zoning and Adjustment Board | Variances and decisions under the Ponte Vedra Zoning District Regulations | 3 p.m., first Monday of each month, County Auditorium, 500 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine. Next: Monday, Nov. 2 |
| Ponte Vedra / Palm Valley Architectural Review Committee | Design review in the Ponte Vedra and Palm Valley overlay districts | 5 p.m., fourth Wednesday of each month, Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library, 101 Library Blvd. Next: Wednesday, Oct. 28 |
| Planning and Zoning Agency | Special uses, variances, and recommendations on rezonings and plan amendments | 1:30 p.m., first and third Thursdays, County Auditorium. Next: Thursday, Oct. 15 |
| Board of County Commissioners | Final votes on rezonings and comprehensive plan changes | County Auditorium, 500 San Sebastian View |
Meetings stream live on the county’s GTV channel. Agendas are on the Growth Management calendar. A Planning and Zoning Agency hearing takes about 60 days from a complete application, and applicants must notify owners within 300 feet.
What this means for you
- Check the district map before you plan an addition; Ponte Vedra Zoning District rules may apply.
- Verify any contractor in the county’s contractor search before you sign.
- Watch the Development Tracker and the board agendas to see what is proposed near you.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues building permits in Ponte Vedra Beach?
St. Johns County’s Building Department, at the Permit Center, 4040 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine. Call 904-827-6800 or email bldcodes@sjcfl.us.
What is the Ponte Vedra Zoning District?
It is a part of unincorporated St. Johns County with its own zoning code, the Ponte Vedra Zoning District Regulations, and its own board, the Ponte Vedra Zoning and Adjustment Board, which meets at 3 p.m. on the first Monday of each month.
How long is a St. Johns County building permit good for?
Six months from the date it was issued or from the last approved inspection. A 90-day extension can be requested in writing for a fee.
How tall can a fence be in St. Johns County?
In residential districts, generally 6 feet, and no more than 4 feet within the front 25 feet of the property line. The Ponte Vedra Zoning District has additional rules.
Can I hire an unlicensed contractor in St. Johns County?
No. Hiring an unlicensed contractor violates Florida law and carries a $5,000 fine, the county says. Check a contractor’s status in the county’s online contractor search.
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