Bolthole Index

Wakulla County, Florida

Building permits, zoning and land rules in St. Marks, Florida

Building a home in St. Marks, Florida starts with city site-plan approval before a building-permit application goes to Wakulla County.12 St. Marks oversees its own zoning and flood-zone review; septic work needs city-manager approval as well as the applicable onsite sewage permit, now administered by Florida DEP for Wakulla County.134

At a glance

Building permit
City approval first; county building-permit application follows12
Zoning
City zoning and flood-zone review51
Septic
City-manager approval plus onsite sewage permitting through Florida DEP34
RV living
Limited temporary use for related persons with documented medical hardship, alongside a principal dwelling6
Manufactured housing
Where indicated, limited to a mobile-home park designed exclusively for such houses7
Owner-builder
Florida exemption is conditional; building permits and inspections still apply8
Private well
State law requires a water-management-district or delegated-authority permit9

Who to call

Zoning

City of St. Marks Building & Zoning

City site-plan approval, zoning review and application of FEMA flood-zone requirements before county building-permit submission.

(850) 925-6224

[email protected]

788 Port Leon Drive

Building permits

Wakulla County Building Department

Building-code administration, plan review, construction permits, inspections and related floodplain-management regulations

850-926-7636

3095 Crawfordville Highway Crawfordville, Fl 32327

Online permits →

Septic permits

Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Onsite Sewage Program

Onsite sewage treatment and disposal system permitting for Wakulla County during the Northwest Florida transition

[email protected]

2600 Blair Stone Road MS #3599 Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in St. Marks, FL?

For improvements in St. Marks, submit the completed city site-plan application package and fee to obtain an approval letter before work begins or a building-permit application is submitted to Wakulla County.1 Wakulla County Building Department reviews building plans, issues building permits and conducts residential and commercial inspections.2

An owner-builder in St. Marks can use Florida’s conditional exemption for a residence intended for the owner’s use and occupancy, with direct onsite supervision of work not performed by licensed contractors; the exemption does not remove building-permit or inspection requirements.8 Ask City Building & Zoning for the current city fee schedule and approval requirements; the city application page identifies a newer building-fee resolution.1

Who handles building approval and zoning in St. Marks?

Start with St. Marks Building & Zoning for the city approval letter, zoning review and application of FEMA flood-zone requirements.1 Contact the city at (850) 925-6224 or [email protected], or visit 788 Port Leon Drive.1

The city requires the property owner’s original signature and provides no verbal or over-the-counter approvals.1 Applications that do not require a Local Planning Board meeting need 2–4 business days when no additional administrative work is needed; applications requiring a meeting must be complete at least 10 days before the meeting and involve additional fees.1 After city approval, contact Wakulla County Building Department at 850-926-7636 for building-plan review, building permits and inspections.12

Does St. Marks have zoning, lot-size rules and setbacks?

St. Marks has city zoning districts and city-issued temporary-use permits; the city oversees its own zoning rather than sending city zoning decisions to the county planning counter.51 Ask City Building & Zoning to identify the parcel’s district and applicable residential dimensions before choosing a house layout.1

In St. Marks’ CTTP travel-trailer-park commercial district, the minimum site area is 5 acres, with building setbacks of 50 feet in front, 20 feet at the rear and 15 feet at the sides.1011 Those CTTP standards govern travel-trailer-park commercial land, not a general residential house lot.10 Maximum CTTP building coverage is 40 percent and maximum building height is 25 feet.1213

How do septic permits work inside St. Marks?

For a new single-family dwelling in St. Marks, sewer service is considered available when connection can be made with 200 linear feet of gravity-flow line from the nearest point of the property; approved private subsurface disposal is an option where sewer is unavailable.14 Ask the city to resolve sewer availability before planning a septic system.14

St. Marks requires city-manager approval and a valid health-officer permit for septic-tank construction, repair, alteration or enlargement.3 Florida DEP now handles onsite sewage permitting for Wakulla County, so confirm the current permit route with DEP as well as the city’s approval requirement.43 The DEP application requires an application form, site plan, building floor plan and site evaluation; a privately commissioned evaluation must be completed and uploaded before application submission.15

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in St. Marks?

St. Marks’ residential-district RV provision allows temporary residence alongside a principal dwelling for related persons with documented medical hardship, subject to a city temporary-use permit and applicable setbacks.6 The initial authorization can last up to 1 year, with extensions subject to approval; wastewater connection, approved power and electrical and plumbing inspections are required.6 Wakulla County Building Department and Wakulla County Health Department perform the specified inspections as applicable.16

That medical-hardship provision does not establish general permission to live in an RV while building a house.6 We could not confirm a St. Marks tiny-home occupancy rule or minimum dwelling floor area; ask City Building & Zoning about the proposed dwelling and parcel.1 Manufactured housing identified by the city’s land-use table is allowed, where indicated, only in a mobile-home park designed exclusively for such houses.7

Building a home in St. Marks: what are the steps?

  1. Ask St. Marks Building & Zoning to review the proposed site, zoning and flood-zone requirements, then submit the city site-plan package with the owner’s original signature and required fee.1
  2. Resolve sewer availability with the city; if septic is needed, obtain city-manager approval and complete Florida DEP’s onsite sewage application and site evaluation.14315
  3. Obtain the city approval letter before submitting the county building-permit application or beginning work.1
  4. Arrange construction inspections with Wakulla County Building Department to verify permitted work before occupancy or use.2

For St. Marks buildings in flood-hazard areas, including Coastal A Zones, lowest floors must meet base flood elevation plus 1 foot or design flood elevation, whichever is higher.17 Ask the city to resolve that elevation requirement during site review.117

What should you check before buying land in St. Marks?

For land outside St. Marks city limits, use the Wakulla County guide for the county’s building and zoning answers; inside St. Marks, city site-plan approval comes before county building-permit submission.181 Before committing to a city parcel, ask City Building & Zoning about the intended dwelling, flood requirements and sewer availability.114

Wakulla County’s soils have only 7.3 percent rated not limited for conventional septic drain fields; that countywide figure does not establish a St. Marks lot’s suitability, so use the required site evaluation rather than treating septic as impossible.1920 Florida requires a permit from the appropriate water management district or delegated authority before well construction, repair or abandonment; we could not confirm the specific issuing office for a St. Marks private well.9

Watch-outs

  • St. Marks city site-plan approval must precede both work and county building-permit submission; verbal approval is insufficient.1
  • St. Marks’ temporary residential RV provision requires documented medical hardship and related occupants alongside a principal dwelling.6
  • Confirm septic approvals with both the St. Marks city manager and Florida DEP: the city code names a health-officer permit, while DEP now administers Wakulla County onsite sewage permitting.34
  • We could not confirm the general St. Marks certificate-of-occupancy requirements; ask City Building & Zoning and Wakulla County Building Department before planning a move-in date.12

Sources

  1. City of St. Marks Building & Zoning (cityofstmarks.com)
  2. Wakulla County Building Department (mywakulla.com)
  3. St. Marks Code § 74-99 — Private wastewater disposal (St. Marks), quoted and re-checked
  4. Onsite Sewage FAQ - Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  5. St. Marks Land Development Code § 6.00.04 — Temporary use (St. Marks), quoted and re-checked
  6. St. Marks Land Development Code § 6.00.04 — Temporary use (St. Marks), quoted and re-checked
  7. St. Marks Land Development Code § 2.02.04 — Table of density and dwelling unit types for residential use (St. Marks), quoted and re-checked
  8. 2026 Florida Statutes § 489.103, Exemptions (Florida statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Water Well Contractor Licensing and Permitting (Florida statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. St. Marks Land Development Code § 6.01.02-13.9 — CTTP travel trailer park commercial district regulations (St. Marks), quoted and re-checked
  11. St. Marks Land Development Code § 6.01.02-13.9 — CTTP travel trailer park commercial district regulations (St. Marks), quoted and re-checked
  12. St. Marks Land Development Code § 6.01.02-13.9 — CTTP travel trailer park commercial district regulations (St. Marks), quoted and re-checked
  13. St. Marks Land Development Code § 6.01.02-13.9 — CTTP travel trailer park commercial district regulations (St. Marks), quoted and re-checked
  14. St. Marks Code § 74-98 — Requirements; prohibitions; availability of public sewer service (St. Marks), quoted and re-checked
  15. Onsite Sewage FAQ - Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  16. St. Marks Land Development Code § 6.00.04 — Temporary use (St. Marks), quoted and re-checked
  17. St. Marks Code § 38-88 — Amendments to the Florida Building Code, Residential (St. Marks), quoted and re-checked
  18. Wakulla County Planning and Community Development, quoted and re-checked
  19. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  20. OSTDS Construction Application (Florida statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 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.

Answers from the rulebook for St. Marks

St. Marks’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction in St. Marks city, with specific municipal amendments for flood-hazard development.

    • The cited section amends Florida Building Code Residential flood provisions; other building-code provisions were not separately verified.
    “Buildings and structures in flood hazard areas, including flood hazard areas designated as Coastal A Zones, shall have the lowest floors elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus one foot, or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Temporary recreational-vehicle residences inside St. Marks city.

    • Electrical and plumbing inspections are performed by the Wakulla County Building Department and Wakulla County Health Department, as applicable.
    “In addition, the recreational vehicle must be connected to an approved source of power and have all electrical and plumbing inspections performed by the Wakulla County Building Department and the Wakulla County Health Department, as applicable.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside St. Marks city limits; the city administers zoning and temporary-use permits.

    • The code contains multiple zoning districts and city-issued temporary-use permits.
    “Temporary use permits are issued by the city commission and may be issued for the following uses:”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    CTTP travel-trailer-park commercial district inside St. Marks city limits.

    • The cited minimum applies to a travel-trailer-park commercial district, not generally to all residential districts.

    minimum lot or site area: >= 5 acres

    “Minimum lot or site size: Area: Five acres Width: None Depth: None”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    CTTP travel-trailer-park commercial district inside St. Marks city limits.

    front setback: 50 feet · rear setback: 20 feet · side setback: 15 feet

    “Minimum building setbacks: Front: 50 feet Rear: 20 feet Side: 15 feet”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    CTTP travel-trailer-park commercial district inside St. Marks city limits.

    maximum coverage: 40 percent

    “Maximum building restrictions: Coverage: 40 percent Height: 25 feet Density: None”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    CTTP travel-trailer-park commercial district inside St. Marks city limits.

    maximum building height: 25 feet

    “Maximum building restrictions: Coverage: 40 percent Height: 25 feet Density: None”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Residential-zoning-district RV occupancy inside St. Marks city limits.

    • A city temporary-use permit is required; the RV must house related persons, medical hardship must be documented, setbacks apply, it may be authorized up to one year with extensions, and it must connect to septic or central wastewater plus approved power and inspections.

    maximum initial permit period: 1 year (extensions of up to one year may be approved)

    “In any residential zoning district in addition to the principal residential dwelling, one recreational vehicle may be temporarily authorized for use as a residence, provided the following requirements are satisfied:”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Manufactured-home occupancy inside St. Marks city limits.

    • The residential land-use table identifies manufactured housing in the Residential district; the code note states manufactured housing is allowed only in a mobile-home park designed exclusively for such houses where indicated. Flood-hazard installations require permanent reinforced foundations and applicable Florida Building Code compliance.
    “"MH" stands for manufactured housing not meeting the standards of the Florida Manufactured Building Act. Where indicated as being allowed, they are so allowed only if in a mobile home park designed exclusively for such houses.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Private wastewater systems inside St. Marks city limits.

    • City manager approval is required; septic work also requires a valid permit issued by the health officer and compliance with state environmental regulations.
    “No person shall construct, repair, alter or enlarge any septic tank unless he receives approval by the city manager and shall hold a valid permit for such work issued by the health officer.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction, repair, alteration, or enlargement of septic tanks inside St. Marks city limits.

    • Prior city-manager approval is required; a valid health-officer permit is also required.
    “No person shall construct, repair, alter or enlarge any septic tank unless he receives approval by the city manager and shall hold a valid permit for such work issued by the health officer.”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    Temporary recreational-vehicle residences and private wastewater systems inside St. Marks city limits.

    • The code requires health-officer approval and permits; it expressly requires plumbing inspections by Wakulla County authorities for temporary RV residences.
    “have all electrical and plumbing inspections performed by the Wakulla County Building Department and the Wakulla County Health Department, as applicable.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    New single-family dwellings inside St. Marks city limits.

    • Sewer is considered available to a new single-family dwelling when connection can be made with 200 linear feet of gravity-flow line from the nearest point of the property; where no sewer is available, approved septic or other private subsurface disposal may be used.

    gravity-flow connection distance: <= 200 linear feet (from the nearest point of the property)

    “Sewer service shall be considered available to any new single-family dwelling when the dwelling can be connected by the installation of 200 linear feet of gravity flow line from the nearest point of the property.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Buildings and structures in flood hazard areas inside St. Marks city limits.

    • Lowest floors must be elevated to at least base-flood elevation plus one foot or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher; AO zones and coastal high-hazard areas have additional requirements; basements below grade on all sides are prohibited in coastal high-hazard areas.

    elevation increment: >= 1 foot (above base flood elevation unless design flood elevation is higher)

    “Buildings and structures in flood hazard areas, including flood hazard areas designated as Coastal A Zones, shall have the lowest floors elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus one foot, or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Construction inside St. Marks city limits.

    • The published city schedule lists residential and commercial construction fees; the code states payment is required before issuance of the city's compliance letter to the county building inspector.

    residential construction fee: 25 USD · commercial construction fee: 40 USD

    “(1) Residential: $25.00. (2) Commercial: $40.00.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask St. Marks or Wakulla County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders constructing inside St. Marks city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside St. Marks city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family and agricultural-residential districts inside St. Marks city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside St. Marks city limits.
  • Well permit — Private wells inside St. Marks city limits.
3 more unanswered
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that St. Marks publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Wakulla County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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