The permit sets the order of work
The City of Jacksonville Beach uses a plumbing e-permit run through the Building Inspection Division. The city says work may not begin until a permit is approved and posted on site. That one rule decides the schedule: no pipe goes in until the paper is in.
The form asks for a classification: alteration, new, re-pipe, repair, fuel gas or other. A ground-up system is usually classified new, a remodel that moves fixtures is an alteration, and replacing supply lines in an existing house is a re-pipe. It also asks whether the water source is city or well and whether gas is natural or propane.
| Item on the form | Options listed | What it tells the city |
|---|---|---|
| Classification | Alteration, new, re-pipe, repair, fuel gas, other | What kind of project it is |
| Water source | City or well | Which supply the system connects to |
| Gas source | Natural or propane | Which fuel and what pressure to expect |
| Type of work | DWV private property, gas piping only, grease interceptor, irrigation, pool piping | Which part of the system the permit covers |
City plans follow the Florida Building Code 2023 edition. Owners doing their own work have different signature requirements, including an Owner Builder Disclosure Statement. For any question about what your project needs, ask the Building Inspection Division at 904-247-6100.
Stage one: under the slab
Most new homes here are built on a slab, so the first plumbing is the drain and waste lines placed in the ground before concrete. Sloped drains, tub and shower drains, the main line to the street connection and any floor drains all go in at this stage.
Once the lines are laid, they are filled with water or air-tested before the trench is closed. A leak found now costs a few minutes. A leak found after the pour means breaking concrete.
This is also the time to think about what could go under the slab later. If the plan includes an island sink or a pool bath, the drain and vent for it must be in the ground before the pour. Our slab leak repair crew sees what happens when that planning is skipped.
Stage two: rough-in
After the framing is up, the plumber installs the rough-in: supply lines to every fixture, drain and vent piping inside the walls, and stub-outs where fixtures will go. This is when the system takes shape.
Supply lines
Hot and cold lines run to fixtures, with shutoffs planned at each. Pipe material is chosen up front, usually PEX or copper.
Drains and vents
Each drain slopes to the main, and each fixture is vented. Vents tie into a stack through the roof.
Water heater location
The heater needs space, a drain pan or drain path, a vent for combustion models and a relief line. This is planned at framing, not afterward.
Gas lines
Ranges, dryers and heaters on gas need sized lines. Gas piping is its own work type on the permit.
Special systems
Irrigation and pool piping are separate types on the city form, so they are permitted on their own.
What the tests are for
| Test | What it checks | When it happens |
|---|---|---|
| Drain test | Fills drain lines with water or uses air to find leaks and bad joints | Before the trench is closed or walls are covered |
| Supply pressure test | Holds pressure in the water lines to find leaks | After rough-in, before drywall |
| Gas pressure test | Holds pressure in gas lines to check for leaks | Before the gas is turned on |
| Fixture and flow check | Runs every fixture, checks drains, valves and traps | After fixtures are set |
Pressure tests work because a sound pipe holds pressure and a leaking one does not. A gauge that drops tells the plumber something is wrong long before water shows. The inspector often wants to see the gauge and the system under test.
Inspections: what to expect
An inspector reviews the work against the permit and the Florida Building Code. The city's process means the inspector sees the system while it is still open, so the plumber leaves the lines exposed until it passes. Covering early risks having to open the wall again.
The usual points are the under-slab drain, the rough-in before walls close and a final once the fixtures are set. Which inspections apply to your job is set by the Building Inspection Division, not by us, so confirm the schedule when the permit is issued.
Building on low ground in Jacksonville Beach
Jacksonville Beach sits on San Pablo Island at or near sea level, and about two-thirds of the municipal area is water. For a new build, that means wet ground is part of the plan. Ask your builder how groundwater and drainage are handled, because under-slab plumbing sits in the same soil.
The city also supplies water and sewer, so most connections go to city services. If you are replacing a septic system, the city offers a phase-out rebate of up to $8,000 for connecting to sewer and abandoning the tank. It covers a capital improvement fee, a sewer tap-in fee and part of the contractor cost, so ask the Water Division at 904-247-6241 before you commit.
Stage three: finish and final
After drywall and paint, the plumber sets the fixtures: sinks, toilets, tubs, showers and the water heater. Each connection is checked for leaks, and each fixture is run. Stops are labeled or at least shown to the owner.
We give the owner a walk-through on where the main shutoff is and what each valve controls. If a fixture has a problem later, you will know where to turn the water off.
Our plumbing installation team handles all three stages, and for older homes that need new supply lines, repiping follows the same permit path under the re-pipe class.
What to do yourself and when to call
Owner checklist for a new plumbing system
- Confirm the permit is approved and posted before any work starts
- Pick fixtures before rough-in so supply and drain heights match
- Ask which inspections apply and when, and keep walls open until each one passes
- Photograph the open walls before drywall, since the pictures show where pipes run
- Keep the permit paperwork and test records with your house file
- Call the plumber if a test fails, a gauge drops or a fixture does not drain
If your project is in Neptune Beach, the permit office is different, and our Neptune Beach plumbers know the process there too.
The permit class and inspection steps come from the city, and the work itself must meet the IPC based Florida Building Code, Plumbing. The standard applies to owners doing their own work as well.
Quick answers for Jacksonville Beach homeowners
Rough-in is the pipe and fittings placed inside walls and floors before the finish surfaces go on. It includes supply lines, drains, vents and stub-outs. It is tested and inspected before it is covered.
The Building Inspection Division records the result under your permit. Ask your plumber for the inspection record, or contact the division at 904-247-6100.
No. The city states that work may not begin until a permit is approved and posted on site.
New applies to a system being built fresh. Alteration applies when you change an existing system, such as moving a fixture. The Building Inspection Division decides which fits your job.
The rebate is for connecting to city sewer and abandoning a septic tank. If you are replacing a septic system, ask the Water Division at 904-247-6241 whether your situation qualifies.
If you have plans for a new build or a major remodel, we can walk through the plumbing before the permit goes in.
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