In Kissimmee, the first permitting question is whether the job is actually in the city. A Kissimmee mailing address doesn't settle it. The city warns that the address may be in unincorporated Osceola County, where the Osceola County Permitting Division issues permits. Use the city's "Check City Limits" tool before you file anything.
Who does what
| Address is in | Permits | Contractor registration | Business tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Kissimmee | City Building Division | City Building Division | City BTR, plus Osceola County BTR |
| Unincorporated Osceola | Osceola County Permitting | Osceola County Permit Center | Osceola County BTR only |
Inside the city, the Building Division (Development Services Department) reviews plans and issues building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical permits. It also inspects, issues certificates of occupancy, processes business tax receipts, and issues contractor registrations. One office handles your permit, your city BTR and your contractor record.
Contractor registration in the city
Kissimmee's code, Section 13-1-7, requires building, plumbing, electrical, air conditioning, mechanical, sheet metal, roofing and pool contractors to show proof of state certification before getting a construction permit or city registration. The same section covers insurance and surety bond requirements. Florida's 2021 preemption law has since phased out most local competency licensing, so a state-certified or state-registered license is now the normal route. Ask the Building Division for the current list of insurance documents.
If you also work in unincorporated Osceola, the county has its own registration. Per the county's Licensing page, you first get your state license, then register in the county Permit Center under Licenses, Register a License. You enter your BTR, liability insurance, state license and workers' comp details there. The county asks that the certificate of liability insurance list Osceola County Board of County Commissioners, 1 Courthouse Square, Kissimmee, FL 34741, as certificate holder and additional insured.
Filing a permit in the city
The city's five steps:
- Confirm the property is within city limits.
- Find the permit type in the city permit list.
- Submit the application and plans in the city's online portal.
- City staff and other agencies review for compliance and send comments, which you can track online.
- Once approved, download the documents and plans from the Citizen Self-Service portal and begin work.
Business tax receipts
A City of Kissimmee BTR is required before a business opens within city limits. Staff review the application for compliance with city standards. Osceola County's Tax Collector issues the county receipt and says a business must meet all city, county, state and federal conditions before the county receipt is issued. Its 2026 new-business guide lists county receipts at a flat $30.00, prorated after March 31.
FAQ
My address says Kissimmee. Do I file with the city? Only if the parcel is inside city limits. Otherwise, file with Osceola County.
Who issues contractor registrations inside the city? The city Building Division.
What does the Osceola County BTR cost? $30.00 flat, prorated for new receipts after March 31, per the Tax Collector's 2026 guide.
License first
Both the city and the county require a state license first. Each CILB construction license, including pool, roofing and residential, requires the Business and Finance exam. Prepare with our Florida Business and Finance Exam Prep.
Sources
- City of Kissimmee: Building and Permits Division
- City of Kissimmee: File for a Permit
- City of Kissimmee: Development Services
- Kissimmee Code 13-1-7, required certification, registration, insurance and bond
- City of Kissimmee: Business Tax Receipts
- Osceola County Tax Collector: Local Business Tax Receipt
- Osceola County Tax Collector: Information Guide for New Business Owners (2026)
- Osceola County: Licensing