Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Calhoun County, Florida

Yes. Construction cannot begin in unincorporated Calhoun County until the county issues the required development permit¹. Construction, alteration, repair, moving, demolition, occupancy changes, and regulated trade work are subject to the Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023)⁷. Residential building-permit charges start with a $75 base fee plus valuation, and plan review costs one-half of the building-permit fee⁶. An owner may act as contractor for a qualifying one-family or two-family residence intended for the owner's own use, but must personally apply, directly supervise unlicensed labor, and comply with the building permit and code requirements⁴. The owner-builder route changes who manages the work; it does not remove the building-permit requirement⁴.

The Calhoun County Building Department is the building-permit contact for unincorporated property; call (850) 674-8046 or visit 20867 SE Fannin Ave. in Blountstown². The Building Department's forms include an RV power-pole application and a manufactured-home application². The Calhoun County Planning Department handles zoning and land-use questions at the same address and can be reached at (850) 451-5873⁸. Before paying for plans, ask Planning to identify the parcel's district and ask Building which application, plan set, inspections, and fees fit the project^2,8. Inspection requests for permitted residential work must be made at least 24 hours in advance, and the county requires the completed project to pass inspection before a certificate of occupancy is issued¹.

Yes. Calhoun County's land-use code applies throughout the unincorporated planning jurisdiction, where the Future Land Use Map assigns district-specific uses and density limits¹. For mobile homes and single-family houses, the residential table requires at least 25 feet in front, 10 feet in the rear, and 20 feet total across the side yards, with no more than 7 feet on one side and 13 feet on the other¹. A mobile-home or single-family lot served by public water and sewer needs at least 10,890 square feet and 80 feet of width; a lot using septic needs at least 21,780 square feet and the same minimum width¹. Those table minimums do not replace space needed for buffers, stormwater, parking, circulation, wetlands, or other applicable requirements¹.

A Florida Department of Environmental Protection permit is required before constructing, repairing, modifying, abandoning, or operating an onsite sewage system in Calhoun County⁵. The application package uses DEP4015 pages 1 and 2, a building floor plan, and a site evaluation, and it may be submitted through DEP's online portal or by mail⁵. The evaluation examines soil, topography, and other site conditions to determine whether the property can support the proposed system³. Only about 5% of Calhoun County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so complete the site evaluation before assuming a standard system will work⁹. We could not confirm a separate septic-inspection rule beyond FDEP's permit and site-evaluation process; ask FDEP what inspections the proposed system will require³.

Placing an RV on a Calhoun County parcel requires the county's RV application, which addresses one RV per non-subdivided parcel, setbacks, two parking spaces, and a 30% cap on impervious surface for the RV and accessories¹⁰. In a floodplain, the RV must stay fewer than 180 consecutive days, remain on wheels or jacks, use quick-disconnect utilities, and have no permanent attachments¹⁰. A tiny home marketed for habitable use does not bypass county review: unconventional habitable construction requires approval by T.A.C. staff and the Planning Development Review Board, with a $250 application fee and digitally designed or CAD plans⁶. Unincorporated Calhoun County also requires at least 600 square feet of living area for a mobile home or single-family residence¹. We could not confirm a general rule for temporary camping outside the county's RV process, so ask Planning about the intended occupancy before placing an RV⁸.

1. Ask the Planning Department to confirm the unincorporated parcel's land-use district, allowed residential use, density, setbacks, and lot standards^1,8.
2. Determine whether community water or sewer must be used: connection is required when a connection is possible and practicable within 200 feet of the lot¹.
3. If septic is appropriate, submit the FDEP application, site plan, floor plan, and site evaluation early⁵.
4. Choose a licensed contractor or complete the owner-builder disclosure and prepare to supervise the work directly⁴.
5. Submit code-compliant plans and the building-permit application to the Building Department, accounting for the base, valuation, and plan-review charges^2,6.
6. Schedule required inspections at least 24 hours ahead, then obtain the certificate of occupancy before moving in¹.

Start with the parcel's mapped land-use district because unincorporated Calhoun County density varies from 1 home per 10 acres in the Agricultural district to higher densities in other districts¹. Verify that the lot can fit the applicable home, setbacks, drainage, access, and septic area rather than relying on acreage alone¹. Check utility proximity because an available community water or sewer line within 200 feet may trigger a connection requirement¹. Arrange the septic site evaluation early because only about 5% of county soils lack severe conventional-drain-field limitations⁹. We could not confirm the local authority or process for a private well permit, so ask the Building Department which water-management or delegated permitting authority applies before budgeting for a well².