The county handles permitting for all unincorporated areas, while the cities of Naples, Marco Island, and Everglades City maintain their own independent building departments. Development in the county is heavily influenced by the Coastal High Hazard Area overlay and strict environmental regulations related to the Florida Panther Habitat and wetlands.
How this fits with the state
The state authority here is Florida DBPR - Construction Industry Licensing Board. The county file does not replace that — it adds the permit office, local overlays, and the actual filing path.