Administrative overview · FIPS 12087
Monroe 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
Municipal Fallback
This profile identifies a handoff outside the county’s ordinary structural permitting lane.
Required jurisdiction check
Confirm the controlling local or state authority before filing.
The record is marked Municipal Fallback. That means the county profile should be treated as a routing brief: incorporated municipalities, a state building department, or a state fire marshal may control plan review, permits, and inspections. Contact the named agency below and verify the parcel’s jurisdiction before paying a fee or scheduling field work.
Responsible agency
Monroe County Building Department (unincorporated Monroe County)
For a project in or near Monroe 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
Key Largo (305) 453-8800; Marathon (305) 289-2501; Stock Island (305) 295-3990; Building Official (305) 289-2521
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Key Largo: 102050 Overseas Hwy.; Marathon: 2798 Overseas Hwy., Suite 300; Stock Island: 5503 College Road, Suite 203
Operating hours
Permitting offices Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-3:00 PM
Review expectation
Ask the agency for its current review estimate
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 Monroe County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
This record is marked Municipal Fallback. Confirm whether a city, state agency, or other local authority controls the parcel 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 Key Largo (305) 453-8800; Marathon (305) 289-2501; Stock Island (305) 295-3990; Building Official (305) 289-2521.
How long might review take?
A typical review timeline was not verified. Ask the agency for its current completeness and review estimate.
How are inspections scheduled?
Submit and manage permits through Monroe County Online Permitting Services; use the county Inspections page for scheduling directions. Inspectors call the contact number before arrival, and forms or affidavits are not accepted in the field.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Florida Building Code and Monroe County Code Chapter 6, with coastal floodplain, environmental, planning, and other applicable agency requirements Effective July 1, 2026, certain limited single-family residential work valued under $7,500 may qualify after written county approval. It cannot be in an A or V flood zone, include electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical, or gas work, or be divided into smaller projects to avoid permitting. Exemption approval does not waive Land Development Code requirements.