How to demolish a house in Bartow, FL
In Bartow, residential demolition permits are issued by the City of Bartow Building Department (application: City of Bartow Permit Application, class of work Demolish). If the house is a designated landmark or sits in a local historic district, review by the Historic Architectural Review Board comes first.

Demolition permit steps in Bartow
Step 1
If the property is a contributing property in a historic district, get a decision from the Historic Architectural Review Board first.
Step 2
Complete the permit application with class of work Demolish; the form has a Historical District check box.
Step 3
Get the Notice of Commencement form from the Building Department at City Hall on request.
Documents Bartow asks for
| Document | What it is |
|---|---|
| Permit application | Includes Core Improvement Area, Flood Zone and Historical District check boxes and a Demolish class of work. [2] |
If the house is historic in Bartow
Who reviews it: Historic Architectural Review Board.
When it applies
- Contributing property within the designated boundaries of a Bartow historic district.
How the review works
- The Board has authority to review and render a decision on all proposed alterations, demolitions and relocations for contributing property.
- Meets at 4 pm on the first Thursday of the month, only when items need review, in City Commission Chambers, City Hall, 450 N. Wilson Avenue.
- Contact the Planning Department for application fees and forms.
Sources: [3]
Utilities, asbestos, septic and trees in Bartow
The office that issues it
State rules apply on top of the local ones
The asbestos notice, septic and well abandonment, owner-builder limits and the Notice of Commencement come from state law. See the Florida rules that apply to every demolition.
Straight answers
Do I need a permit to demolish a house in Bartow?
Yes. Residential demolition in Bartow is permitted through the City of Bartow Building Department.
Who can pull a demolition permit in Bartow?
Contractor, or a homeowner who owns and occupies a one or two family dwelling (may not use or hire unlicensed persons), per the Building Department FAQ.
What if my house is historic in Bartow?
If the house is a local landmark or in a local historic district, Historic Architectural Review Board reviews the demolition before a permit can issue.
Can Brightview handle the demolition in Bartow?
Yes. Brightview Homes (CRC1334100) pulls the permit under its Florida contractor license and runs the asbestos survey and notice, utility disconnects, historic documentation when it applies, tear-down, haul-off and final inspection. Demolition is quoted per job, typically $12,000 to $24,000.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the official sources below, read on the date shown. Rules change; the building department has the final word.
- Bartow Building Department
https://www.cityofbartow.net/159/Building-Department - Bartow Permit Application
https://www.cityofbartow.net/DocumentCenter/View/659/BUILDING-PERMIT-APPLICATION-PDF - Bartow Historic Architectural Review Board
https://www.cityofbartow.net/291/Historic-Architectural-Review-Board - https://www.cityofbartow.net/443/Permit-Application
https://www.cityofbartow.net/443/Permit-Application
What we could not confirm in published sources
Ask the building department about these before you plan around them.
- Names and maps of Bartow's local historic districts not found on an official page.
- Demolition fee, utility disconnect, asbestos and septic requirements not found on city pages.
- The permit application PDF is dated 2008; current form not confirmed.
Get this scope quoted in Polk County
Send the address or parcel ID. A real person replies within one business day with a written proposal. Nothing is ordered and nothing is charged until you approve it.
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- Residential Demolition
