Demolition permit guide · Polk County

How to demolish a house in Winter Haven, FL

In Winter Haven, residential demolition permits are issued by the City of Winter Haven Building Division (application: Demolition Permit Application (with instructions and Asbestos Notification Statement)).

Verified 2026-10-12 from 2 official sources
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Residential lot
CRC13341008 Central Florida counties480 N Orlando Ave, Suite 236, Winter Park, FL 32789(407) 543-1739
The process

Demolition permit steps in Winter Haven

  1. Step 1

    Contact Sunshine 811 and create a ticket.

  2. Step 2

    Get written approval for the demolition from the electric, gas, internet and any other service provider.

  3. Step 3

    Contact Winter Haven Water (863-291-5678) to have the water meter removed.

  4. Step 4

    If there is a septic tank, get the separate abandonment permit from the Polk County Health Department before the demolition permit is issued.

  5. Step 5

    Submit the demolition application, site plan (not needed if all structures are being demolished), utility approvals and asbestos disclosure statement.

  6. Step 6

    Pre-permit inspection: a city inspector checks the disconnected water and sewer lines (lines capped at the right of way or property line, not backfilled, concrete poured around the sewer lateral cap). Septic properties still get a pre-permit inspection to verify no water or sewer lines are present.

  7. Step 7

    Permit is reviewed, approved and issued.

  8. Step 8

    After demolition, request a final inspection to close the permit.

What to submit

Documents Winter Haven asks for

DocumentWhat it is
Demolition permit application (notarized)Parcel ID, structure types, contractor license, Sunshine 811 ticket number. [1]
Site planNot required if all structures on the site are to be demolished. [1]
Utility service provider approvalsCentral Florida Gas, Frontier, Tampa Electric (TECO), Duke Energy, Spectrum, Winter Haven Utilities, other. [1]
Asbestos Disclosure / Notification StatementPlus owner-builder asbestos exemption disclosure if applicable (FBC 8th Edition 105.3.6). [1]
Before the machine shows up

Utilities, asbestos, septic and trees in Winter Haven

Utilities
  • Sunshine 811: Create a locate ticket; ticket number goes on the application. [1]
  • Electric (TECO 863-298-6055 or 813-635-1500 prompt 4; Duke Energy 800-749-1677): Written approval for the demolition from the provider. [1]
  • Florida Central Gas (engineering-winterhaven@chpk.com): Written approval for the demolition. [1]
  • Frontier (813-892-9621), Spectrum: Written approval for the demolition. [1]
  • Winter Haven Water (863-291-5678): Water meter removed; water and sewer lines capped at the right of way or property line; concrete around the sewer lateral cap; do not backfill before inspection. [1]
Asbestos

FDEP: Asbestos Notification Statement required (F.S. 469.003). Owner-builder exemption for an owner-occupied residential building not for sale or lease (FBC 8th Edition 105.3.6) requires a signed disclosure and in-person signing. [1]

Septic and well

Florida Department of Health in Polk County: Septic tanks require separate abandonment permits issued by the Polk County Health Department prior to issuance of the demolition permit; the applicant must determine whether septic tanks are present. [1]

After the house is down
  • Request a final inspection to close the permit.
Good to know
  • If work has already started, the building department must be notified when the application is submitted.
  • The city moved to a new online permitting system on January 5, 2026 (per a city alert); the portal URL was not confirmed.
Where to file

The office that issues it

City of Winter Haven Building and Permitting Division

490 Third Street NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881

863-291-5695

Department website

Demolition application

Who may apply: Demolition contractor (license number on form) or owner-builder. Owner-builder must sign in person at the building department.

Florida rules

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.

Questions people actually ask

Straight answers

Do I need a permit to demolish a house in Winter Haven?

Yes. Residential demolition in Winter Haven is permitted through the City of Winter Haven Building Division.

Who can pull a demolition permit in Winter Haven?

Demolition contractor (license number on form) or owner-builder. Owner-builder must sign in person at the building department.

Do I need an asbestos survey to demolish a house in Winter Haven?

Asbestos Notification Statement required (F.S. 469.003). Owner-builder exemption for an owner-occupied residential building not for sale or lease (FBC 8th Edition 105.3.6) requires a signed disclosure and in-person signing.

Can Brightview handle the demolition in Winter Haven?

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.

Sources · verified 2026-10-12

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.

  1. Winter Haven Demolition Permit Application and Instructions (2024)
    https://www.mywinterhaven.com/DocumentCenter/View/749/Demolition-Permit-Application-PDF
  2. Winter Haven Building Permits and Licenses
    https://www.mywinterhaven.com/342/Building-Permits-Licenses

What we could not confirm in published sources

Ask the building department about these before you plan around them.

  • Demolition fee (Schedule of Permit Fees PDF not read).
  • No local historic preservation board or demolition review found in Winter Haven
  • Current online permit portal name and URL after the January 2026 change.
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