Florida Permit Desk
County permit guide

Pasco County Permits: Search and Common Jobs

Last updated: (checked against official sources)How we research

Independent guide, not a government site. Confirm every requirement with the building office for your address before starting work. Items marked Unverified could not be confirmed on an official page.
Office (unincorporated Pasco County)Pasco County Building Construction Services
Address8661 Citizens Drive, Suite 100, New Port Richey, FL 34654 (also Dade City and Land O' Lakes)
Phone727-847-8126, option 5 · bcscustomerservice@mypasco.net
HoursMonday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. (Land O' Lakes by appointment only)
Online permit searchPascoGateway → Building → Search by Address

Short answer: Pasco County has six cities and towns: Dade City, New Port Richey, Port Richey, San Antonio, St. Leo and Zephyrhills.[13] Pasco County Building Construction Services issues permits for the unincorporated county through its PascoGateway portal.[5][1] Dade City, New Port Richey, Port Richey and Zephyrhills run their own permitting, and Dade City also issues permits for San Antonio and St. Leo after those towns approve the application.[15][18][19][21]

Who issues permits for your address

  • Unincorporated Pasco County: Pasco County Building Construction Services.[5]
  • Inside a city or town: see the table below.

A mailing address isn't proof of jurisdiction. New Port Richey warns that not all properties with New Port Richey ZIP codes are inside city limits.[18] Dade City says you can enter the address on the Pasco County Property Appraiser website and it will list the jurisdiction.[15][14]

How to search Pasco permits by address

Unincorporated county: use PascoGateway. You don't need an account to search.[6]

  1. Click Building, then search records.
  2. Pick Search by Address from the drop-down (you can also search by parcel number, record number or contractor).[7]
  3. For older permits (numbers like 21B000001), use Permits (Legacy Building Permits) instead. Enter the street number and the street name without the street type (for example "Main", not "Main St").[6][8]

How far back the legacy records go isn't stated on the portal. Unverified (We found no official statement of the earliest permit year in PascoGateway. For older records, call Building Construction Services at 727-847-8126.)

Inside a city: use that city's portal. New Port Richey and Zephyrhills use their own online portals, and Dade City and Port Richey use iWorQ citizen portals.[18][21][15][19]

PascoGateway's home page warns buyers that many properties were renovated after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and asks them to check that permits were pulled and inspections passed.[6]

Common jobs

These rules are for unincorporated Pasco County. Cities set their own lists.

  • Roof: the residential roofing permit covers standard re-roofs, roof-over-roof, skylights and solar attic fans. You need product approval numbers and the manufacturer's installation specs.[10] Roof repairs of 1.5 squares or less and liquid roof coatings don't need a permit.[3]
  • A/C: a mechanical permit covers new systems, change-outs with duct work, condenser moves and duct work alone. An AHRI certificate is required.[11] Repairs to existing A/C equipment don't need a permit.[3]
  • Water heater: covered by the residential plumbing permit. Water softeners and filtration systems are on the no-permit list.[12][3]
  • Windows, doors, siding, soffits: the County treats these as structural work, so they still need a permit. Replacing only the glass in an existing window or door doesn't.[3]
  • Fences: residential fences don't need a permit unless they're supported by brick, block or concrete columns. Setbacks still apply.[3]
  • Sheds: sheds of 150 sq ft or less that are approved by the state's Manufactured Building Program don't need a permit, but they must be tied down and meet setbacks.[3]

The County's no-permit list doesn't cover commercial buildings or work in or next to wetlands.[4]

Work under $7,500 (HB 803)

Pasco County says that since 1 July 2026 it must exempt single-family owners and their contractors from a building permit for work valued under $7,500.[3] A permit is still required for electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas and structural work, and for any property partly or fully in a flood hazard area. Pasco lists railings, pool barriers, windows and doors, siding and soffits, roofing and elevated decks as structural.[3] You can't split a project to get under the limit.[3][22]

To use the exemption, send the County's Permit Exemption Request Form with a copy of the written contract or other proof of the work's nature and value, in person at a Building Construction Services office or by email to BCSExemptions@pascocountyfl.net.[3]

Two versions of the County's no-permit list. The "When is a Building Permit Not Required" link on the County's Building Construction page opens a February 2026 version with no mention of the $7,500 exemption.[1][4] The Permits and Forms page links a June 2026 revision that includes it.[2][3] We used the newer version.

Applying and owner-builder permits

  1. Apply online in PascoGateway: register an account, choose Building, then Create an Application.[9]
  2. To find the property, enter only the street number and pick the street name from the list. The County says this is the fastest and most reliable method.[9]
  3. Pay the intake fees online by card or ACH to receive a permit number.[9]
  • Notice of Commencement: the County's roofing and plumbing checklists ask for a notarized, recorded Notice of Commencement on projects over $5,000. The A/C checklist uses a $15,000 threshold.[10][12][11] State law exempts repair or replacement of an existing heating or air-conditioning system under $15,000.[24]
  • Owner-builders: print the owner-builder affidavit shown in PascoGateway and bring it to a County office to be notarized. The County then creates a temporary license for you.[9] The County's checklists also ask for a notarized Owner-Builder Disclosure Statement.[10] See our owner-builder guide.
  • Permit life: unless noted, a permit is valid for 6 months from issue and 6 months from the last passed inspection.[1]
  • Work without a permit: after-the-fact permits cost double the usual fee plus a fine of at least $50, and you can't get a violation permit online.[1]
  • Contractors must register with the County before pulling permits in unincorporated Pasco. You can check a contractor in PascoGateway under Contractor Licenses, or the state license on DBPR.[5][25]
County FAQ vs. state law on owner-builders. The County's FAQ says you can act as your own contractor "as long as this is the homeowner's primary residence and NOT a rental."[1] State law says the work must be for the owner's own use or occupancy, and selling or leasing within 1 year of completion is presumed to break that rule.[23] Ask the County how it applies this to your property.

Fees

The County says permit prices depend on the work, the project size and the number of trades. Call for an estimate. The fee schedule is on the Permits and Forms page.[1][2] Payments are taken Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Credit cards can't be used for mobility or impact fees.[1]

Contacts (Pasco County)

What Contact
Building Construction Services (main) 727-847-8126, option 5 · bcscustomerservice@mypasco.net[1]
Central Permitting, New Port Richey 8661 Citizens Drive, Suite 100, New Port Richey, FL 34654[1]
Central Permitting, Dade City 14236 6th Street, Suite 203, Dade City, FL 33523[1]
Central Permitting, Land O' Lakes 4111 Land O' Lakes Blvd. (US 41), Suite 108 (by appointment)[1]
Hours Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–4 p.m.[1]
$7,500 exemption requests BCSExemptions@pascocountyfl.net[3]
Expired permits / extensions inspectionschedulers@mypasco.net[1]
Contractor Licensing 727-847-8126, option 6 · contractorlicensing@mypasco.net[9][5]

Municipalities in Pasco County (6)

City or town Who handles building permits Phone / contact
Dade City City Building Department, 38020 Meridian Ave.; iWorQ citizen portal; notarized application required[15] 352-523-5050 · buildingpermits@dadecityfl.com[15]
New Port Richey City Building Division (Development Department), 5919 Main Street; Citizen Access Portal, or email permitting@cityofnewportrichey.org[18] 727-853-1047 (Development Department)[18]
Port Richey City Development Services, 6333 Ridge Road; iWorQ portal[19] 727-816-1900[19]
San Antonio City must approve the application first, then Dade City issues the permit[16] 352-588-2127[16]
St. Leo Town Zoning Compliance Application first, then Dade City Building Division issues the permit[17] 352-521-1460 (Dade City)[17]
Zephyrhills City Building Department, 5335 8th Street; online Building Permit Portal or paper application[20][21] 813-780-0020[20]

New Port Richey says it uses Pasco County's contractor licensing, so contractors registered with the County are registered with the City.[18]

Common questions

How do I look up permits on a Pasco County property?

For unincorporated Pasco County, open PascoGateway, choose Building, then Search Records and pick Search by Address.[6][7] Older permits with numbers like 21B000001 are under Permits (Legacy Building Permits), where you type the street number and street name without the street type.[8] You can search without an account.[6] Inside a city, use that city's system.

Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Pasco County?

Yes, for a re-roof. Pasco's roofing permit covers standard re-roofs and roof-over-roof jobs.[10] Only repairs of 1.5 squares or less and liquid coatings are on the County's no-permit list, and the County treats roofing as structural, so the under-$7,500 exemption doesn't apply.[3]

Does Pasco County issue permits in Zephyrhills or New Port Richey?

No. Zephyrhills and New Port Richey have their own building departments and portals.[20][21][18] Port Richey has its own Development Services, and Dade City also issues permits for San Antonio and St. Leo.[19][15]

Do I need a permit to replace an A/C or water heater in Pasco County?

Yes. The County's mechanical permit covers installing or replacing an A/C system, and its plumbing permit covers water heaters.[11][12] Repairing existing A/C equipment is on the no-permit list.[3]

Statewide permit guides

All Florida counties · All guides

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from the official sources below, checked on 24 October 2026.

  1. Pasco County: Building Construction (offices, hours, FAQs)
  2. Pasco County: Permits and Forms
  3. Pasco County: When Is a Building Permit Not Required? (PDF, rev. 30 June 2026)
  4. Pasco County: When Is a Building Permit Not Required? (PDF, rev. 18 Feb. 2026)
  5. Pasco County: Contractors Licensing
  6. PascoGateway (Pasco County permitting portal)
  7. PascoGateway: Search for Records (Building)
  8. PascoGateway: Search for Records (Permits, legacy building permits)
  9. Pasco County: How to Apply for a Permit, Step by Step Guide (PDF, 2024)
  10. Pasco County: Residential Roofing Permit Submittal Requirements (PDF, rev. 21 Aug. 2026)
  11. Pasco County: Residential Mechanical Permit Submittal Requirements (PDF, rev. 8 Nov. 2025)
  12. Pasco County: Residential Plumbing Permit Submittal Requirements (PDF, rev. 21 Aug. 2026)
  13. Pasco County: Other Government Agencies (Cities & Towns in Pasco County)
  14. Pasco County Property Appraiser
  15. City of Dade City: Building Department
  16. City of San Antonio: Building Permits
  17. Town of St. Leo: Building
  18. City of New Port Richey: Building Division
  19. City of Port Richey: Development Services
  20. City of Zephyrhills: Building Department
  21. City of Zephyrhills: Building Permit Application (portal)
  22. Florida Statutes § 553.79 (2026), Permits; applications; issuance; inspections
  23. Florida Statutes § 489.103 (2026), Exemptions (owner-builder)
  24. Florida Statutes § 713.135 (2026), Notice of commencement and applicability of lien
  25. Florida DBPR: License search