Fort Lauderdale runs its own building department, separate from Broward County's, and since January 1, 2024 every permit application in the city has gone through one system: LauderBuild. For a builder coming from Miami-Dade, the portal, the application form and the walk-thru options are all different. This guide covers how an electrical permit moves through Fort Lauderdale, what to have ready, and the timing rules that catch people out.
The City of Fort Lauderdale's Development Services Department has the final word on every point here, and its pages are linked below. For the rest of South Florida, see our South Florida electrical permits guide.
Step 1: Confirm the address with Property Reporter
Broward is a patchwork of cities, and a Fort Lauderdale mailing address does not always mean the City of Fort Lauderdale issues the permit. The city's Property Reporter GIS tool shows property information for addresses in the city and is the quickest place to start. If the property turns out to be in unincorporated Broward, the county's ePermits OneStop handles it instead (Broward ePermits); if it is in another city, that city's building department does.
Step 2: Search the property's permit history in LauderBuild
LauderBuild is the city's Accela-based portal, at aca3.accela.com/FTL. The city says it has been required for all applications since January 1, 2024, and that you do not need an account to search records (City of Fort Lauderdale, LauderBuild). Before you price a remodel or a service change, search the address for open electrical permits. An old open permit is a conversation to have with the owner before you bid, not after rough-in. Our guide to open and expired permits explains what Florida law lets an owner do about one.
Step 3: Use the Broward Uniform Permit Application
Fort Lauderdale uses the Broward County Uniform Permit Application (City of Fort Lauderdale, Permitting Services). The same form is used across much of Broward, so an electrical contractor who works in the county will know it. What to have ready before the application goes in:
- The property owner's name and address as they appear in the property records.
- The contractor's license and qualifier information, which must match the state license. You can verify a Florida license on DBPR's license search.
- A scope description that matches the drawings: service size, panels, new circuits, generator or EV charger work.
- Drawings and a load calculation where the scope calls for them. Our post on electrical load calculations for permits covers what goes into one.
- The master permit number, if the electrical work is part of a larger job.
Walk-thru electrical permits
Not every electrical permit in Fort Lauderdale needs full plan review. The city lists walk-thru electrical permits for three kinds of work (Permitting Services):
- Residential electrical work.
- A stand-alone temporary pole.
- A service change or repair.
"Walk-thru" describes the review track, not a lower standard. The work still gets inspected, and the city decides whether a particular job qualifies. A residential service change that also relocates the meter or adds a generator may not stay on the walk-thru track, so ask before you plan around it. The temporary pole option is useful on new construction; our post on the temporary power pole and FPL covers the utility side.
Master permits and electrical sub-permits
On a larger job the building permit is the master and the trades are sub-permits. Broward County's own permitting guide describes the same structure for unincorporated Broward, where "Permit Final" means a sub-permit is closed and "Completed" means the master is closed (Broward County permit guide). The practical point for a GC is the same in the city: the job is not closed until every trade permit under it is finaled. Our post on master permits vs electrical sub-permits goes through how each South Florida jurisdiction handles it.
Timing: abandonment and the one renewal
Two city rules matter for schedule. The city's building permits page says applications are abandoned after 180 days, and that one renewal is allowed (City of Fort Lauderdale, building permits). An application that sits in corrections while the owner decides on a panel location or a generator can run out of time. Answer comments promptly, and if a project is paused, ask the city about the renewal before the deadline rather than after.
Issued single-family permits also fall under the statewide rule in section 553.79(1)(c): since July 1, 2026, they expire one year after issuance or when the next Florida Building Code edition takes effect, whichever is later. For how the state rules fit together, see our post on Florida permit expiration rules for 2026.
Inspections
The city sets the required inspections on each permit record, so read them in LauderBuild instead of working from another city's list. Florida law requires every permit office to accept inspection requests electronically (F.S. 553.79(1)(d)). Two other rules apply before the first inspection:
- A Notice of Commencement, where required, must be recorded and a copy posted at the job site before the first inspection (F.S. 713.13). In Broward, NOCs are recorded with Records, Taxes and Treasury at 115 S. Andrews Ave., Room 114 (Broward NOC recording).
- FPL will not energize a new service until the local electrical inspection is done and it has formal notice from the inspecting office (FPL Electric Service Standards, 2023 edition; check the current edition).
Broward rules that follow you into the city
- High-velocity hurricane zone. Broward and Miami-Dade make up the HVHZ under the Florida Building Code (FBC HVHZ definition). In the HVHZ, rooftop equipment and supports must be secured to the structure for wind loads, and rooftop conduit must be raised at least 8 inches above the finished roof (FBC 1522).
- Building safety inspections. Broward's Board of Rules and Appeals Policy 05-05 starts safety inspections at 25 years from the certificate of occupancy, then every 10 years, with the electrical report by a Florida-licensed engineer or architect specializing in electrical work (BORA Policy 05-05). Repairs that come out of that report are permitted work.
Useful contacts
| For | Contact |
|---|---|
| Permit Solutions Team | 954-828-3160 (city building permits page) |
| Development Services customer service | 954-828-6520 (city building permits page) |
| Applications and records | LauderBuild |
| Property lookup | Property Reporter |
Questions builders ask
Do I need a LauderBuild account to look up a permit?
No. The city says searching LauderBuild does not require an account. Applying does go through LauderBuild, which has been required for all applications since January 1, 2024.
Can a residential service change be a walk-thru permit?
The city lists service change or repair among its walk-thru electrical permits. Whether a specific job qualifies is the city's call, especially if the scope grows beyond a like-for-like change.
What happens if my application sits too long?
The city says applications are abandoned after 180 days and allows one renewal. Track the date from submission and respond to comments quickly.
Is Fort Lauderdale the same as Broward County for permits?
No. The city has its own building department and portal. Broward County's ePermits OneStop covers unincorporated Broward, and each other city runs its own office.
Working in Fort Lauderdale?
KRW Electric (EC13012832) handles the permit and inspections on its jobs across Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach, including panel and service upgrades and commercial electrical permits. Send us the address and scope or call (305) 359-7312.
Reviewed by Kyle White, KRW Electric Company LLC — licensed electrical contractor EC13012832.
