Port St. Lucie regulates concrete more than most Florida cities, for a reason that goes back to how it was built: General Development Corporation platted 80,000 quarter-acre lots in the 1950s and 60s with no curbs and no storm sewer, so the roadside swales are the drainage system and the city guards them. Add the state's building code on structural slabs and the HOAs in the master-planned communities, and most flatwork touches at least one permit. Here's the map.
Projects that need a building permit
- New or replaced driveway — building permit, plus the ROW permit below for the apron.
- Driveway widening or a second driveway — same, and the city checks total width against your frontage.
- New pool deck or structural replacement — permit; often part of the pool permit on a new pool.
- Lanai or patio slab extension — permit, because a screen enclosure usually follows and the slab has to carry it.
- Shed or accessory-structure pad above the size threshold — permit for the structure includes the slab.
- Any foundation — addition, garage, workshop, ADU: engineered plan, permit, inspections. No exceptions.
Projects that usually don't
- Resurfacing or coating an existing driveway, walk or pool deck.
- Crack repair and foam leveling.
- A private walkway on your own lot.
- Small equipment pads (AC, generator up to the city's size limit) — check the generator's electrical permit, though.
The right-of-way permit and the swale
Anything between your property line and the street — the apron, the culvert, the swale — is city right-of-way. The City of Port St. Lucie Public Works Department issues the ROW permit, specifies the culvert pipe size and invert for your swale, and inspects after the pipe is set and before the apron is poured. Skipping it is the mistake we see most: a driveway poured across a swale with no pipe floods the neighbor, and the city will make you dig it out. Our culvert page has the details and prices.
Fort Pierce, the county and Martin County
Inside Fort Pierce the city issues both permits; Lakewood Park, White City and Indian River Estates go through St. Lucie County; Jensen Beach, Stuart, Palm City and Hutchinson Island south of the county line go through Martin County or the City of Stuart. Each has its own driveway and culvert detail. We work in all of them.
HOA approval
Separate from the city and required first. Tradition's villages, St. Lucie West's communities, PGA Village, Torino's newer sections and most Martin County gated communities review the finish, color, size and drainage of any exterior concrete. We prepare the packet with samples and a drawing.
Timelines and fees
Building permits for flatwork: usually 5 to 15 business days. ROW permits: 1 to 3 weeks. Fees: $100 to $350 for the building permit, $75 to $200 for the ROW, plus the culvert inspection. HOA reviews: 2 to 4 weeks depending on the committee's meeting schedule. All of it is on our quote as line items, and we pull the permits in our name — which is also how you know the contractor is licensed, because unlicensed ones can't.
Common questions
Do I need a permit to replace my driveway in Port St. Lucie?
Yes — a building permit for the driveway and a right-of-way permit for the apron and culvert at the swale. We pull both.
Can I pour a slab for a shed without a permit?
Small sheds under the city's accessory-structure threshold don't need a permit for the pad. Larger sheds and any workshop or garage do, and the slab is inspected as part of the structure's permit.
What happens if work was done without a permit?
The city can require an after-the-fact permit, an inspection, and removal if it doesn't comply — most often a driveway poured over a swale with no culvert. It also comes up at resale when the buyer's title search finds no permit.
Who is responsible for the culvert under my driveway?
The property owner. If it's crushed, undersized or missing, the city can require you to fix it, and it's a routine job for us with the ROW permit.
Does the HOA or the city come first?
HOA first — the city won't care about your finish color, but the HOA will, and it's easier to change a drawing than a poured slab.
Related: Driveways · Culverts & aprons · Foundations & additions · Driveway cost guide