How to demolish a house in Windermere, FL
In Windermere, residential demolition permits are issued by the Town of Windermere Development Services. If the house is a designated landmark or sits in a local historic district, review by the Historic Preservation Board (code); the town website lists a Historical Preservation Board comes first.
If the house is historic in Windermere
Who reviews it: Historic Preservation Board (code); the town website lists a Historical Preservation Board.
When it applies
- Building, structure or object listed individually on the town's local register of historic places, or designated contributing to a local register district (LDC s. 3.01.03(1)(e)). Demolition means razing 25 percent or more of a structure's external walls (s. 3.01.01).
How the review works
- Confer with the town manager about required plans, photographs and reports; a pre-application conference with the board on request (s. 3.01.03(3)(b)).
- File the certificate of appropriateness application with the town manager; heard at the next regular board meeting with 15 to 30 days' mailed and newspaper notice (s. 3.01.03(3)).
- Board grants, grants with conditions, or denies with written findings; appeal to Town Council (s. 3.01.03(3)).
- The certificate must be posted on the property before work (s. 3.01.03(3)(j)).
What the board can ask for
- Plans, designs, photographs, reports or other exhibits as the town manager advises (s. 3.01.03(3)(b)).
- Board considers significance, importance to the district, difficulty of reproduction, whether it is one of the last examples, definite reuse plans, whether it can be saved from collapse, and whether it can earn a reasonable return (s. 3.01.03(2)(c)).
Demolition delay: Board may delay the effective date of a demolition certificate up to six months for designated sites and contributing buildings, and up to three months for noncontributing buildings in districts (s. 3.01.04(1)).
Relocation, salvage and donation: During the delay the board may consult community groups and agencies, recommend acquisition by public or private bodies, and explore moving the structure (s. 3.01.04(1)). Relocation itself needs a certificate (s. 3.01.03(1)(f)).
Utilities, asbestos, septic and trees in Windermere
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 Windermere?
Yes. Residential demolition in Windermere is permitted through the Town of Windermere Development Services.
What if my house is historic in Windermere?
If the house is a local landmark or in a local historic district, Historic Preservation Board (code); the town website lists a Historical Preservation Board reviews the demolition before a permit can issue. Board may delay the effective date of a demolition certificate up to six months for designated sites and contributing buildings, and up to three months for noncontributing buildings in districts (s. 3.01.04(1)).
Do I need an asbestos survey to demolish a house in Windermere?
Orange County is one of eight FDEP local asbestos programs. County EPD guidance: essentially all buildings are subject to the asbestos NESHAP except some single-family residences; single-family homes that will be burned, were used as a business, or are part of a larger project with other houses or businesses on the same site are subject. Call EPD at 407-836-1400 before relying on the residential building exemption. Subject buildings must be thoroughly inspected (generally a survey by a Florida licensed asbestos consultant), a Notice of Demolition or Asbestos Renovation is required even if no asbestos is found, RACM must be abated by a licensed asbestos contractor before demolition, and notices are due at least 10 working days before work starts. see the Florida rules on our residential demolition page for the state rule.
Can Brightview handle the demolition in Windermere?
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.
- Windermere LDC s. 3.01.00 Historic districts and landmarks
https://library.municode.com/fl/windermere/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIILADECO_ARTIIIHIDIINDE_S3.01.00HIDILA - https://ocfl.net/Portals/0/resource library/permits - licenses/Pre Demolition Packet-CERT.pdf
https://ocfl.net/Portals/0/resource library/permits - licenses/Pre Demolition Packet-CERT.pdf - https://www.town.windermere.fl.us/pView.aspx?catid=487&id=23711
https://www.town.windermere.fl.us/pView.aspx?catid=487&id=23711 - https://town.windermere.fl.us/page/development-services
https://town.windermere.fl.us/page/development-services
What we could not confirm in published sources
Ask the building department about these before you plan around them.
- Town development services page did not render; demolition permit process, fees and contacts unverified.
- not verified on a primary source).
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- Residential Demolition