Administrative overview · FIPS 12051
Hendry County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
Hendry County Building and Licensing Department
For a project in or near Hendry County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
LaBelle office: 863-675-5245; Clewiston office: 863-983-1463
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
LaBelle office: 640 South Main Street, LaBelle, FL 33935; Clewiston office: 1100 South Olympia Street, Clewiston, FL 33440; mailing address: PO Box 2340, LaBelle, FL 33975
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Review expectation
N/A; the County publishes application checklists and process flowcharts but no dependable general building-plan review deadline. A permit idle for six months or more expires.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Hendry County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Hendry County Building and Licensing Department is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact LaBelle office: 863-675-5245; Clewiston office: 863-983-1463.
How long might review take?
N/A; the County publishes application checklists and process flowcharts but no dependable general building-plan review deadline. A permit idle for six months or more expires.
How are inspections scheduled?
Email inspection requests to inspection@hendryfla.net. Permit records and available online services are accessed through eTRAKiT; questions for inspectors may be sent to Building_Inspectors@hendryfla.net. A permit that is idle for six months or more expires, and the renewal or new-permit fee plus applicable impact fee must be paid before further inspections.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
8th Edition (2023) Florida Building Code, including Building, Residential, Existing Building, Energy Conservation, Fuel Gas, Mechanical and Plumbing volumes, plus the 2020 National Electrical Code, effective December 31, 2023. County zoning, floodplain and land-development provisions also apply. Hendry County publishes an Agricultural Exempt Building Affidavit for qualifying nonresidential farm buildings on bona fide agricultural property. The exemption must be documented and does not waive zoning, setbacks, floodplain, electrical, plumbing, septic or other applicable approvals. Owner-builders may act as their own contractor for a farm outbuilding, their own one- or two-family residence, or an owner-occupied commercial building costing no more than $75,000 when they personally supervise the work and meet statutory conditions; this is a contractor-licensing exemption, not a building-permit exemption. The Department otherwise directs applicants to obtain permits for new construction, additions, remodels, renovations and equipment change-outs.