Broward has 31 cities, and almost all of them run their own building department. That's why two demolitions a mile apart, one in Hollywood and one in Fort Lauderdale, can have different checklists. What they share is the county's asbestos review and the same basic paperwork: survey, utilities, sewer or septic, pest control and site protection.
Who does what
Who issues a demolition permit in Broward
Your city's building department
If the property is inside a city like Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines or Pompano Beach, that city issues the demolition permit and does the inspections.
Broward County, for unincorporated areas
Broward County's building division handles unincorporated Broward, the Broward Municipal Services District, the airport and cities that contract with the county for building services.
The county's asbestos program, for everyone
No matter which building department issues the permit, the asbestos side goes through Broward County's environmental permitting division. Most cities won't issue the permit without the county's asbestos certificate.
No DERM here
DERM is a Miami-Dade department. Broward has its own environmental division with different forms and procedures, so a Miami-Dade checklist won't get you through a Broward permit.
The county step
The Broward asbestos statement (SRRA), step by step
File the SRRA on Broward ePermits
The Statement of Responsibilities Regarding Asbestos is filed online through Broward's ePermits system. It's due at least 10 working days before demolition or renovation starts.
Include the survey and notice when they apply
Commercial buildings and residential buildings with five or more units need an asbestos survey and the state's Notice of Demolition or Asbestos Renovation. The county reviews them with the SRRA.
Wait for the Certificate of Submittal
County staff review the project and issue a Certificate of Submittal listing any requirements. Review of a complete submittal takes up to one week for homes with four or fewer units and up to two weeks for other projects.
Give the certificate to your city
The building department asks for the approved certificate as part of the demolition permit. Without it, the permit usually doesn't move.
Pay the fee if it applies
The county's guidance lists a $100 review fee for each non-exempt project. Owner-occupied homes with four or fewer units are exempt from the fee, and projects with regulated asbestos can be billed more based on the amount reported.
The paperwork
What a Broward demolition package usually includes
Every city has its own list, but these items show up on most Broward demolition checklists.
Documents
- A current survey of the property, plus a site plan showing every building and structure coming down
- The county's asbestos certificate, with a survey and state notice when required
- A recorded Notice of Commencement when the job calls for one
- A pest control report showing the property is free of rodents
Utilities
- A disconnect letter from FPL
- A gas disconnect letter if the house has gas
- A water and sewer cap permit or letter, or a septic abandonment permit if the house is on septic
- Evacuation of refrigerant from AC units, where the city asks for it
Protecting the site and neighbors
- Construction fence and silt fence
- Filter fabric on nearby storm drains
- A letter saying where dust control water will come from
- A plan for moving heavy equipment and trucks
- A notice to neighbors with an emergency contact and the work schedule
- A commitment to seed or sod the lot when the work is done
City by city
How some Broward cities add their own items
| Item | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | A water meter removal letter from the city's Public Works Department, a hold harmless agreement, a dewatering affidavit and a construction debris mitigation form. Sailboat Bend and other designated properties need historic review. |
| Hollywood | The city can ask for the county's approved asbestos certificate with the permit. Designated properties and historic districts need Historic Preservation Board review, and much of the city east of US-1 is in a flood zone, which matters for what you build next. |
| Lauderdale-by-the-Sea | A letter to surrounding owners with an emergency contact, schedule and equipment list, a traffic plan for heavy equipment, and a signed promise to seed or sod. The town's checklist says the permit expires 60 days after approval. |
| Unincorporated Broward | Broward County's building division issues the permit and does the inspections, with the same county asbestos review. |
Checklists change. Download the current one from your building department before you start collecting letters, because a form from last year can send the application back.
When the city orders it
Unsafe structures in Broward
How it starts
Under the Florida Building Code, the building official can declare a hazardous building an unsafe structure. The owner of record is notified to fix the violations or demolish the building.
If nothing happens
If the owner doesn't act, the building can be demolished by the government and the owner billed for the cost. Acting early usually costs less and keeps the schedule in your hands.
Who to call
For unincorporated Broward and cities that contract with the county, the county's building division handles it. Everywhere else, it's your city's building department.
Avoiding delays
What holds up Broward demolition permits
Filing the SRRA late
The 10 working day clock and the county's review run on their own track. File it as soon as the scope is set, not after the city asks for it.
Waiting on utility letters
FPL, gas and the water department each move at their own pace. Request every disconnect letter in the first week.
Septic you didn't know about
Some Broward homes are still on septic, especially in rural areas like Southwest Ranches. Abandonment needs its own permit and inspection, so confirm it early.
An old checklist
Cities update their forms. Using an outdated checklist is one of the easiest ways to get a submittal rejected.
Licensing
Who can pull the permit
A licensed contractor, under their own license
The permit has to be pulled by a properly licensed contractor, or by an owner-builder where the city allows it. The license on the permit should belong to the company actually doing the job.
State license vs. county license
A Florida certified general contractor license works in every county. A local certificate of competency generally covers only the county that issued it, so a contractor licensed only in Miami-Dade can't assume it works in Broward.
Related
Keep reading
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Who issues demolition permits in Broward County?
The building department where the property is. Most Broward cities issue their own demolition permits. Broward County's building division handles unincorporated areas and cities that contract with the county.
What is the Broward SRRA?
The Statement of Responsibilities Regarding Asbestos. It's Broward County's asbestos review for demolition and renovation, filed through Broward ePermits at least 10 working days before work starts. The county issues a Certificate of Submittal, which the city building department asks for with the permit.
How long does Broward's asbestos review take?
According to the county, review of a complete submittal takes up to one week for residential buildings with four or fewer units and up to two weeks for all other projects.
Do I need an asbestos survey to demolish a house in Broward?
Single-family homes and buildings with four or fewer units are generally exempt from the federal asbestos notice, but you still file the county's asbestos statement. Commercial buildings and buildings with five or more units need a survey and the state notice. A survey before demolishing a house is still a good idea.
Is there DERM approval in Broward?
No. DERM is a Miami-Dade department. In Broward, the asbestos side goes through the county's environmental permitting division, and the sewer cap or septic abandonment goes through the utility or the health department.
How long does a Broward demolition permit take?
It depends on the city and how fast the paperwork comes together. The county's asbestos review alone can take up to two weeks, and utility letters often take longer than the city's review. Start the SRRA and the utility letters in the first week.
Can a homeowner pull a demolition permit in Broward?
Some cities allow owner-builder permits for a home the owner lives in, under Florida's owner-builder rules. You take on the contractor's legal responsibilities, including the asbestos review and inspections. Ask your building department first.
This article is general information based on Broward County and city sources as of October 2026. Checklists, fees and review times change, and each city has its own requirements. Confirm with your building department and Broward County before you apply.