Building 

The City of Fort Pierce is excited to announce that our new Enterprise Permitting and Licensing (EPL) system and Citizen Self Service (CSS) website have launched. 

If this is your first time visiting this page, please read below for additional information before proceeding to our CSS website. To proceed to our CSS website, please click on the following link: cityoffortpierce.com/epl

 The launch of EPL and CSS represents a significant leap forward in Fort Pierce's commitment to modernizing municipal services and provides numerous benefits, including:

Enhanced Accessibility: Applicants will be able to submit applications online from the comfort of their homes or offices, reducing the need for in-person visits to the department office.

Real-Time Updates: Applicants will receive real-time updates on the status of their applications, making it easier to track progress and stay informed.

Improved User Experience: With an intuitive interface and user-friendly design, the platform will be easy to navigate for all users.  

The City is embracing the future of community development processes and is committed to providing a system that promises to revolutionize the way we conduct business.  We appreciate your understanding and patience during this transition period as we work through any unforeseen circumstances you may encounter.  Please visit our EPL website at cityoffortpierce.com/epl for helpful user guides on creating an account, applying for a license, applying for a permit, and scheduling inspections.  The Building Department will also be providing free training sessions for all users on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM in the Building Department conference room.  Training sessions are first-come, first-served and will be general in nature.  One-on-one assistance may not be available during training.

Before proceeding to CSS, please be aware of the following:

• For the best user experience, we recommend using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge as your browser.
• All users will need to create an account.  For more assistance on this topic, please visit the following link: cityoffortpierce.com/epl 
• All contractors, existing or new, will need to go through the contractor registration process by obtaining a professional license through CSS prior to selecting themselves as the contractor on a permit submittal.  To register or re-register with the City, please be advised that there is a $25.00 voluntary registration fee to keep your information on file.  For more assistance on this topic, please visit the following link: cityoffortpierce.com/epl
• If you are a state-certified contractor and choose not to voluntarily register, you may apply as a One-Time-Only Contractor.  However, please be advised that all one-time-only contractors will be required to personally appear to provide all required documentation and complete all necessary forms.   When you proceed to the CSS page, you will still be required to create an account.  For more assistance on this topic, please visit the following link: cityoffortpierce.com/epl 
• In a continued effort to provide excellent customer service during this transition to our new permitting program, we have created a "To Be Determined Contractor" contact type, which will allow you to submit your application for a building permit while your contractor registration is being processed by the City Clerk's Office.  Please be aware that once your registration is complete, you'll need to go back into CSS and update your contact to reflect your contractor license.  When you proceed to the CSS page, you will still be required to create an account.  For more assistance on this topic, please visit the following link: cityoffortpierce.com/epl 
• All businesses located within the city limits of Fort Pierce must have a Certificate of Use.  For more assistance on this topic, please visit the following link: cityoffortpierce.com/epl 
• Kiosks are available in our lobby for you to submit your applications through our CSS portal.
• Scanners are also available at the kiosk for you to convert letter and legal-size documents to electronic format for uploading.
• Building Department staff may convert larger paper plans to electronic format for you for $25.00 an hour, with a minimum fee of $25.00.
• In accordance with Florida State Statute 489.103(7)(c).  Owner Builders are required to personally appear at the Building Department to sign the building permit application.

Prior to submitting a permit application on CSS, please take a moment to review our permitting checklist at Building Permit Submittal Checklists | Fort Pierce, FL - Official Website (cityoffortpierce.com).  Please also be advised of the following:

• The Building Department will continue to utilize our previous permitting system and our new system Tyler EPL and CSS, simultaneously.
• Permits applied on or before 7/12/2024 will start with a number (Ex. 24-999). For these permits, inspections will still be scheduled through Click2Gov, and revisions will be submitted directly to your project manager.  However, payment can no longer be made through Click2Gov.  If payment needs to be made, please contact your project manager to arrange for payment.
• Permits applied on or after 7/15/2024 will be processed through (EPL) and (CSS).  These permits will start with a letter (Ex, RBLDG-2024-999999). For these permits, inspections will be scheduled through CSS, revisions will be processed through CSS, and payments will be made through CSS.

  • We are no longer accepting applications via email, fax, mail, etc.  All applications must be submitted through CSS. This includes in-person submittals. In-person submittals will be made on CSS by using the kiosks in our lobby.

  • Applicants are encouraged to take advantage of our free training sessions on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Training sessions are first-come, first-served and will be general in nature.  One-on-one assistance may not be available during training.

  • If an applicant is unable to attend a training or has already attended a training and requires further assistance, staff will be able to assist with quick inquiries throughout the day.

  • If an applicant requires further assistance or is requesting step-by-step direction, there will be a fee for this service, and it may be available by appointment only. Prior to receiving assistance, the applicant will be required to pay a fee of $25.00 and an additional $25.00 for each additional hour spent with the applicant.

  • There are no longer two separate processes for DPCR and Building Permit.  DPCR applications are no longer required.

• Please continue to complete the permit application form, debris affidavit, and all other required forms and upload them with your submittal.
• The application submittal, made on CSS, is first reviewed by DPCR agencies before the application moves on to Building and Fire review.
• A Florida Product Approval (PA) or Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) is required for all products where a PA or NOA is available, including but not limited to windows, doors, roofing, siding, flood vents, etc.  This includes the cover sheet and installation instructions.
• Plans must be submitted either as one document or bundled by discipline.
• All plans must be digitally signed and sealed and be able to be verified by Building Department staff.
  • Paper plans that were physically signed and stamped with a wet or embossed seal cannot be submitted.
• Please ensure that the documents that you are uploading and attaching are not secured. If a PDF is secured, when you open the PDF, it will have a small lock that notifies you that security is set on the document.  Staff will not be able to electronically review documents that are secured.
  • If you have a file that is secured (that is not a signed document), you can print it as a PDF or export it as a PDF.  This should remove the security on the file.  You will not be able to do this if the document has been signed.  
• Among other documents, some product approvals and AHRI forms are secured. Please be sure to remove the security before uploading and attaching the files for our review.
• A pre-construction meeting is required for all new commercial construction and major commercial renovations.

Please note that the review due dates you see on CSS are the due dates established by the State Statute and are not necessarily an accurate representation of when your review will be complied. The City of Fort Pierce Building Department is committed to providing the best possible service, and this transition is a significant step towards achieving that goal. 

To proceed to the CSS website to submit an application, please visit: cityoffortpierce.com/epl