How to demolish a house in St. Cloud, FL
In St. Cloud, residential demolition permits are issued by the City of St. Cloud Building Department (application: Demolition Permit Application (class of work: Partial, Entire or Relocation)). If the house is a designated landmark or sits in a local historic district, review by the St. Cloud Historic Preservation Board (HPB) comes first.
Demolition permit steps in St. Cloud
Step 1
If the property is in the Historic Preservation District, get a Certificate of Appropriateness for demolition (and for new construction) from the Historic Preservation Board first.
Step 2
Complete the Demolition Sign-Off Sheet. All utility sign-offs must be completed before the demolition permit is issued; the applicant obtains signatures from Spectrum (cable), Central Florida Gas, fiber optic (as determined by the owner), OUC or KUA (electric), and Toho Water (water and sewer).
Step 3
City sign-offs on the same sheet: Building Department, Concurrency Planning, Public Service Engineering (Public Works), Fire Department, and 911 Addressing (Osceola Sheriff).
Step 4
File the FDEP Notice of Demolition or Asbestos Renovation (DEP Form 62-257.900(1)), which is included in the city packet.
Step 5
Submit the notarized application, sign-off packet and supporting documents (20 MB upload limit).
Step 6
Record a Notice of Commencement at the Osceola County Courthouse for projects valued at $5,000 or more (materials plus labor).
Step 7
Do not begin demolition until the permit is issued.
Documents St. Cloud asks for
| Document | What it is |
|---|---|
| Notarized Demolition Permit Application | [1] |
| Demolition Sign-Off Sheet (completed) | Utility and city department signatures; asks disconnection date, whether a rebuild is planned within 90 days, utilities to be disconnected and number of buildings. [2] |
| Notice of Commencement | $5,000 or more; recorded at the Osceola County Courthouse. [1] |
| DEP Asbestos Form | DEP Form 62-257.900(1). [1] |
| Owner/Builder Disclosure Form | If the residential owner is acting as contractor. [1] |
| Owner Authorization | Leased residential (or an executed contract); Commercial Owner/Landlord Authorization for leased commercial. [1] |
If the house is historic in St. Cloud
Who reviews it: St. Cloud Historic Preservation Board (HPB).
When it applies
- Any permit in the Historic Preservation District requires a Certificate of Appropriateness (city boundary map).
- LDC Sec. 3.24.7: the HPB or planning and zoning staff review actions affecting the exterior of all properties in the district, including noncontributing properties; demolition is a major work item for the HPB.
- Staff, the building official or other city staff may start or recommend designation of an undesignated property proposed for demolition.
How the review works
- No building in the district may be demolished without first receiving a certificate of appropriateness for new construction; demolition and new construction applications are reviewed together by the HPB and Planning and Zoning (LDC 3.24.7.B.3.i). The HPB may waive the new construction requirement on good cause such as age, infirmity, disability or financial hardship.
- After HPB approval, the demolition permit is not issued until all demolition and new construction plans have received all other required governmental approvals (3.24.7.B.3.iv).
- The HPB may deny demolition if the resource contributes significantly to the district, is on the National Register, is one of the last of its kind, can be repaired and reused practically, has study value, would be an irreparable loss, or the replacement plans are incompatible (3.24.7.B.3.v).
- While a designation for an undesignated property is considered, issuance of the demolition permit may be stayed up to 120 days unless City Council extends it (3.24.7.B.6).
- COA applications are filed separately from the building permit with Planning and Zoning (407-957-7255) with the application fee from the fee schedule.
What the board can ask for
- If demolition is approved, the owner must fully record the building at the owner's expense before demolition: at minimum an architectural description, a floor plan with interior and exterior dimensions, interior and exterior photographs, and anything else the HPB requests; the record is deposited with the city clerk and made public (3.24.7.B.3.iii).
- COA checklist: completed application, survey (if applicable), 2 copies of scaled color elevation drawings of each affected side showing existing and proposed, notarized Agent Authorization Form, materials list or spec sheets, photographs of the existing structure, narrative, and the application fee (Revised September 2021).
Demolition delay: The HPB may approve demolition with a delayed effective date of up to three months, during which it may consult community groups and agencies, recommend acquisition, or explore moving the building (3.24.7.B.4). Separately, a stay of up to 120 days applies while designation of an undesignated property is considered (3.24.7.B.6).
Relocation, salvage and donation: The HPB may require the owner to salvage and preserve specified classes of building materials, architectural details, ornaments and fixtures (3.24.7.B.5). Relocation may be denied if it would cause substantial loss to the setting, the vacated area has no or harmful plans, the building cannot be moved without significant damage, the new site is incompatible, or little effort was made to relocate within a compatible district (3.24.7.B.7).
Utilities, asbestos, septic and trees in St. Cloud
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 St. Cloud?
Yes. Residential demolition in St. Cloud is permitted through the City of St. Cloud Building Department.
Who can pull a demolition permit in St. Cloud?
Licensed contractor or residential owner acting as contractor with the Owner/Builder Disclosure Form; for leased residential property, an owner authorization or executed contract.
What if my house is historic in St. Cloud?
If the house is a local landmark or in a local historic district, St. Cloud Historic Preservation Board (HPB) reviews the demolition before a permit can issue. The HPB may approve demolition with a delayed effective date of up to three months, during which it may consult community groups and agencies, recommend acquisition, or explore moving the building (3.24.7.B.4). Separately, a stay of up to 120 days applies while designation of an undesignated property is considered (3.24.7.B.6).
Do I need an asbestos survey to demolish a house in St. Cloud?
No local asbestos program covers this county; FDEP Central District (main line 407-897-4100) receives the Notice of Renovation or Demolition (DEP Form 62-257.900(1), Notice of Demolition or Asbestos Renovation) at least 10 working days before the project start date for projects removing asbestos above the NESHAP thresholds. FDEP lists a $200 flat fee for hard copy or Pay Later notices and a $100 fee when paid through the DEP Business Portal Pay Now feature (effective March 23, 2025). FDEP says buildings meeting the residential exemption criteria in the Asbestos NESHAP are excluded from the work practice requirements; check 40 CFR Part 61 Subpart M for whether a given house qualifies. St. Cloud lists the DEP asbestos form as a required demolition document and includes it in the sign-off packet.
Can Brightview handle the demolition in St. Cloud?
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.
- St. Cloud Demolition Permit Application (Form Center)
https://www.stcloudfl.gov/FormCenter/Building-Permit-Applications-3/Demolition-Permit-Application-PDF-74 - St. Cloud Demolition Sign-Off Sheet packet (includes OUC Demolition Request and FDEP Form 62-257.900(1))
https://www.stcloudfl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/30367/Demolition-Sign-Off-Sheet---Complete-FILLABLE - St. Cloud Applications and Form Downloads
https://stcloudfl.gov/1959/Applications-Form-Downloads - St. Cloud Historic Preservation Certificate of Appropriateness Packet (Revised September 2021)
https://www.stcloudfl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/32815/Historic-Preservation-Certificate-of-Appropriateness-Packet - St. Cloud Historic Preservation District Boundary Map
https://www.stcloudfl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/32159/Historic-Preservation-District-Boundary-Map - St. Cloud Online Permit Application Submittals †
https://fl-stcloud2.civicplus.com/1652/Online-Permit-Application-Submittals - FDEP Asbestos program page (Central District coverage, 10 working day notice, fees)
https://floridadep.gov/air/permitting-compliance/content/asbestos - FDEP Onsite Sewage FAQ, Permitting (which counties DOH still permits)
https://floridadep.gov/water/onsite-sewage/content/onsite-sewage-faq-permitting - https://floridadep.gov/air/permitting-compliance/content/asbestos ; https://www.stcloudfl.gov/FormCenter/Building-Permit-Applications-3/Demolition-Permit-Application-PDF-74
https://floridadep.gov/air/permitting-compliance/content/asbestos ; https://www.stcloudfl.gov/FormCenter/Building-Permit-Applications-3/Demolition-Permit-Application-PDF-74 - https://floridadep.gov/water/onsite-sewage/content/onsite-sewage-faq-permitting ; https://osceola.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/environmental-health/onsite-sewage-disposal/
https://floridadep.gov/water/onsite-sewage/content/onsite-sewage-faq-permitting ; https://osceola.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/environmental-health/onsite-sewage-disposal/ - https://www.stcloudfl.gov/50/Permit-Information
https://www.stcloudfl.gov/50/Permit-Information - https://etrakit.stcloud.org/etrakit/
https://etrakit.stcloud.org/etrakit/
† Read from a search engine's copy of the official page because the government site blocked direct access during our research. Treat these items as unconfirmed and check them with the office.
What we could not confirm in published sources
Ask the building department about these before you plan around them.
- Demolition permit fee (a third-party site lists $157.59; not confirmed on an official source).
- COA application fee amount (packet says see fee schedule).
- Whether demolition in the district can ever be handled at staff level (packet shows Ordinary, Minor (staff) and Major (HPB) review types without saying demolition is always Major).
- HPB meeting schedule and submittal deadline.
- Office location detail differs among sources (1300 9th Street Atrium 2nd floor vs Building A 1st floor).
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- Residential Demolition