The feasibility period is your strategic opportunity to evaluate whether a site in Jacksonville will support your development goals before investing in architecture and construction. Understanding zoning guidelines, permit pathways, review timelines, fees, and department coordination early helps you mitigate risk, streamline approval, and build accurate budgets and schedules.

Checking Zoning & Site Plan Requirements

• Use the City Planning zoning maps and Land Development Regulations to identify your property’s zoning district, use allowances, height limits, setbacks, parking, landscaping, signage, and overlay restrictions.

• Determine whether your project needs a Site Plan Review based on district, use, building footprint, or threshold triggers. Multi-family, institutional, commercial, or larger developments generally require full site plan submittal.

• Projects in historic districts or with historic resource considerations require review by the Historic Preservation Commission or Architectural Review Board.

Plan Review Types & Submission Pathways

• Submit plans through the online permitting portal, including site plan, civil, architectural, structural, MEP, and landscape documents, depending on project type.

• Small residential projects may qualify for an Express or Over‑the‑Counter permit, which provides quicker approvals. Larger or complex residential, commercial, or multi‑family developments follow the Standard Review pathway.

• Projects requiring variances, special use permits, or impact fee review require coordination with Planning staff and may require public notice or hearings.

Estimating Review Timelines

• Express residential or minor work permits can be issued within days or weeks.

• Standard site plan reviews for larger developments typically take 6–8 weeks for initial comments, with subsequent resubmissions extending the process depending on revisions.

• Historic and planning board reviews may add 1–3 months, including public notice and hearing scheduling.

Fee Structure & Payment

• Use the city’s fee schedule to estimate costs—including plan review fees, permit issuance fees, building valuation fees, and impact fees (transportation, public facilities, parks) if applicable.

• A deposit based on project valuation is often collected at submittal, with the remainder due before permit issuance.

• Historic review, variance, and special use applications may incur separate filing and board review costs.

Coordination with City Departments

• Plans are routed to Building Inspections, Planning and Development, Transportation/Stormwater, Environmental Permitting, Historic Preservation (if applicable), and Utilities.

• Complex projects may require coordination with outside agencies—such as Florida DEP for environmental permits or JEA for utility service.

• Early Pre-Application Conferences are highly recommended to align on requirements, issues, and necessary revisions.

Using Expedite Options & Streamlining Programs

• The Express permit option accelerates review for eligible smaller residential projects.

• Pre-application meetings provide early feedback on conceptual compliance and required materials.

• Consolidated meetings with Planning, Transportation, Stormwater, or Historic staff during early review can reduce round trips and resubmissions.

Checklist of Feasibility Period Tasks

• Confirm zoning district, allowed uses, and overlay/ historic status

• Identify required Site Plan Review, variance, or special use permits

• Choose permit pathway: Express or Standard

• Prepare full submittal packet: site, civil, architectural, structural, MEP, landscape; include environmental documentation if needed

• Estimate plan review, impact, and board-related fees

• Schedule pre-application meeting with Planning staff

• Submit via portal and monitor initial review for completeness

• Respond quickly to comments and prepare for resubmittals

• Plan for public notice and hearing timelines if using variance or special permits

• Pay fees and prepare for permit issuance and inspection scheduling

Call to Action

Jacksonville’s feasibility period benefits from early due diligence—zoning confirmation, permit path selection, pre-app coordination, and fee forecasting. Our team can compile your permit-ready documents, coordinate with city and utility staff, and develop a clear feasibility roadmap so you can move forward with confidence.