Building

Virtual Inspections Available

Polk County has partnered with VuSpex to provide our customers with the ability to conduct building inspections virtually. For details click the VuSpex logo below or visit our VuSpex information page.

Building Division

The Building Division in the County Administration Building in Bartow is open for business.

• Drop off service for hard copy plans at the Building Division County Administration location only
• Same day residential walk through permitting. See below for hours of operation and other details
• Building and Land Development application assistance through the use of one of Polk's four kiosk systems available to the public

Additional Online and Remote Services:

• Access to schedule virtual, offline and onsite inspections.
• Performing approved virtual/offline inspections as listed at www.polk-county.net/building/virtual-inspections 
• Performing onsite inspections scheduled through the Accela permitting system
• Permitting online through the Accela Citizen Portal at https://aca-prod.accela.com/POLKCO/Default.aspx
• Submittal of digitally signed and sealed plans uploaded through the Accela permitting System
• Customer assistance with permitting questions by phone at (863) 534-6080 or by email at BuildingDivision@polk-county.net
• For land use and planning related questions, the Planner-on-Call is available in person, by phone (863) 534-6084, or at planneroncall@polk-county.net.

Same Day Residential Walk Through Permitting

The Polk County Building Division is experiencing an extraordinarily high permitting volume, and in an effort to reduce our permit backlog, the Building Division at this time will be limiting the number of owner/builder applicants seen by permitting and plans examiner staff to eight (8) owner/builder permits per day. We recommend that our customers make their best effort to be at the Building Division to sign in before 8:00 am, the sign in list will be available in the main lobby outside of the Building Division. Support staff is still available to answer general questions and to assist our customers with applying online for permits using our lobby kiosks. We are making every effort to process permits as quick as possible for our customers, so we appreciate everyone’s patience as we navigate through this extraordinary permitting period.

Walk-Through Residential Permitting Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Permit applications must be complete prior to entering the permit lobby queue by 12 p.m.

Cut-off times may be adjusted as needed, depending on volume and staffing levels.

Customers are allowed to:

• Walk-through up to three permits with plans or without plans per day, or
• Walk-through up to two mobile home set-up permits per day.
  

Although we will make every effort to issue walk-through permits by the close of business, those clients arriving close to the cut-off time when the lobby is full, or with multiple permit applications may be asked to return the next business day to finish the permitting process. Also, anyone seeking to walk-through a permit will not be allowed to drop it off and return later in the day.

Applicants needing help navigating Accela’s registration, or any other assistance, should call (863) 534-6080. Polk County thanks you for your patience and understanding during this critical time in our country.

Helpful Contacts:

• Permit Tech on Call – (863) 534-6080, BuildingDivision@polk-county.net
  Permitting process or requirements inquiries.
• Planner on Call - (863) 534-6084, PlannerOnCall@polk-county.net
  Land Development regulations inquiries.
• Cashier – (863) 534-6535
• Contractor Licensing – (863) 534-6530, ContractorLicensing@polk-county.net
  For licensing questions or to file a contractor complaint.
• Re-open expired permits – ExpiredPermits@polk-county.net
• Building Official – Ryan Wiggins, (863) 534-6528