Notice to Homeowners

Community Deed Restrictions and Homeowners Association

Community Deed Restrictions may apply to the project you are planning. Failure to obtain approval from your local homeowner’s association (HOA) may result in legal actions initiated by the association or any property owner in the community. Check with your HOA before submitting a permit application for any project that may be regulated by your community deed restrictions. A zoning clearance or building permit from Town of Lady Lake Building Department does not infer compliance with your deed restrictions. To access information about the authority and provisions the Florida Legislature provides to homeowners’ associations, visit the Florida government website, www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes, and look for the chapter which describes your residence.

Owner-Builder Permits Information

Do not hire an unlicensed individual to perform the work.

Only a licensed contractor or the legal property owner may obtain a building permit. Please note the following: an owner-builder must be an individual person. LLC’s and corporations are not persons.

If an applicant applies as an owner/builder, the building must be for their own use and occupancy. It may not be for sale or leased within one year after construction is completed. If an owner/builder sells or leases the building, the law will presume that it was built for sale or lease, which is a violation of Florida State Statute 489.103 (7).

It is the owner/builder's responsibility to make sure the employees working for them have the required licenses from the state and/or county municipal licensing ordinances. Any person working on the building who is not licensed must work under the owner/builder's direct supervision and must be employed by them. The owner/builder must provide worker’s compensation as prescribed by Florida law as well as comply with the IRS requirements concerning FICA and withholding taxes.

Homeowners who hire unlicensed contractors potentially face several costly penalties. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation can issue an order to stop construction and can levy a $5,000 fine for aiding and abetting unlicensed contractors.

All owner-builder permits require the owner to appear in our offices to execute an Owner Builder Affidavit. Florida State Statute 489.103 requires this form to be signed within our office in the presence of a Growth Management staff member. You may visit our offices at 409 Fennell Blvd Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 06:00 p.m.