The One or Two Family Dwelling Application is the building permit application of the City of Cape Coral, Florida, completed by a contractor or an owner-builder to build a single-family home, single-family attached unit, duplex, model home or townhouse. It is one of the forms used for a Cape Coral permit, and the packet bundles a customer checklist with the affidavits and notices that go with it, such as the Notice of Commencement and the Impervious Surface Calculation Sheet. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the city publishes the original on its Permit Document Center.
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What is One or Two Family Dwelling Application – Cape Coral, FL?
The One or Two Family Dwelling Application is the City of Cape Coral building permit application that a contractor or an owner-builder completes to request a permit for a one- or two-family dwelling, including duplexes and townhouses.
The form is printed as "One- or Two-Family Dwelling Building Permit Application" under the header of the Department of Community Development, Customer Service-Permitting Division. Page 1 carries the Customer Checklist and the office-use boxes (plan review, zoning, private provider, permit tracker, final issuance). Pages 2 to 4 collect property information, permit information, sub information (electric, plumbing, A/C and similar entries), contractor or owner-builder details, the applicant's certifications and a notarized signature block.
The file is a packet. After the four-page application it includes the attachments the checklist refers to:
- Burrowing Owl/Gopher Tortoise Affidavit
- Notice of Commencement and Affidavit of Filing Notice of Commencement
- Owner-Builder Disclosure Statement
- Hold Harmless Utility Connection Agreement
- Impervious Surface Calculation Sheet
- Proposed Seawall Installation Affidavit
- Notice to Building Official of Use of Private Provider
The application is not a permit for seawalls, wells, septic tanks, pools, screen enclosures or tanks: the form says a separate permit must be secured for each. The city's Permit Document Center lists other applications, such as Application - Addition/Remodel and Application - Pool, for other kinds of work.
Who needs to file One or Two Family Dwelling Application – Cape Coral, FL?
Contractors and owner-builders who want a building permit for a one- or two-family dwelling in the City of Cape Coral complete this application. On page 1 you check Contractor or Owner-Builder, and on page 2 you select the permit type: Single Family, Single Family Attached, Duplex, Model Home or Townhouse.
- Contractors fill in the Contractor Information block: name, address, state certification or registration number, phone and email.
- Owner-builders fill in the Owner-Builder Information block (name, phone, email) and also complete the Owner-Builder Disclosure Statement under §489.103, Florida Statutes. That statement says an owner-builder may build or improve a one- or two-family residence for their own use or occupancy, not for sale or lease, and must provide direct, onsite supervision.
- The signature line reads "Owner or Agent," so an agent may sign for the owner. The contractor signs on a separate line.
Do not use this application for seawalls, wells, septic tanks, pools, screen enclosures or tanks; the form says each needs its own permit. The city lists separate applications for additions, remodels, pools and marine improvements.
When to file One or Two Family Dwelling Application – Cape Coral, FL
Submit the application before any work begins: in the application you certify that no work or installation has commenced prior to the issuance of a permit.
Other timing rules printed in the packet:
- The survey on the checklist must be sealed and less than one year old.
- The Burrowing Owl/Gopher Tortoise Affidavit states that you inspected the property, and nearby vacant properties where vehicles or materials may go, within the last 30 days.
- A Notice of Commencement is required when construction value is over $2500, and it must be recorded and posted on the job site before the first inspection.
- Once issued, the permit is void if the first inspection is not made within six months of the issue date, or if no inspection occurs for six months after the most recently passed inspection.
- A private provider notice is valid for the life of the primary permit; if the provider or services change, update it within 1 business day.
The form prints no filing deadline or processing time.
Documents you need
- Two copies each of the plans, the signed energy calculations, the window/door/shutter schedule and the drainage plan, as the Customer Checklist lists.
- Three copies of the survey, sealed and less than one year old.
- Three copies of the site plan; four copies for a duplex.
- Two copies of the manufacturer's truss plan, acknowledged by the engineer or architect.
- Burrowing Owl/Gopher Tortoise Affidavit, notarized, with the burrow count and the option selected.
- Notice of Commencement, required when construction value is over $2500; it must be recorded and posted on the job site before the first inspection.
- Impervious Surface Calculation Sheet, for applications in R-1 and RML zoning districts that change the impervious area of the property.
- Owner-Builder Affidavit, owner-builders only. The Owner-Builder Disclosure Statement must also be signed by the owner, with a driver license copy, notarized signature or other verification the city accepts.
- Seawall Affidavit, only if applicable; it may be used only when at least one vacant lot lies on either side of the construction site.
- Septic receipt showing the permit number from the Health Department.
- Hold Harmless Agreement, only in active utility expansion areas.
- Warranty deed, if applicable.
- Two copies of the Engineer Certification Letter, if you use mastered plans.
- Notice to Building Official of Use of Private Provider, if applicable, with the private provider's qualification statements and proof of insurance.
How to fill out One or Two Family Dwelling Application – Cape Coral, FL
Choose contractor or owner-builder
At the top of page 1, check Contractor or Owner-Builder. Leave Permit #, Date, CSR, Master and the For Office Use Only boxes blank.
Complete the customer checklist
Check each item on the Customer Checklist that you attach, including the number of copies shown. If you use a private provider, write the name on the Private Provider line.
Enter the property information
On page 2, enter the owner's name, phone and address, the job address, legal description, subdivision, Strap #, Block, Lot and Unit. Add the titleholder, bonding company and mortgage lender only if they apply.
Select permit type and building data
Check Single Family, Single Family Attached, Duplex, Model Home or Townhouse. Enter the architect or engineer's name and address, Total Building Sq. Ft. and Construction Value $ (excluding the lot, including labor).
Fill in the sub information
Enter Electric Amps, answer Fire Sprinklers/Alarm and LPG/Natural Gas, and check the Plumbing boxes that apply (Septic, City Sewer, City Water, Well, Pine Island Water). Add A/C Seer, KW and Tons.
Answer the construction detail questions
On page 3, answer A/C Duct Only, Construction Details Mastered? (with the Master # if yes), Shutters, Aluminum Construction, Driveway and County-Maintained Road. Enter the Roof type.
Enter contractor or owner-builder details
Contractors enter name, address, city, state, ZIP, state certification or registration number, phone and email. Owner-builders enter name, phone and email.
Read the statements and initial
Review the permit-void, certification and owner's affidavit statements on page 3. Each of the four pages has an initials line at the bottom.
Sign and have the signatures notarized
On page 4, enter the Owner or Agent's printed name and signature and the contractor's printed name and signature. Complete the notary block (state, county, physical presence or online notarization, date, identification, expiration date and commission number) before the notary signs.
Complete the burrowing owl affidavit
Enter applicant, Block, Lot, Unit, Strap and site address. Select the number of burrows found or No burrows found, choose one permit option and the species if known, then sign before a notary.
Prepare the Notice of Commencement
Fill in items 1 to 9: property description, improvement, owner, contractor, surety, lender, persons designated to receive notices and expiration date. After it is recorded, complete the Affidavit of Filing Notice of Commencement.
Complete the other attachments that apply
Fill in the Impervious Surface Calculation Sheet (lot area, each surface, ratio). Add the Owner-Builder Disclosure Statement, Seawall Affidavit, Hold Harmless Utility Connection Agreement or private provider notice only where the checklist applies them.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check every page against the checklist, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF. Sign it in front of a notary where required and assemble the package described under How to submit.
How to submit One or Two Family Dwelling Application – Cape Coral, FL
The packet does not name a submission channel. Its header, repeated on every page, gives the contact details of the Department of Community Development, Customer Service-Permitting Division: P.O. Box 150027, Cape Coral, FL 33915-0027, telephone (239) 574-0546. Call that number to confirm how and where to deliver the completed packet, including whether an electronic submission is accepted; the form contains an Owner's Electronic Submission Statement but describes no portal.
Before you deliver it:
- Notarize the signatures. The contractor's signature, the Notice of Commencement, the affidavits, the Owner-Builder Disclosure Statement and the Hold Harmless agreement each carry a "signature must be notarized" block.
- Record the Notice of Commencement. The Affidavit of Filing Notice of Commencement refers to recording it with the Office of the Clerk of Lee County, Florida, and attaches a copy of the recorded notice.
- Private provider notices. For electric 001 only, the private provider sends notification and results to LCEC ([email protected]) and copies the City ([email protected]).
The city publishes current forms on its Permit Document Center. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the city's channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving the contractor's signature, or any affidavit's signature, un-notarized when the form marks it "signature must be notarized."
- Starting work before the permit is issued, although the applicant certifies that no work or installation has commenced.
- Not recording a Notice of Commencement and posting it on the job site before the first inspection when construction value is over $2500.
- Submitting a survey that is unsealed or more than one year old, or fewer copies than the checklist lists.
- Using the Seawall Affidavit when there is no vacant lot on either side of the construction site.
- Reporting an impervious surface ratio that is not less than 0.60 on the Impervious Surface Calculation Sheet.
- Treating this application as covering a seawall, well, septic tank, pool, screen enclosure or tank, each of which needs a separate permit.
- Skipping the first inspection within six months of the issue date, which voids the permit.
- Using an older revision of an attachment when the city's Permit Document Center lists a newer one, such as the Burrowing Owl/Gopher Tortoise Affidavit.
Frequently asked questions
What is the One or Two Family Dwelling Application?
It is the City of Cape Coral building permit application for a one- or two-family dwelling: single family, single family attached, duplex, model home or townhouse. A contractor or owner-builder completes it with the checklist items and affidavits the packet lists.
Is this the form for a Cape Coral building permit for an addition or pool?
No. This application covers one- or two-family dwellings. The city's Permit Document Center lists other applications, such as Application - Addition/Remodel and Application - Pool, and the form says seawalls, wells, septic tanks, pools, screen enclosures and tanks need separate permits.
Does the application have to be notarized?
The contractor's signature block is marked "signature must be notarized," and the notary block offers physical presence or online notarization. The Notice of Commencement, affidavits, Owner-Builder Disclosure Statement and Hold Harmless agreement carry the same requirement.
When do I need a Notice of Commencement?
The form says a Notice of Commencement is required when construction value is over $2500. It must be recorded and posted on the job site before the first inspection; the form warns that failing to record it may mean paying twice for improvements.
Can an owner pull the permit without a contractor?
Yes, by checking Owner-Builder and completing the Owner-Builder Disclosure Statement. The owner may build a one- or two-family residence for their own use or occupancy, must supervise onsite, and a sale or lease within 1 year after completion is presumed to violate the exemption.
When does the permit become void?
The permit is void if the first inspection is not made within six months from the issue date, or if no inspection is made for six months after the most recently passed inspection. It is also void if the zoning classification is violated.
What are the burrowing owl and gopher tortoise buffers?
The affidavit requires a 33-foot radius around a burrowing owl burrow during nesting season (February 15th to July 10th), at least 10 feet outside it, and 25 feet year-round for gopher tortoises. Failing to keep buffers or get state or federal permits results in a stop work order.
Where do I submit the completed packet?
The packet names no channel. Its header lists the Customer Service-Permitting Division at P.O. Box 150027, Cape Coral, FL 33915-0027, telephone (239) 574-0546. Call to confirm how to deliver it, since the form describes no portal.
Can I fill out the Cape Coral building permit application online?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of the City of Cape Coral and does not file the application or notarize signatures; you deliver it through the city's channels.
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