How to demolish a house in Lakeland, FL
In Lakeland, residential demolition permits are issued by the City of Lakeland Building Inspection Division (application: Demolition permit application in iMS). If the house is a designated landmark or sits in a local historic district, review by the Historic Preservation Board and its Design Review Committee comes first.
Demolition permit steps in Lakeland
Step 1
If the house is in a historic district or is a historic landmark, obtain a Certificate of Review (Design Review, Major) first; it must be granted before building and demolition permits issue.
Step 2
Have a plumbing contractor cap the sewer; the sewer cap permit must be issued, inspected and finaled before the demolition application is submitted.
Step 3
If there is a septic tank, get an abandonment letter from the Polk County Health Department (or a pump and inspection report if the tank will be reused).
Step 4
Upload to iMS: notarized signed owner letter authorizing demolition, recorded Notice of Commencement if the job is over $5,000, septic letter if applicable.
Step 5
Asbestos removal, if required, by an Asbestos Abatement Contractor only; notify the Building Inspection Division.
Step 6
Schedule the Public Works Engineering pre-demolition site inspection (existing erosion, driveway aprons, sidewalks, right of way items) in advance.
Step 7
Demolish, level and grade the site, remove all debris.
Step 8
Final inspections by the Building Division and by Public Works.
Documents Lakeland asks for
| Document | What it is |
|---|---|
| Notarized owner authorization letter | A notarized, signed letter from the property owner authorizing the demolition. [1] |
| Recorded Notice of Commencement | If job valuation or contract amount is over $5,000. [1] |
| Septic tank abandonment letter | From the Polk County Health Department; a pump and inspection report instead if the tank will be reused. [1] |
| Finaled sewer cap permit | Must be issued, inspected and finaled before the demolition application. [1] |
If the house is historic in Lakeland
Who reviews it: Historic Preservation Board and its Design Review Committee.
When it applies
- Principal or accessory building within one of seven local historic districts: Beacon Hill, Biltmore-Cumberland, Dixieland, East Lake Morton, Lake Hunter Terrace, Munn Park, South Lake Morton.
- Local Historic Landmark anywhere in the city.
How the review works
- Demolition of a principal structure in a historic district requires Design Review (Major) and a Certificate of Review; accessory buildings require Design Review (Minor) and a Certificate of Review.
- Apply through iMS; the Historic Preservation Planner reviews first and the Design Review Committee makes the final decision on Major reviews. The applicant or a representative must attend.
- Design Review Committee meets the fourth Thursday of each month at 8:30 AM at City Hall (third Thursday in November and December).
- Typical Major review about 30 days (FAQ) or about 24 days average (Design Review page).
- Application fee $170.00 for all demolitions; work done without a Certificate of Review incurs a $350.00 penalty fee.
- The Certificate of Review must be granted before building and demolition permits are issued.
- Demolition criteria for principal structures are in LDC Article 11, Section 11.6.3.c (per city FAQ).
Utilities, asbestos, septic and trees in Lakeland
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 Lakeland?
Yes. Residential demolition in Lakeland is permitted through the City of Lakeland Building Inspection Division.
Who can pull a demolition permit in Lakeland?
Demolition contractor, or owner-builder (city posts an Owner-Builder Packet).
What if my house is historic in Lakeland?
If the house is a local landmark or in a local historic district, Historic Preservation Board and its Design Review Committee reviews the demolition before a permit can issue.
Do I need an asbestos survey to demolish a house in Lakeland?
Asbestos removal (if required) is done by an Asbestos Abatement Contractor only, and the Building Inspection Division must be notified of the scheduled demolition.
Can Brightview handle the demolition in Lakeland?
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.
- Lakeland Building Inspection Forms and Checklists (demolition permit summary)
https://www.lakelandgov.net/departments/community-economic-development/building-inspection/forms-checklists/ - Lakeland Historic Preservation FAQ
https://lakelandgov.net/departments/community-economic-development/historic-preservation/frequently-asked-questions/ - Lakeland Historic Preservation Design Review
https://www.lakelandgov.net/departments/community-economic-development/historic-preservation/design-review/ - Lakeland Owner-Builder Packet (link only, not read)
https://lakelandgov.net/media/23453/owner-builder-package.pdf - https://ims.lakelandgov.net/ims/Account/Login
https://ims.lakelandgov.net/ims/Account/Login - https://www.polkfl.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/DQ-26-176-Quote-Package.pdf
https://www.polkfl.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/DQ-26-176-Quote-Package.pdf - https://lakelandgov.net/media/6696/lakeland-historic-districts-2017.pdf
https://lakelandgov.net/media/6696/lakeland-historic-districts-2017.pdf - https://www.lakelandgov.net/departments/community-economic-development/building-inspection/
https://www.lakelandgov.net/departments/community-economic-development/building-inspection/
What we could not confirm in published sources
Ask the building department about these before you plan around them.
- The official LDC Article 11 text (Municode) could not be loaded. A third-party mirror (zoneomics) shows demolition criteria at 11.6.3(d) (architectural significance, contribution to the district, future use of the site) and relocation at 11.6.3(c), while the city FAQ says demolition criteria are at 11.6.3.c.
- The same mirror shows 11.6.4(a) allowing a demolition permit only after the building permit for the replacement structure is issued (with exceptions). Not verified on an official source; this would be a major requirement if confirmed.
- Required documentation for a demolition Certificate of Review (photos, structural report, etc.) not listed on pages read; the Design Guidelines PDF was too large to fetch.
- Demolition building permit fee not found.
- The older demolition-permits PDF at lakelandgov.net/media/20275 now returns not found.
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- Residential Demolition