Freedom Code Compliance
Commercial

Commercial Demolition

Demolition of an existing commercial building. Also use this for apartment and condo buildings.

Last updated: Sep 29, 2026

Section 1

Required Documents

Submit these with your initial project package.

Always required

  • Demolition Plans
    Demolition plans for the work. Plans prepared by a Florida-registered architect or engineer carry that professional's seal. Plans prepared by a contractor or owner are accepted without a seal unless Florida law or the building department requires professional plans.
  • Site Plan / Survey
    Site plan or survey showing structures to be demolished and surrounding features

Conditional

  • Asbestos Survey
    Asbestos survey guidance based on year built and risk; verify requirement during downstream review as needed.
    WhenGuidance only (non-blocking at intake): may be required depending on year built and asbestos risk factors.
  • Environmental Assessment
    Environmental assessment for hazardous materials, lead paint, and other contaminants
    WhenRequired for commercial structures where hazardous materials may be present

Courtesy screen

Courtesy screen on every plan review

Every plan FCC reviews receives a limited courtesy screen for the items below when they are reasonably visible in the submitted documents. If we see an apparent issue that could cause the plans to fail review by another agency, we will identify it as a Courtesy Comment. Courtesy Comments alone do not cause FCC to fail or return the plan set unless the same condition also creates a building-code compliance issue within FCC's review scope. The responsible agency makes the final determination—for example, Planning and Zoning for setbacks, lot coverage, use, and other lot-compliance matters. The absence of a Courtesy Comment is not approval of those separate requirements.

  1. #01Plan and document coordination

    Obvious clerical, title-block, sheet-index, permit-description, or cross-sheet inconsistencies visible in the submitted documents. A Courtesy Comment on these items does not cause FCC to fail or return the plan set unless the same condition also creates a building-code compliance issue within FCC's review scope.

    FBC-B 107.2.1
  2. #02Zoning and site coordination

    Apparent setback, lot-coverage, use, or site-dimension conflicts visible in the submitted plans that could cause the plans to fail Planning and Zoning review. Planning and Zoning makes the zoning and lot-compliance determination. The absence of a Courtesy Comment is not approval of those separate requirements.

  3. #03Floodplain coordination

    Apparent inconsistencies or missing coordination in flood-zone, design-flood-elevation, finished-floor, or flood-opening information shown on the plans that could cause the plans to fail floodplain review. The floodplain administrator makes the determination. The absence of a Courtesy Comment is not approval of those separate requirements.

  4. #04Fire-authority coordination

    Apparent separately reviewed fire alarm, sprinkler, hood-suppression, smoke-control, or similar coordination issues visible on the plans that could cause the plans to fail fire review. The fire marshal makes the determination. The absence of a Courtesy Comment is not approval of those separate requirements.

Section 2

Approval criteria for this project type

These are the building-code criteria FCC uses to determine the plan-review result. An unresolved item may be issued as a Required Correction and cause the plan set to be returned for correction.

BuildingRequired

  1. #01Asbestos / lead paint assessment (commercial)Life Safety

    Commercial demolition triggers NESHAP asbestos survey and RRP lead paint compliance for applicable structures.

    40 CFR 61 Subpart M40 CFR 745
  2. #02Environmental and hazardous materialsLife Safety

    Commercial structures may contain additional hazmat (mercury switches, PCB ballasts, refrigerants) requiring special handling.

    FDEP hazmat rules40 CFR
  3. #03Structural protection and sequencingLife Safety

    Demolition sequencing must preserve stability of remaining/adjacent structures.

    FBC-B 3303FBC-B 3307

Section 3

Inspection Walkthrough

Inspections are listed in their typical phase order. Your own inspection list comes from your approved plans. Inspections marked “If in scope” apply only when your plans include that work. Call (772) 222-6679 with questions.

Building

Phase #1

Demolition (Utilities Disconnected)

  1. Utility disconnectionsCritical

    Document that electrical, gas, water, sewer, and other affected services are disconnected and secured.

  2. Work area controlsCritical

    Show the demolition area, protection, and separation from structures to remain.

  3. Demolition planCritical

    Have the approved demolition scope and any required utility clearances available.

  4. Hazard protectionCritical

    Show protection of adjacent property, public access, and remaining utilities.

Phase #2

Demolition Final

Typical Final
  1. Removal completeCritical

    Confirm all structures and materials in the approved demolition scope are removed.

  2. Debris clearedCritical

    Show debris and abandoned materials removed from the site.

  3. Site made safeCritical

    Show open excavations filled or protected and remaining utilities secured.

  4. Final site conditionCritical

    Show grading and drainage consistent with the approved demolition scope.