Administrative overview · FIPS 12059
Holmes 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
Holmes County Building Department
For a project in or near Holmes 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
850-547-1119; Building Official cell: 850-703-3900
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
107 East Virginia Avenue, Bonifay, FL 32425
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Review expectation
A complete residential submittal may take up to seven days for plan review and permitting. Commercial projects may take 14 days or longer depending on complexity and required life-safety review; the Florida Building Code allows up to 30 days for review.
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 Holmes County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Holmes County Building 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?
No verified online portal was located in the reviewed public materials. Contact 850-547-1119; Building Official cell: 850-703-3900 and request the current application route before preparing a final submittal.
How long might review take?
A complete residential submittal may take up to seven days for plan review and permitting. Commercial projects may take 14 days or longer depending on complexity and required life-safety review; the Florida Building Code allows up to 30 days for review.
How are inspections scheduled?
Call 850-547-1119 extension 3 or email hcbd@holmescountyfl.org before 2:00 PM to request an inspection for the next business day; at least 24 hours' notice is required. No inspection occurs before permit issuance. A passed inspection documents continuing activity; a permit expires after 180 days without an approved inspection, with one discretionary extension of up to 90 days.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
8th Edition (2023) Florida Building Code, including the Residential Code and applicable Building, Existing Building, Energy Conservation, Fuel Gas, Mechanical, Plumbing and Accessibility requirements; 2020 National Electrical Code; Florida Fire Prevention Code for applicable occupancies; and Holmes County land-development and floodplain regulations. New structures other than one- and two-family dwellings require life-safety review and inspection, and existing structures must comply with NFPA 101 Chapter 43 as applicable. N/A; the County's current FAQ does not publish a dependable list of minor or cosmetic exemptions and broadly directs applicants to obtain a permit to construct, enlarge, modify, change occupancy, alter, repair, move, remove or demolish a building or structure. Confirm any claimed Florida Building Code or statutory exemption with the Building Department before starting work. The owner-builder affidavit is a contractor-licensing exemption, not a building-permit exemption.