Bolthole Index

St. Johns County, Florida

Building permits, zoning and land rules in St. Johns County, Florida

53Index Score / 100
#46 of 67 in Florida

St. Johns County, Florida requires a building permit for most construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, demolition and occupancy changes1. Unincorporated land is also subject to the county Land Development Code2. Septic construction, repair, modification and abandonment require permits through the Florida Department of Health in St. Johns County3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for most construction, alteration, repair or demolition; issued by St. Johns County Building Department1
Zoning
The Land Development Code governs unincorporated St. Johns County2
Septic permit
Issued by the Florida Department of Health in St. Johns County3
Owner-builder exemption
Yes — Florida law lets an owner build or improve their own one- or two-family home or farm outbuilding via a disclosure4
Septic-suitable soil
0% of soils avoid a severe USDA rating for a conventional drain field — expect engineered systems5
RV living
Not permitted unless the RV is in a properly zoned campground or park6
Median property tax bill
$3,547 a year, at an effective rate of about 0.8%78
Typical home value
$492,8859

Who to call

Building permits

St. Johns County Building Department

Building, electrical, gas and plumbing permits, plan review, and contractor-license verification for St. Johns County.

(904) 827-6800

[email protected]

4040 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine, FL 32084

Online permits →

Zoning

St. Johns County Planning and Zoning Division

Zoning and land-use applications, rezoning, variances, special-use permits and Comprehensive Plan questions for unincorporated St. Johns County.

(904) 209-0675

[email protected]

4040 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine, FL 32084

Septic permits

Florida Department of Health in St. Johns County

Permitting and inspection of onsite sewage treatment and disposal (septic) systems in St. Johns County.

904-506-6081

[email protected]

200 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine, FL 32084

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 29, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in St. Johns County, Florida?

Yes. St. Johns County requires a permit before most construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, demolition, occupancy changes, and specified electrical, gas or plumbing work begins1. County plan review checks the Florida Building Code, the Land Development Code and other applicable laws10. Fees vary by permit and service; plan review is generally one-half of the building-permit fee, while an inspection or reinspection costs $5311. Permitted work must stop at each required inspection point until the building official approves it, and a final inspection is required when the work is complete12. Occupying the building before the county issues a Certificate of Occupancy or Completion is unlawful13.

Who is the St. Johns County building department, and how do you reach them?

The St. Johns County Building Department is the local contact for building, electrical, gas and plumbing permits, plan review and inspections14. Its office is at 4040 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine, FL 32084; the main phone is (904) 827-6800 and the email is [email protected]14. Before hiring someone, call the department at (904) 827-6820 to verify that the contractor is licensed and insured14. Most applications require a Clearance Sheet before the Building Department will accept them, and applicants need the parcel ID from the Property Appraiser website15. Florida permits an owner to act as contractor on the owner's own one- or two-family home or farm outbuilding after signing the required disclosure, but owner-builder status does not remove the permit requirement41.

Does St. Johns County have zoning?

Yes. The St. Johns County Land Development Code governs development in unincorporated St. Johns County; incorporated municipalities may administer their own zoning rules2. The code publishes district-specific zoning and special-use controls, so confirm the parcel's district with the Planning and Zoning Division before relying on a countywide summary1617. Residential setbacks vary: the Open Rural district uses a 25-foot front setback and 10-foot side and rear setbacks, while the listed single-family and mobile-home districts use different dimensions18. The general building-height maximum is 35 feet, except that special planned unit developments may use different regulations19. St. Johns County's reviewed materials did not establish countywide minimum dwelling size, minimum lot size or lot-coverage rules; ask Planning and Zoning for the standards tied to the parcel's district17.

How do septic permits work in St. Johns County?

Construction, repair, modification or abandonment of a septic system in St. Johns County requires a permit through the Florida Department of Health in St. Johns County3. Florida DEP implements the governing septic statutes and regulations, while the county health department continues local permitting and inspections2021. Reach the local office at 904-506-6081 or 200 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine, FL 3208422. A site evaluation and application materials are part of the permitting process23. The soil survey rates 0 percent of St. Johns County soils as avoiding severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make septic feasibility an early contract contingency rather than assuming a standard system will work5. If sewer later becomes available, statewide law can require a functioning septic system to connect within 365 days after written notice24.

Can you live in an RV or place a tiny home on your land in St. Johns County?

St. Johns County does not permit RV campers or fifth wheels to be used for living purposes unless they are parked in a properly zoned campground or park6. That restriction answers the common plan to live in an RV on rural land while a house is being built: the construction project does not create an exception in the reviewed county rule6. For a tiny home, we could not confirm a special countywide occupancy rule or minimum dwelling size. A tiny home proposed as a permanent dwelling still has to fit the parcel's zoning district, pass building-code review, complete inspections and receive a Certificate of Occupancy or Completion before occupancy2101213. Ask the Planning and Zoning Division to confirm the district-specific use, setbacks and any minimum size before choosing a design17.

Building a home in St. Johns County: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel's zoning district, permitted residential use, setbacks and height limit with the Planning and Zoning Division16181917.
  2. Determine whether county water and sewer serve the parcel; new utility work in the County Utility Service Area needs St. Johns County Utility Department approval before construction25.
  3. If septic is needed, obtain the required site evaluation and apply through the Florida Department of Health in St. Johns County32322.
  4. Obtain the Clearance Sheet and parcel ID, then submit plans to the Building Department for code and zoning review1510.
  5. Record a Notice of Commencement before the first Building Services inspection when the permitted project exceeds $5,00014.
  6. Stop at each required inspection point until it is approved12.
  7. After the final inspection, obtain the Certificate of Occupancy or Completion before moving in13.

What to check before you buy land in St. Johns County, Florida

Check the zoning district first because setbacks, allowed uses and special approvals vary by district in unincorporated St. Johns County1618. Determine utility availability and connection costs; utility work in the County Utility Service Area needs county approval before construction25. Confirm septic feasibility before closing because 0 percent of county soils avoid a severe soil-survey limitation for conventional drain fields5. Check the flood map as well: any development wholly or partly in Flood Zones A, AE, AH, AO or VE requires a construction permit, and the county generally treats work reaching 50 percent of the structure's market value as substantial improvement26. A water-well permit must come from the appropriate water management district or its delegated authority before construction, repair or abandonment27. If rental income matters, county short-term-rental registration rules and exemptions should be checked for the specific property28.

Watch-outs

  • St. Johns County's soil is rated severely limited for a conventional septic drain field almost everywhere: 0 percent of the county's soils avoid that USDA rating, so do not assume a lot will pass a standard septic evaluation without checking first5.
  • St. Johns County does not allow an RV camper or fifth wheel to be used as living quarters unless it is parked in a properly zoned campground or park6.
  • Any development in a St. Johns County floodplain requires a construction permit26.

Sources

  1. Building Permits, quoted and re-checked
  2. Land Development Code, quoted and re-checked
  3. Onsite Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  4. Florida Statutes 489.103 - Contractor licensing exemptions (2026 county census)
  5. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  6. Planning and Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  7. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  8. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  9. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  10. Building Permits, quoted and re-checked
  11. St. Johns County's Schedule of Fees and Services, quoted and re-checked
  12. Building Inspections, quoted and re-checked
  13. Building Inspections, quoted and re-checked
  14. St. Johns County Building Department (sjcfl.us)
  15. Building Permits, quoted and re-checked
  16. Land Development Code, quoted and re-checked
  17. St. Johns County Planning and Zoning Division (sjcfl.us)
  18. Planning and Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  19. Planning and Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  20. Onsite Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  21. Onsite Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  22. Florida Department of Health in St. Johns County (stjohns.floridahealth.gov)
  23. OSTDS Application Information (Florida statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. Florida Statutes § 381.00655 (Florida statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. Utility Development Group, quoted and re-checked
  26. Floodplain Management, quoted and re-checked
  27. Water Well Contractor Licensing and Permitting (Florida statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  28. Short Term Vacation Rentals, quoted and re-checked

Written September 29, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

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County locator

St. Johns County in Florida

53
County map
St. Johns County highlighted among the Florida counties · colored by Index score

How St. Johns County scores

Seclusion21100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency59100% ev.
Admin Boringness44100% ev.
Durability73100% ev.
Property Autonomy91100% ev.
Carry Cost52100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$493kTypical home
0.8%Property tax
$13,626Land / acre
52.5"Annual rain
8.5% of yrsSevere drought
4.1 / yr (+3.8)Mid-century 100°F days
14.1 daysMid-century dry spell
2.49" (+6.1%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.11×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,611Home insurance / yr
-3.1% / yrInsurance growth
0.1%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
388,131People within 30 min
3,960,970People within 2 hr
172,817Radius comparison (15 mi)
532.9People / sq mi
0.1%Federal land
100%Land at 15% slope or less
0%Septic soil without severe limits
58 acWorkable land screen
68.7%Wooded land
39.4 tonsBiomass / forest ac
70.2°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for St. Johns County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

St. Johns County rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, demolition, occupancy changes, and specified electrical, gas, plumbing, or impact-resistant-covering work.

    • Permits are required for most improvements before work begins.
    • Additional permits may be required by water management districts, state agencies, or federal agencies.
    “Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any required impact-resistant coverings, electrical, gas or plumbing system…shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    County building permit plan review.

    • Plan submittals are also reviewed for the Land Development Code and other applicable laws.
    “Plan submittals will be reviewed for compliance with the Florida Building Code, Land Development Code and all other applicable laws.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction activity in St. Johns County.

    • The permit holder or authorized agent must notify the building official when work is ready for inspection.
    • Work may not proceed beyond successive inspection points without approval.
    • A final inspection is required after permitted work is complete.
    “Work shall not be done beyond the point indicated in each successive inspection without first obtaining the approval of the building official.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Occupancy of buildings after permitted construction.

    • A final inspection must be completed after all work required by the permit is completed.
    “A final inspection must be made after all the work required by your permit is completed. It is unlawful to occupy any building before a Certificate of Occupancy/Completion has been issued.”
  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land development in unincorporated St. Johns County.

    • The Land Development Code governs development in unincorporated areas; incorporated municipalities may administer their own zoning rules.
    “The Land Development Code contains most of the land development regulations governing the development of property within unincorporated St. Johns County.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    County zoning districts and special uses in unincorporated St. Johns County.

    • The county publishes the Land Development Code and identifies Article II as Zoning Districts and Special Uses.
    • District-specific controls may vary.
    “Article II | Zoning Districts & Special Uses”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Residential zoning districts in unincorporated St. Johns County.

    • Requirements vary by zoning district.

    RS-1 front setback: 30 feet · RS-1 side setback: 10 feet · RS-1 rear setback: 15 feet · RS-2 and RS-3 front setback: 25 feet · RS-2 and RS-3 side setback: 8 feet · RS-2 and RS-3 rear setback: 10 feet · OR front setback: 25 feet · OR side setback: 10 feet · OR rear setback: 10 feet · RMH front setback: 20 feet · RMH side setback: 8 feet · RMH rear setback: 10 feet · RMH(S) front setback: 25 feet · RMH(S) side setback: 8 feet · RMH(S) rear setback: 10 feet

    “RS-1 Residential Single Family Front - 30' Sides - 10' Rear - 15' RS-2 & RS-3 Residential Single Family Front - 25' Sides - 8' Rear - 10' OR - Open Rural Front - 25' Sides - 10' Rear - 10' RMH - Residential Mobile Home Front - 20' Sides - 8' Rear - 10' RMH (S) - Residential Mobile Home/Single Family Front - 25' Sides - 8' Rear - 10'”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Buildings in St. Johns County zoning areas.

    • The general maximum is 35 feet.
    • Special planned unit developments may have different regulations.

    general maximum height: 35 feet (special planned unit developments may vary)

    “Thirty-five feet, except in special planned unit developments where regulations may vary.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Living in RV campers or fifth-wheel vehicles while a home is being built in unincorporated St. Johns County.

    • RV campers and fifth wheels are not permitted for living purposes unless parked in a properly zoned campground or park.
    “RV campers and Fifth wheel vehicles are recognized as motor vehicles and are not permitted for living purpose unless parked in a properly zoned camp ground or park.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction, repair, modification, or abandonment of an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system serving property in St. Johns County.

    • The county health department performs local septic permitting; DEP implements the applicable OSTDS statutes and regulations.
    • Operating permits apply only to counties using operating permits and to listed systems such as aerobic treatment units, performance-based systems, commercial systems, and industrial/manufacturing-zoned systems.
    “Construction Permit To construct, repair, modify or abandon an OSTDS.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    OSTDS permitting and operation in St. Johns County.

    • County health department offices continue septic-tank inspections.
    • Owners or contractors with owner authorization may use a private provider for OSTDS inspections beginning July 1, 2022.
    “The OSTDS program ensures that the OSTDS is properly designed, constructed, and maintained through permitting and inspection and contributes to safe ground water, which provides 90% of Florida’s drinking water.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    New water, sewer, and reclaimed-water infrastructure within the St. Johns County Utility Service Area.

    • The project must be within the County Utility Service Area.
    • All utility work must receive SJCUD approval before construction begins.
    • Service availability and connection fees may apply.
    “St. Johns County Utility Department (SJCUD) Development Group is responsible for overseeing the planning, design, and construction of new water, sewer and reclaimed infrastructure within the County’s Utility Service Area. All utility work must receive approval from SJCUD prior to the commencement of construction.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development wholly or partially within Special Flood Hazard Areas, including Flood Zones A, AE, AH, AO, and VE.

    • New construction, substantial improvements, and repairs to substantially damaged buildings must comply with the St. Johns County Land Development Code and Florida Building Code.
    • Substantial improvement is generally defined using a 50 percent market-value threshold.
    • Any development in the floodplain requires a construction permit.

    substantial improvement threshold: >= 50 percent of structure market value (repairs to substantially damaged buildings are treated as substantial improvement regardless of actual repair work)

    “Any development in the floodplain requires a construction permit.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term vacation rentals in St. Johns County.

    • Each dwelling unit or portion used as a short-term vacation rental must be registered and renewed every 12 months.
    • Required materials include an application, rental agreement with occupancy and vehicle limits, local business tax receipt, state lodging license, sales/use-tax certificate or third-party collection statement, registration fee, and affidavit.
    • Exceptions include certain unincorporated areas west of the Intracoastal Waterway, qualifying owner-occupied homestead dwellings, and certain association-managed multifamily dwellings.
    • Maximum occupancy is two transient occupants per sleeping room or common area, with a maximum of 10, excluding children 12 and under.

    maximum transient occupancy: <= 10 occupants (two occupants per sleeping room or common area; children 12 and under excluded)

    “Each dwelling unit, or portion thereof, used as a short term vacation rental shall be registered with the County and renewed every 12 months.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    St. Johns County building-service fees.

    • Fees vary by permit and service type.
    • The fee schedule lists FY 26 current amounts, including inspection/re-inspection, temporary certificate, plan-review, and other fees.

    plan review fee: one-half of building permit fee (private-provider projects receive a 35% reduced plan review fee) · inspection/re-inspection fee: 53 USD · temporary certificate of occupancy residential: 53 USD

    “Plan Review Fees [...] One-half of the building permit fee.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    County building permit applications and plan submittals.

    • Applications generally require a clearance sheet first.
    • Applicants need a parcel ID number.
    • Plans are reviewed for compliance with the Florida Building Code, Land Development Code, and other applicable laws.
    • Contractors must be licensed and registered with St. Johns County.
    “In most cases, building permit applications will be accepted only after a Clearance Sheet is issued. You will need your “Parcel ID” number, which can be found at the Property Appraiser website, to begin the permit process.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable

    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 owner-builder disclosure; a permit is still required.

    Florida Statutes 489.103 - Contractor licensing exemptions ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Florida rules that apply here

  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Habitable attics in residential dwellings governed by the Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023).

    • The cited provision concerns habitable attics and requires compliance with the applicable ceiling-height requirement in Section R305.
    • The occupiable space must be enclosed by the roof assembly above, knee walls if applicable, on the sides, and the floor-ceiling assembly below.

    minimum occupiable floor area: >= 70 square feet

    “The occupiable floor area is not less than 70 square feet, in accordance with Section R304.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Temporary camping conducted as a recreational camp regulated under Florida Statutes Chapter 513.

    • The operator must obtain a Florida Department of Health permit before establishing or maintaining the recreational camp.
    • The camp must satisfy statutory and Department of Health requirements and inspection standards.
    • This claim does not resolve camping on private land outside a regulated recreational camp.

    permit renewal: annually · permit fee per space: 3.50-6.50 USD (Until rules setting fees are adopted, the fee is $3.50 per space.) · total permit fee: 50-600 USD (A recreational camp fee is based on an equivalency rate for which two camp occupants equal one space.)

    “recreational camp in this state without first obtaining a permit from the department.”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    An off-site-constructed residential dwelling, including a manufactured home constructed in whole or in part off site and treated as real property, in a zoning district where single-family detached dwellings are allowed.

    • The dwelling must be permitted as of right in a district where single-family detached dwellings are allowed.
    • Local governments may apply generally applicable architectural, aesthetic, design, setback, height, or bulk standards only when those standards are applied uniformly to all single-family dwellings in the same district.
    • Compatibility or design standards must be reasonable, may not exclude off-site-constructed residential dwellings, and must apply equally to single-family site-built dwellings.
    • The statute does not authorize occupancy without compliance with applicable building, permitting, installation, health, utility, or other generally applicable requirements.
    “An off-site constructed residential dwelling must be permitted as of right in any zoning district where single-family detached dwellings are allowed.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Occupancy of a manufactured/mobile home installed in Florida.
      “each mobile home shall be issued a certificate of occupancy if the mobile home complies with department rules regarding the installation of mobile homes.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory dwelling units in Florida areas zoned for single-family residential use, where the applicable county or municipality adopts an ordinance allowing them.

    • Florida law authorizes but does not itself require every county or municipality to allow accessory dwelling units under this section.
    • The unit must be an ancillary or secondary living unit with a separate kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping area, within the same structure or on the same lot as the primary dwelling.
    • A building permit application must include an affidavit that the unit will be rented at an affordable rate to an extremely-low-income, very-low-income, low-income, or moderate-income person or persons.

    affordable rent and utilities: <= not more than 30 percent of applicable median adjusted gross annual income

    “A local government may adopt an ordinance to allow accessory dwelling units in any area zoned for single-family residential use.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Florida's statewide OSTDS program, including permitting, inspections, and enforcement.

    • DEP has statewide responsibility for implementing and enforcing Florida OSTDS laws and rules.
    • DEP permitting and inspections have transitioned for 16 Panhandle counties and Marion County.
    • Outside the transitioned counties, local county health departments continue handling septic permitting and inspections.
    • The FAQ states that transition of the remaining 50 counties depends on legislative approval.
    “DEP is permitting OSTDS in Northwest Florida and Marion County. The transition of the remaining 50 counties will occur depending on legislative approval.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • State (with conditions) — Implementation of Florida statutes and regulations applicable to OSTDS.
      “Effective July 1, 2021, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is responsible for implementing the Florida Statutes and regulations applicable to OSTDS.”
    • Mixed — Statewide onsite sewage treatment and disposal system permitting and enforcement in Florida.
      “During the transition period, applicants will apply for permits and services in two separate ways, depending on in which county they are requesting a permit.”
    • Mixed — Statewide OSTDS regulation, enforcement, permitting, and inspection in Florida.
      “The Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal System (OSTDS) permitting program has implemented the first phase of the transition from the Florida Department of Health (DOH) to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). DEP is permitting OSTDS in Northwest Florida and Marion County. The transition of the remaining 50 counties will occur depending on legislative approval.”
  • Well permitLimited

    Construction, repair, or abandonment of drinking-water wells in Florida.

    • The five water management districts typically oversee drinking-water well construction, repair, and abandonment.
    • Some water management districts delegate well permitting to county health departments or other local agencies.
    • The Florida Department of Environmental Protection establishes statewide water-well construction requirements through section 373.309 and Chapter 62-532, F.A.C.
    • County health departments delegated to perform well permitting include Baker, Brevard, Broward, Clay, Miami-Dade, Flagler, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Lake, Marion, Martin, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Putnam, St. Lucie, Sarasota, and Volusia.
    • Well-contractor licensure is distinct from any construction permit requirement; licensed water-well contractors are required for persons engaging in the business of constructing, repairing, or abandoning wells.
    “The construction, repair, or abandonment of drinking water wells is typically overseen by the five water management districts. Some of these districts have delegated authority to county health departments or other local agencies.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Construction, repair, or abandonment of water wells in Florida.
      “Additionally, a permit must be obtained from the appropriate WMD or its delegated permitting authority prior to the construction, repair or abandonment of any water well.”
    • Required — Construction, repair, or abandonment of any water well statewide.
      “Additionally, a permit must be obtained from the appropriate WMD or its delegated permitting authority prior to the construction, repair or abandonment of any water well.”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Nonresidential farm buildings, farm fences, and farm signs located on lands used for bona fide agricultural purposes in Florida.

    • The land must be used for bona fide agricultural purposes.
    • The exemption does not apply to lands used for urban agriculture.
    • The exemption is from the Florida Building Code and county or municipal code or fee.
    • Floodplain-management code provisions remain applicable, including local, state, or federal provisions.
    • A farm sign on a public road remains subject to the standards listed in Florida Statutes § 479.11(4), (5)(a), and (6)-(8).
    • A nonresidential farm building is not intended to be used as a residential dwelling.
    • The statutory definition includes temporary or permanent buildings or support structures used primarily for agricultural purposes and located on land integral to a farm operation or classified as agricultural land under § 193.461; examples include a barn, greenhouse, shade house, farm office, storage building, or poultry house.
    “any nonresidential farm building [...] is exempt from the Florida Building Code and any county or municipal code or fee”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Available (with conditions) — Nonresidential farm buildings, farm fences, and farm signs located on lands used for bona fide agricultural purposes statewide in Florida.
      “any nonresidential farm building, farm fence, or farm sign [...] is exempt from the Florida Building Code and any county or municipal code or fee”
    • Available (with conditions) — Nonresidential farm buildings, farm fences, and farm signs located on lands used for bona fide agricultural purposes in Florida.
      “any nonresidential farm building, farm fence, or farm sign [...] is exempt [...] except for code provisions implementing local, state, or federal floodplain management regulations.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and platting of land statewide in Florida, subject to the state minimum requirements and additional local regulation.

    • Florida Statutes Chapter 177 establishes minimum platting requirements.
    • Local ordinances, laws, or regulations may impose additional provisions or regulations.
    • A plat offered for recording must be prepared, signed, and sealed by a professional surveyor and mapper.
    • Before approval, the plat must be reviewed for conformity by a professional surveyor and mapper employed by or under contract to the local governing body, with costs borne by the entity offering the plat for recordation.
    • A subdivision plat filed for record must contain the required dedication and obtain governing-body approval.
    “This part establishes minimum requirements and does not exclude additional provisions or regulations by local ordinance, laws, or regulations.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Subdivision of land in Florida through county and municipal land-development regulations and the statutory platting process.
      “Local land development regulations shall contain [...] and shall at a minimum:(a) Regulate the subdivision of land.”
  • Campground & park staysAllowed (with conditions)

    Occupancy of recreational vehicles as transient accommodations in Florida recreational vehicle parks and recreational camps regulated by Chapter 513.

    • The park or camp must obtain a permit from the Florida Department of Health before establishment or operation.
    • The permit must be renewed annually.
    • This claim does not establish statewide private-land zoning permission outside regulated parks or camps.

    park/camp permit renewal: annually

    “a recreational vehicle park that rents to transient guests”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    Florida counties' authority to establish, coordinate, and enforce zoning, including zoning of unincorporated county areas, subject to general and special law.

    • The county power is subject to general or special law.
    • The zoning and business regulations may not include the prohibitions in Florida Statutes § 377.8161.
    • This statewide authority grant does not identify a population threshold, named-county limitation, lake, military-base, reservoir, or similar geographic limitation.
    “Establish, coordinate, and enforce zoning and such business regulations as are necessary for the protection of the public”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • General — Florida counties adopting and enforcing zoning regulations for county territory, including unincorporated areas.
      “Establish, coordinate, and enforce zoning and such business regulations as are necessary for the protection of the public, to the extent such zoning and business regulations do not include the prohibitions in s. 377.8161.”
  • county building authorityGeneral

    Florida counties requiring building permits and enforcing the Florida Building Code for residential and other construction within county territory outside incorporated municipalities.

    • The board of county commissioners may enforce the Florida Building Code and Florida Fire Prevention Code and may adopt local technical amendments at its discretion.
    • The authority described in § 125.56(1) applies within county territory outside the corporate limits of any municipality.
    • After adoption of the applicable code or amendment, construction, erection, alteration, repair, securing, or demolition requires a permit from the appropriate county authority, subject to reasonable fees.
    • An adopted amendment remains in force throughout the county's unincorporated area until otherwise notified by the Florida Building Commission or State Fire Marshal.
    • A county may provide a schedule of reasonable inspection fees and employ building-code inspectors and other necessary personnel.
    “The board of county commissioners of each of the several counties of the state may enforce the Florida Building Code and the Florida Fire Prevention Code as provided in ss. 553.80, 633.206, and 633.208 and, at its discretion, adopt local technical amendments to the Florida Building Code as provided in s. 553.73(4) and local technical amendments to the Florida Fire Prevention Code as provided in s. 633.202 to provide for the safe construction, erection, alteration, repair, securing, and demolition of any building within its territory outside the corporate limits of any municipality.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in unincorporated St. Johns County.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage in unincorporated St. Johns County.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy in unincorporated St. Johns County.
  • Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation systems in St. Johns County.
  • Driveway access — Driveway access requirements in unincorporated St. Johns County.

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Living off-grid in St. Johns County, Florida

Is St. Johns County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

St. Johns County scores 53/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: a stronger property-autonomy legal backdrop and mixed durability signals. Watch-outs: about 388,131 people within a 30-minute drive.

Do you need a building permit in St. Johns County, Florida?

St. Johns County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Florida Department of Health in St. Johns County. Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in St. Johns County?

Living in an RV on your own land in St. Johns County is limited to specific cases: Living in RV campers or fifth-wheel vehicles while a home is being built in unincorporated St. Johns County. RV campers and fifth wheels are not permitted for living purposes unless parked in a properly zoned campground or park. Confirm with the county before relying on it.

How much does land cost in St. Johns County, Florida?

Land in St. Johns County runs about $13,626 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in St. Johns County?

St. Johns County gets about 52.5" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 8.5% of years.

How remote is St. Johns County?

A representative private-land location has about 388,131 people within a 30-minute drive and 3,960,970 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in St. Johns County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How St. Johns compares in Florida

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