You are able to upload and download applications, documents and plans as well as track plan review progress and pay online.

Application types are divided into four categories: Same Day Service Applications, All Occupancies Applications (occupancy does not matter), One and Two Family Applications and Multi-Family/Commercial Applications.

Application forms as well as prescreen checklists for each application type is available online at the City of Boca Raton website

The only fee needed to get started is an initial deposit -- one percent of the total contract amount.

Accessory structures such as pools, docks, decks, screen enclosures, fences and generators/transfer switches are still separate applications with separate permit numbers. We have learned over the years that keeping certain permit applications separate reduces inspection confusion, eases project closeout and benefits future records research.

Separate application forms are required for the main contractor and each licensed subcontractor. All building applications (Building, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) must be signed and notarized (or signed in person) by the qualifier. Only the main application form needs to be signed and notarized by the owner. Fire, Engineering, Environmental and Zoning applications as well as applications for total contract work under $2500 do not need to be notarized or signed by the owner.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has developed an electronic signature program called Professionals' Electronic Data Delivery System (PEDDS). This link Engineering CADD Systems Office takes you to the Florida Department of Transportation’s Engineering CADD Systems Office webpage which introduces you to PEDDS. There you will find tutorials, a webinar, free software downloads and help information. This PEDDS application was developed by FDOT and has been used for plan development and digital storage for many years. PEDDS secures a project within a folder structure that defines the project.  Specific files within that structure are selected for signing and sealing by a professional. This format meets the requirements of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation for signing and sealing electronic documents.

DWF, PDF, TIF, DGN

No each plan sheet needs to be its own separate file so that if there is a correction or later revision only that sheet needs to be revised and not the whole set. Some documents such as product approvals, specification cut sheets and energy calculations can be multiple page pdfs. Click here for the City’s file naming conventions.

If you prefer to submit plans, corrections and revisions over the counter, only one set is required. Your plans and documents are logged and scanned into system. There will be a onetime paper processing fee and scanning fees due before issuance.  There is no charge to scan City of Boca Raton application forms. Plan review corrections are accepted only after the review cycle is complete.

PS Status – Prescreen (permit librarians checking or waiting for required items from applicant)
PC Status – Plan Check
AP Status – Approved (all plan review has been approved, sent back to permit librarians for QC)
IS Status – Issuance (fees being assessed, licenses being checked, NOC posted)
PP Status – Permit Printed (after fees are paid, plans are stamped, permit card is uploaded into project)
PI Status – Permit Issued (issued, disc ready for pickup or applicant can download approved plans)

Anyone can submit permit documents but a complete response to comments from a plan review cycle is required at one time. Incomplete responses from individuals other than the applicant will not be accepted. Once another plan review cycle starts, no additional documents will be accepted for that review cycle so it is important that the response is complete.

Yes, you use the ePlans username and password sent to your email address. If you are submitting architectural signed, sealed plans then the architect must encrypt them using the PEDDS format. Please don’t go the City website and create another application. We would then need to revoke the newly created application and move the documents, delaying the process.

Each application type has a specific application checklist so that you know the minimum documents and plans required to start plan review. The PS or "prescreening" status means that your application is waiting for you to submit the minimum checklist items for your application type. Plan review does not start until these items are submitted.

The building official may authorize a pre-permit construction agreement  PreConstrAgree.pdf  for interior commercial tenant buildouts and multifamily interior buildouts only. The application must be complete and executed by the general contractor and owner before being submitted. The application must include the project contract, the notice of commencement and written acknowledgment from the fire alarm and sprinkler companies that the work will not cause system trouble alarms or failure while under construction. The building official, fire official and zoning officer will then review the application for basic code compliance and determine whether the project may commence prior to permit issuance.

Once you make application online you will receive an email within the next business day with instructions that will invite you to  Boca E-Plans.

• How to Upload / Submit Files
• File Naming Conventions

When a building permit application is submitted, the owner of the property gets a notice of application by mail with information on how to track progress of the permit application using the City website.

PS Status – Prescreen (permit librarians checking or waiting for required items from applicant)
PC Status – Plan Check
AP Status – Approved (all plan review has been approved, sent back to permit librarians for QC)
IS Status – Issuance (fees being assessed, licenses being checked, NOC posted)
PP Status – Permit Printed (after fees are paid, plans are stamped, permit card is uploaded into project)
PI Status – Permit Issued (issued, disc ready for pickup or applicant can download approved plans)

You will get an email reminder to submit any missing or deficient prescreen checklist items before the plan review cycle will begin. When the minimum prescreen checklist requirements are met, you will get an email notice letting you know that your plans are submitted for electronic review. Since the documents and plans are electronic, they are available for multiple reviewers at the same time, no more routing. You will get an email notifying you when the review is complete.

As the applicant you will have access to the website and can track real-time progress of the plan review, see plan review checklists and reviewers comments. Even though a correction submittal is not accepted until the review is complete you are encouraged to track these comments and start assembling the corrected documents and requested information.

You have a maximum of 3 review cycles, after which an appointment with the plan review staff will be necessary.

When all of the plan review comments have been addressed, you are notified by email that the plan review is approved and headed for Issuing.

The city does not offer an expedited plan review service.

PD or pending means that a plans examiner has reviewed your project plans and has pending comments in that discipline that must be corrected or clarified before they can be approved. It does not mean the plans are under review. The status for that is IP, "in process". You will see these comments live when you log into ePlans with your username and password or with your pin and permit number on the city's Online Services webpage.

Yes, You must go into your project and send an e-mail to the PERMIT  LIBRARIANS ONLY and they will reopen the project for customer uploading.  The PERMIT LIBRARIANS are the only ones that can reopen your project.  If you are submitting architectural signed, sealed plans then the architect must encrypt them using the PEDDS format. Please don’t go the City website and create another application. We would then need to revoke the newly created application and move the documents, delaying the process.

PS Status – Prescreen (permit librarians checking or waiting for required items from applicant)
PC Status – Plan Check
AP Status – Approved (all plan review has been approved, sent back to permit librarians for QC)
IS Status – Issuance (fees being assessed, licenses being checked, NOC posted)
PP Status – Permit Printed (after fees are paid, plans are stamped, permit card is uploaded into project) PI Status – Permit Issued (issued, disc ready for pickup or applicant can download approved plans)

You will get an email stating what fees are due before Issuance. The building permit fee is $79.00 for the first $500 of total contract amount and 2.25% of the balance of the total contract amount. Depending on the type of permit application you may have additional fees other than building permit fees such as fire services fees, environmental fees, engineering fees, county impact fees, water and sewer impact fees, Park and recreation fees or a CAB fee. There are no more plan check fees or sub-permit fees, (except for Fire) and no more certificate of completion fee. Click here to see the Municipal User Fee Schedule.

You or your subs may have an expired license or insurance that must also be updated at this time. You can fax in the license or insurance information and pay all these fees online. When the fees are paid and the license and insurance documentation is up to date, your application plans and documents will be stamped and issued.

You will receive an email notice that you may download your approved plans, documents and permit cards or you may elect to have a CD burned to pickup for an additional charge.

You will receive an email advising you that your permit application has been issued. You may also check your status in Boca E-Plans. If your status is in PI, that means that your permit has been issued and ready for you to download. All fees must be paid in full prior to downloading. How to Download/ Print Documents & Plans.

The list of fees entered prior to issuance on the website may not be complete. There may be additional county impact fees, water and sewer impact fees, fire services fees, engineering fees, environmental fees, parks and recreation fees, and Community Appearance Board fees if applicable. Once your permit has been issued, you will receive and e-mail with the final fees. Your permit status will show PI, meaning permit issued.

A CO/CC compliance check is an in-house administrative verify that all revisions have been processed, all fees have been paid, all required inspections have been approved, all separate accessory permits are approved, all subpermits are closed out and all the correct information is on record for the Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Completion printout. This inspection step is requested by the contractor/applicant when he or she fees all of the required inspections have been approved. No inspector will arrive at the jobsite, the administrative verifications are done in-house. Any outstanding issues will be recorded in the permit record as an inspection result. The building final cannot be scheduled the same day, it can be requested as soon as the CO/CC inspection check is approved.

All required inspections are shown on the individual permit cards. The main contractor and each subcontractor have their own permit cards with required inspections specifically for the project. Each permit card also has its own telephone access code for voice permit requests and a pin number for online inspection requests.

All inspections with a 10 sequence need to be approved before the computer will allow inspections with a 20 sequence. A 999 sequence can be scheduled anytime the inspection is ready. All required inspections 10’s, 20’sand 999’s need to be approved before calling the final which has a 1000 sequence.