by James Coulter
The City of Lake Wales has given preliminary approval of amendments to its code of ordinances to include fees for building plan reviews and inspections by private providers.
At their regular meeting on Tues. Aug. 19, 2025, Lake Wales city commissioners approved the first reading of an ordinance to amend Chapter 7 Buildings and Building Regulations, Article IX, Schedule of Fees in the Lake Wales Code of Ordinances.
These amendments would include fees for building inspection and plan reviews conducted by private providers.
Private providers, as defined by the state of Florida, “refers to a licensed professional who contracts with a building owner or developer to perform building code inspections and/or plan reviews, supplementing or even replacing the services of the local government’s building department,” wrote Gary M. Pennix, Building Official.
The schedule of fees for private providers is as follows:
Commercial Property
Plans review only: $75.00 (+ Regular building fee)
Inspections only: $190.00 (or 25% of the building permit fee, whichever is greater)
Plans review & inspections: $75.00
Residential Property
Inspections only: $75.00 (+ Plans review fee)
Plans review & inspections: $55.00
Plans review only: $55.00 (+ Regular building fee)
“Permit Fees include discounts for inspections and Plan Review when utilizing a Private Provider company for these services,” Pennix wrote. “The proposed amendment will align Lake Wales Fee Schedule with that of Polk County values.”
The second reading of this ordinance will be at a future city commission meeting to be hosted at Lake Wales City Hall.
