Do I Need an Engineer to Build a House in Florida?

For a new single-family home in Florida, the permit package must include: structural drawings (foundation plan, framing plan, roof framing plan, and structural details) prepared and sealed by a Florida PE or RA; wind load calculations demonstrating compliance with ASCE 7 and the Florida Building Code; and, for homes in flood zones, flood zone compliance documentation. In addition to structural engineering, the permit package typically includes architectural drawings (floor plan, elevations, sections, and details) and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) drawings. Pineland Engineering provides complete permit packages for new homes throughout Florida.

For single-family homes in Florida, either a licensed architect (RA) or a licensed engineer (PE) can prepare and seal the construction documents. For commercial buildings and multi-family residential buildings, a licensed architect is required for the architectural drawings, and a licensed engineer is required for the structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing drawings. Pineland Engineering holds both FL Architecture AR102594 and Engineering PE 39202 — one firm for the complete project.