The Development Services/Building Department of the Town of Windermere performs a variety of services to protect, maintain and develop an attractive, safe and healthy community. A primary function of the Department is to address property development and land use activities within the Town. Responsibilities include:

• Code enforcement, development review, development and building inspection, community and transportation planning, engineering and land use regulation
• Interpreting, enforcing, and assisting the public with state and local building, land use and environmental regulations
• Developing both short and long-range planning initiatives
• Making recommendations on updates and amendments to the Town’s local land use and environmental regulations

TOW Development Review Process Flowchart

Building Permit Applications (PDCS)

ORANGE COUNTY – Residential Permits for Lakeshores and Wetlands
There are additional Town-specific regulations regarding wetlands and shoreline projects. Please contact PDCS and/or Wade Trim for details.

If you have any of the above requests, please make sure to go to the appropriate identified location for pick up. When working with PDCS or Wade Trim, please specify where you would like your permits sent for pick up. Permits are not sent to the Town office by default; it must be requested.

If you are unsure what kind of request you have or which department you need, please contact the Town’s Administrative Assistant, 407-876–2563 ext 5327.

Contact Information

Dock Repair Post Hurricane Ian

Property owners that need to repair or replace their dock due to Hurricane Ian should contact Wade Trim or PDCS to determine if a permit is needed from the Town.

Wade Trim:
Main office – tow@wadetrim.com or  813-882-4372
Town Planner, Brad Cornelius – bcornelius@wadetrim.com or 813-415-4952

PDCS:
permit@pdcllc.com or 407-277-9795

As always, it is important for Town residents to be sure that anyone they hire to repair their docks, or other structures, are properly licensed contractors for the work.  They may contact PDCS to check on the status of a contractor. Also, to reiterate the information on the Town’s website:

• Use only licensed contractors;
• Beware of individuals who approach you and ask for money before a job is completed;
• Once money has been exchanged, this becomes a civil contract;
• Windermere requires all companies to obtain a solicitation permit from WPD BEFORE they can knock on doors; and
• Contact the Windermere Police Department if you believe you’ve been a scam victim or would like to report suspicious behavior at 407-876-3757.

Tree Removal

Per FL Statute 163.045:
Tree pruning, trimming, or removal on residential property.—
(1) A local government may not require a notice, application, approval, permit, fee, or mitigation for the pruning, trimming, or removal of a tree on residential property if the property owner obtains documentation from an arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture or a Florida licensed landscape architect that the tree presents a danger to persons or property.
(2) A local government may not require a property owner to replant a tree that was pruned, trimmed, or removed in accordance with this section.

On May 18, 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB 0518 which revised FL Statute 163.045 (above). The revised law went into effect on July 1, 2022.

The revisions provide clarity to both ISA-certified Arborists as well as Florida residents as to what is meant by the phrases “presents a danger,” “documentation,” and “residential property.”

If you have questions regarding what this law means for you as a resident of Windermere, please contact Windermere Public Works Director, Tonya Elliott-Moore at 407-876-2563 ext 5325.