Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-09-11
51 of Florida's 67 counties — 76% — let an owner build their own home without a licensed contractor. That is the 11th-largest count of any state. The strongest of them on the Bolthole Index is Dixie County (79/100). Every entry below cites the county’s own official source.
Rules change, and cities inside these counties set their own — treat this as a verified starting point, not legal advice. All 1516 counties nationwide → Florida: no zoning → Florida: rv living → Full Florida profile →
51 of 67 Florida counties · sorted by Index score
Florida law (F.S. 489.103) provides a statewide owner-builder exemption allowing property owners to act as their own contractor, reflected in the county's owner-authorization pe…
Dixie County Building & Zoning Department ↗Florida Statute § 489.103(7) provides an owner-builder exemption allowing an owner to build or improve a one- or two-family residence or farm outbuilding for their own use witho…
Florida Statutes § 489.103 – Exemptions ↗Florida Statute 489.103(7) grants an owner-builder exemption to build or improve a one- or two-family residence for their own occupancy (not for sale/lease within one year), sub…
Florida Statutes 489.103 - Owner-Builder Exemption ↗Florida statute 489.103(7) grants a statewide owner-builder exemption allowing owners to build/improve their own residence without a licensed contractor, subject to conditions; …
Florida Statutes 489.103 - Owner-builder exemption ↗The county Building Department provides an 'Owner Builder Statement' form allowing the owner to act as their own contractor (Florida owner-builder provision under FL Statute 489…
Jefferson County FL - Building Department ↗Florida's statewide owner-builder exemption (Fla. Stat. 489.103) allows a property owner to act as their own contractor for their own residence, applicable in Taylor County.
Florida Statutes 489.103 (Owner-Builder Exemption) ↗Liberty County publishes a dedicated Owner-Builder building permit application, reflecting Florida's owner-builder exemption from contractor licensing (F.S. 489.103).
Liberty County Building Department - Owner/Builder Affidavit ↗Florida provides a statewide owner-builder exemption under Fla. Stat. 489.103(7) allowing a property owner to act as their own contractor for a one/two-family residence, honored…
Florida Statutes 489.103 - Owner-builder exemption ↗Homeowners may apply as owner-builders by completing the Owner-Builder Affidavit, assuming full responsibility and liability in lieu of using a licensed contractor.
Bay County, FL - Permits ↗Florida's statewide owner-builder exemption (Fla. Stat. 489.103(7)) lets owners build/improve their own one- or two-family residence without a licensed contractor, subject to a …
Florida Statutes 489.103 (owner-builder exemption) ↗Holmes County's Residential Construction Packet includes an Owner/Builder Permit Affidavit, reflecting Florida's owner-builder exemption allowing owners to act as their own cont…
Holmes County - Residential Construction Packet ↗Florida Statute 489.103 provides a statewide owner-builder exemption allowing a property owner to act as their own contractor, and Madison County provides owner-builder permit a…
Madison County Building Department - Permit Applications ↗County Building Department processes owner-builder permits under Florida's statewide owner-builder exemption (FS 489.103(7)) via its permit applications and forms.
Gadsden County Permit Applications and Forms ↗DeSoto County provides an Owner-Builder Disclosure Statement for property owners applying for a permit as an owner-builder (Florida's owner-builder exemption, F.S. 489.103).
DeSoto County Permit Applications & Forms ↗County provides an Owner-Builder application allowing an owner to act as their own contractor under the Florida statutory owner-builder exemption.
Santa Rosa County Development Services Owner-Builder Application ↗Nassau County recognizes the Florida owner-builder contractor-license exemption under FS 489.103(7)(a)&(c); the owner must personally appear and sign the permit application.
Nassau County, FL - Building Department ↗The county provides an Owner/Builder Disclosure Statement allowing owners to build or improve their own one- or two-family residence for their own use under the Florida owner-bu…
Suwannee County, FL Building Department ↗Florida's statewide owner-builder exemption (Fla. Stat. 489.103) lets a property owner act as their own contractor for their own residence, which applies in Gilchrist County.
Florida Statutes 489.103 (Owner-Builder Exemption) ↗Walton County provides a Construction by Owner Disclosure Statement under Florida Statute 489.103(7), allowing an owner to act as their own contractor for a single-family reside…
Walton County - Construction by Owner Disclosure Statement ↗Homeowners may apply as owner-builders and assume full responsibility via a notarized Owner/Builder Affidavit under Florida's owner-builder exemption.
Charlotte County Consumer Guide: Permitting for Single Family Residence ↗Florida's statewide owner-builder exemption (Fla. Stat. 489.103(7)) applies; owners may permit and build their own one/two-family residence via the county building department's …
Wakulla County Building Department ↗County provides an Owner/Builder Disclosure Statement under FS 489.103(7) allowing a property owner to act as their own contractor for their own residence, subject to statutory …
Columbia County Building & Zoning Document Library ↗County Building Department provides an Owner/Builder Disclosure Statement under Florida's statewide owner-builder exemption (FS 489.103(7)), allowing an owner to act as their ow…
Putnam County Building Forms & Applications (Owner/Builder Disclosure) ↗Florida Statute 489.103(7) grants a statewide owner-builder exemption allowing owners to act as their own contractor for a one- or two-family residence for their own use, requir…
Florida Statutes 489.103 (Owner-builder exemption) ↗Homeowners may pull permits as owner-builders and assume full liability; an owner-builder guide and owner affidavit are provided.
Clay County Building Division – Permit FAQ ↗The county allows an owner-builder to perform work on a home they own and occupy, with the restriction that it cannot be offered for sale or lease for one year after final compl…
Alachua County - Building Permits ↗Florida Statute 489.103 exempts owners building or improving a one- or two-family residence on their own property for their own use (not for sale/lease within one year), provide…
Florida Statutes 489.103 Exemptions ↗Under Florida Statute 489.103(7), a property owner may act as their own contractor to build/improve their own one- or two-family residence or farm outbuildings by signing the co…
Manatee County Owner-Builder Application for Contractor Exemption ↗Florida Statute 489.103(7) provides a statewide owner-builder exemption (with disclosure statement) applicable in all counties including Hardee.
Florida Statutes 489.103(7) Owner-Builder Exemption ↗Citrus County provides an Owner-Builder Affidavit allowing property owners to act as their own contractor under Florida's owner-builder exemption.
Citrus County Building Division - Residential Permitting ↗Hernando County provides a single-family owner-builder permit application with an Owner/Builder Disclosure Statement under Florida Statute 489.103(7).
Hernando County - Single Family Owner-Builder Application ↗County provides an Owner-Builder Disclosure Statement (per Fla. Stat. 489.103) allowing a property owner to act as their own contractor for a one- or two-family residence with d…
Polk County - Owner-Builder Disclosure Statement ↗Jacksonville/Duval allows an owner-builder exception permitting property owners who occupy the property for their own use to obtain permits in their own name (owner-occupant exc…
City of Jacksonville - Home Owner Permitting Page ↗Broward County provides an Owner-Builder disclosure statement/affidavit for permit applicants under the owner-builder exemption of Florida Statute 489.103, allowing owners to ac…
Broward County Owner-Builder Disclosure Statement ↗Under Florida Statute 489.103(7), a property owner may act as their own contractor to build/improve their own one- or two-family residence or farm outbuildings by signing an own…
Florida Statutes 489.103 - Contractor licensing exemptions ↗Homeowners may apply as owner-builders and assume full responsibility by completing the required owner-builder affidavit during permit application.
Marion County Building Safety Division ↗Owner-builders may submit an Owner-Builder Declaration of Self-Use to obtain a residential construction permit (permit still required), under Florida's owner-builder statute.
Lee County Building and Permitting Services - Residential Building Guide ↗County permits are issued to owner/builders who qualify to apply in lieu of a licensed contractor, signing an Owner/Builder Disclosure per Florida Statute.
Martin County - Do I Need a Building Permit? ↗Sumter County recognizes owner-builder permitting; its permit application materials include an 'Owner Builder Disclosure Statement for Permitting' form, consistent with Florida'…
Sumter County, FL - Permit Application ↗Homeowners may apply as owner-builders and assume full responsibility and liability, per Florida owner/builder provisions (FS 489.103).
Lake County - Building Services Permitting Information ↗Florida Statute 489.103 lets an owner act as their own contractor on a one- or two-family home they own for personal use, with direct on-site supervision and a signed disclosure…
Florida Statutes 489.103 - Exemptions (Owner-Builder) ↗Pasco County provides an Owner Builder Disclosure / Owner-is-Contractor registration form, reflecting Florida's statewide owner-builder exemption for permits.
Pasco County Building Construction Services ↗Indian River County provides an Owner/Builder Disclosure Statement (per Florida Statute 489.103(7)) allowing an owner to act as their own contractor to build/improve a one- or t…
Indian River County - Owner/Builder Disclosure Statement ↗Property owners may act as their own contractor (Owner/Builder) and pull permits under Florida Statute Section 489.103; they must personally appear to submit the application.
Brevard County - Building Permits (Owner/Builder per FS 489.103) ↗Under Fla. Stat. 489.103(7), a property owner may act as their own contractor on a one- or two-family home they own by signing the permit application and owner-builder disclosur…
Florida Statutes 489.103 - Contractor Licensing Exemptions (Owner-Builder) ↗St. Lucie County recognizes the Florida Statutes 489.103(7) owner-builder exemption allowing owners who own and occupy the home to act as their own contractor.
St. Lucie County Planning & Development Services ↗An owner-builder may act as contractor under the exemption to F.S. 489.103(7)(a) for a home they own and occupy, after completing an owner-builder disclosure statement.
Orange County Permitting Services - Owner-Builder Online Permitting Instructions ↗Homeowners may apply as owner-builders by completing the Owner-Builder Affidavit and disclosure statement (trusts excluded as of Oct 1, 2023).
Collier County Owner-Builder Building Permit Application ↗Homeowners may act as their own contractor and pull their own permit under Florida Statute 489.103(7) with an Owner Builder Disclosure Statement, subject to primary-residence an…
Hillsborough County Permits for Homeowners ↗Pinellas County permits owner-builders (homeowner acting as own contractor) via in-person affidavit verification, consistent with Florida Statute 489.103; a permit is still requ…
Pinellas County Permitting Guide ↗Palm Beach County publishes Owner/Builder Building Permit Guidelines allowing a property owner to obtain a permit and act as their own contractor for their residence, consistent…
Palm Beach County Owner/Builder Building Permit Guidelines ↗Every county here has a full profile — water, land prices, hazard safety, seclusion, and the rest of its building rules. See the Florida state page for all 67 counties ranked, or go back to the national list.
General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.
