The county handles permitting for unincorporated areas, while the cities of Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie maintain their own independent building departments. Coastal construction projects are subject to additional review due to the county's location along the Atlantic shoreline and associated flood zone regulations.
The county enforces specific impact fees for new construction to fund infrastructure and public services, which vary significantly based on the project's location and use type.
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.
Source · St. Lucie County Planning and Development Services DepartmentLast verified · 05 / 2026