Lee County issued 8,774 residential building permits in 2025. That is the highest permit volume of any county in Florida.
I’m Engineer Wasim of Site Plans Online USA. We prepare more Florida site plans from Lee County than almost any other market. Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Estero, Sanibel every one of these cities is in Lee County, and every permit application needs a site plan.
The Post-Hurricane Ian Rebuild Market
Hurricane Ian made landfall in Lee County on September 28, 2022, as a Category 4 storm. It was the most destructive hurricane to strike Florida since Andrew in 1992. The rebuild that followed created the sustained permit volume Lee County continues to see three years later.
For homeowners rebuilding or adding to storm-damaged properties, the permit process has one additional layer: FEMA’s substantial improvement rule. If your renovation exceeds 50% of the pre-flood structure’s market value, the entire structure must be brought up to current flood code including elevating the finished floor above the Base Flood Elevation. This requires documentation on your site plan.
We flag substantial improvement situations on every Lee County order and include the required flood zone notation.
Lee County vs. City of Fort Myers Jurisdiction
Lee County operates two separate building permit systems:
Lee County Building & Construction serves unincorporated Lee County the largest portion of the county, including much of Cape Coral’s rural fringes, Bonita Springs, Estero, Lehigh Acres, and Fort Myers area properties outside the city limits.
City of Fort Myers Building Department serves properties inside Fort Myers city limits. Separate portal, separate requirements, separate processing timeline.
We verify your parcel’s jurisdiction before drafting your plan.
Lee County Setback Requirements
For standard AG-2 and RS-1 single-family residential zones in unincorporated Lee County:
| Setback | Standard |
|---|---|
| Front | 25 ft |
| Rear | 20 ft |
| Interior side | 7.5 ft |
| Corner lot side street | 15 ft |
| Accessory structures | 5 ft rear and side |
| Pool water edge | 5 ft rear and side |
F.S. 553.792 — Lee County’s 10-Day Correction Deadline
Once Lee County or Fort Myers issues a correction notice, you have 10 business days to respond. In a high-volume market rebuilding from a major hurricane, contractor schedules are tight. Every day of delay costs something. We turn corrections around within 12 hours.
F.S. 515.29 — Pool Barrier Compliance in Lee County
Lee County’s warm climate and post-Ian pool replacement surge means pool permits are one of the most common permit types in this market. Every pool site plan must show F.S. 515.29 barrier compliance 48-inch minimum barrier, self-closing self-latching outward-swinging gates, latch at 54 inches minimum above grade.
→ Pool Permit Site Plan in Fort Myers
Pricing and Turnaround
Starting from $79. Pool and deck plans from $149. ADU plans from $249.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is Fort Myers under Lee County or City of Fort Myers jurisdiction?
It depends on your property’s location. Fort Myers addresses inside the city limits fall under the City of Fort Myers Building Department. Properties with Fort Myers addresses outside the city limits fall under Lee County Building & Construction. We verify before drawing.
Q: What is FEMA’s substantial improvement rule and how does it affect my permit?
If your renovation costs exceed 50% of the pre-damage market value of your structure, FEMA’s substantial improvement rule requires bringing the entire building into current flood code compliance including floor elevation above the Base Flood Elevation. This must be documented on your site plan. We flag this situation for every Lee County property in a flood zone.
Q: Why does Lee County have such high permit volume?
Lee County issued 8,774 residential permits in 2025 the highest of any Florida county. The combination of strong pre-Ian population growth, ongoing post-Ian rebuild, and the combined construction activity in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Estero, and Lehigh Acres makes Lee County the most active residential permit market in Florida.
Q: What setbacks apply to a pool in Lee County?
Standard RS-1 zones: 5 ft from rear and side property lines measured from the pool’s water edge. Front setback is typically 15–25 ft depending on zone. We verify your specific parcel’s zoning setbacks before drafting.
Q: Do pool permits in Lee County require a Pool Barrier Affidavit?
Yes. Lee County typically requires a separate Pool Barrier Affidavit documenting F.S. 515.29 compliance, signed by the homeowner and contractor. This is separate from the site plan.
Q: How long does permit review take in Lee County post-Ian?
Lee County’s permit processing timeline extended post-Ian due to volume. Standard residential permits: 4–8 weeks. Complex projects and commercial: longer. An accurate first-submission site plan is critical to avoiding correction cycles that add more weeks.
Q: Can you prepare site plans for Bonita Springs, Estero, or Lehigh Acres?
Yes. All Lee County. Bonita Springs has its own city building department. Estero and Lehigh Acres are unincorporated Lee County.
→ Bonita Springs Site Plan · Estero Site Plan
Q: Does Fort Myers require a site plan for a shed permit?
Yes, for sheds requiring a building permit (typically over 120 sq ft in Lee County unincorporated). The site plan shows placement, setbacks, and distance from the main house.
Q: What flood zone documentation is needed on a Lee County site plan?
If your parcel is in a FEMA flood zone: the flood zone designation, Base Flood Elevation (BFE), and Finished Floor Elevation (FFE) must be shown. For waterfront or post-Ian rebuild properties, this is critical.
Q: What do I do if my Lee County permit is rejected?
Use our Permit Rejection Analyzer to identify the issues, then send the correction notice to us. We update within 12 hours at no extra charge.
Related: Pool Permit Site Plan in Fort Myers · Stamped Site Plan in Fort Myers · Cape Coral Site Plan · Florida Permits Hub · Permit Rejection Analyzer
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