Lakeland's Building Inspection Division is at City Hall, 228 S. Massachusetts Avenue, Lakeland, FL 33801 (863-834-6012, BuildingInspection@lakelandgov.net). It issues permits for work inside city limits. The rest of Polk County is permitted by the county or by the other cities.
Register before you pay for a permit
Lakeland's Contractor Declaration says it outright: all contractors and subcontractors must be properly registered with the City of Lakeland prior to payment or issuance of a permit. When you apply, you declare the general contractor and each sub by trade, with state license number and company name. Mark trades not needed on the job "N/A." On an owner-builder job, the owner's name goes in each field.
| Declaration line | What you enter |
|---|---|
| General contractor / building | State license number, company |
| Roofing | State license number, company |
| Mechanical | State license number, company |
| Electrical and the other trades on the form | State license number, company |
The Application for Registration works for architects, engineers, contractors and others. Contractors mark whether they are registered or certified. The city's form explains the difference: registered contractors took a county exam and can pull permits only in that county, and certified contractors took the state exam and can pull permits statewide.
iMS and ePlan
Lakeland moved from eTRAKiT to iMS. In iMS you apply for permits, pay fees and schedule inspections, including from a phone. You need to register in iMS, and the city notes that in-person credit card payments ended January 18. For permits with plans, apply in iMS first. The application starts the project and sends you an invitation to upload signed and sealed plans in ePlan. Help is at eplanhelp@lakelandgov.net.
Storm work and express permits
After emergencies, Lakeland runs express permitting for storm repairs. It also warns owners about unlicensed contractors and points them to DBPR's license lookup. If you bid storm repairs in Lakeland, expect owners to check your license.
Business tax: city and Polk County
The city requires an annual Business Tax from all businesses located or operating inside city limits. Fees are based on square footage, number of workers or profession category. The city adds that if a business location is inside city limits, BTRs from both the City of Lakeland and Polk County are required. New BTR applications are filed in iMS, and the Business Tax Office (863-834-6025) recommends calling before you sign a lease so zoning can confirm the use. The Business Resource Office, opened at City Hall in September 2024, coordinates site selection, permitting, certificates of occupancy and BTRs.
FAQ
Can I add a subcontractor after the permit is issued? Every contractor and sub must be registered before the permit is paid for or issued. Register subs early.
Where do my plans go? Start in iMS. The city then invites you to upload plans in ePlan.
Do I need a Polk County BTR as well? Yes, if your business location is inside Lakeland city limits.
License first
A state license comes before city registration, and each CILB construction license requires the Business and Finance exam. See roofing, HVAC and building contractor, and prepare with our Florida Business and Finance Exam Prep.