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Do you need a permit for a tile & grout repair in Orange County, FL?

Updated 2026-08-06 · Sources verified 2026-07-20

Thinking about a tile & grout repair in the Orlando area? Here's what actually matters — permit rules for Orange County and the City of Orlando, plus the mistakes and code requirements that trip up homeowners, sourced from manufacturer manuals and the Florida Building Code.

The permit answer

No permit needed. Exempt finish work under FBC 105.2 and Orange County's published list — but exempt work must still comply with the Florida Building Code.
Source: https://codes.iccsafe.org/s/FLBC2023P1/chapter-1-scope-and-administration/FLBC2023P1-Ch01-SubCh02-Sec105.2

Orange County and the City of Orlando run separate permit offices with separate portals — and your mailing address alone doesn't tell you which one covers your home. Check which permit office covers your address →

Key facts before you start

Joint-width rule is hard: unsanded grout ONLY for joints under 1/8 in; sanded for 1/8-1/2 in; never blend the two (TCNA). Sanded grout scratches polished marble, glass, and some porcelain glazes - test or switch to unsanded/epoxy.
Cement grout will NOT bond to old grout - a skim coat over cracked grout fails. Remove at least 2/3 of joint depth (Mapei) / 1/2-3/4 of tile thickness (Custom) before regrouting. Sole exception: Mapei Flexcolor CQ over Flexcolor CQ only. Match chemistry before patching (cracked epoxy re-applies over itself ~24 hr later but needs 1/8 in depth); if the grout is merely DISCOLORED, not cracked, use a colorant (Mapei Grout Refresh) and skip regrouting entirely.
Shower-use wait is longer than generic '24 hours': cement grout needs 72 hr before any intermittent water exposure; premixed grout (e.g. SimpleGrout) needs 3 days on shower walls and 7 days on shower floors. Meanwhile mist cement grout with cool water during the 72-hr cure (don't fan-dry it); seal only after 48-72 hr.
Never grout corners, tub-to-tile joints, or any change of plane - use 100% silicone (or urethane) per TCNA EJ171; acrylic/siliconized latex caulk dries hard and re-cracks. Movement joint width = grout joint width, never under 1/8 in. A crack-isolation/anti-fracture membrane does NOT buy you out of this - TCNA: it is 'a frequent misconception that anti-fracture membranes allow you to eliminate movement joints,' they cover in-plane slab cracking only 'so long as vertical deflection does not occur,' and expansion joints must still be used in the tile layer. Grouted corners are the #1 repeat-crack callback.
Pre-mixed mastic is the wrong adhesive for half the jobs it gets used on. CUSTOM's AcrylPro is interior-only and rated for INTERMITTENT water (tub surrounds, shower walls) - 'Do not use for steam rooms, shower floors or underwater'; floor tile 8 in or less per side (over 15 in needs a large-format cement mortar); not over radiant heat; and 'Do not use over non-porous surfaces such as waterproofing membranes, coated tile backer board and vinyl flooring.' Over a liquid-membrane shower or a coated board, use a polymer-modified thin-set instead.
To pull one cracked tile without wrecking neighbors, first cut out the grout around its full perimeter to isolate it (LATICRETE), then break out the tile. Re-bond to spec, not by feel: CUSTOM requires 80% mortar coverage in dry areas and 95% in wet areas/exteriors, every tile edge supported, 3/32 in minimum bed - comb in ONE direction, press perpendicular across the ridges, beat in with a block, then pull the tile back up once to verify coverage. Mortar that has skinned over (not sticky to the touch) must be scraped out and replaced, not troweled over. Diagnose first: a recurring crack means substrate movement or a poorly bonded tile, so fix that or it returns.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for a tile & grout repair in Orange County, FL?

No permit needed. Exempt finish work under FBC 105.2 and Orange County's published list — but exempt work must still comply with the Florida Building Code.

Sources

https://tcnatile.com/resource-center/faq/grout/
https://tcnatile.com/resource-center/faq/crack-isolation-suppression-anti-fracture-membrane/
https://www.custombuildingproducts.com/TDS/TDS-360.pdf
https://www.custombuildingproducts.com/TDS/TDS-181.pdf
https://www.custombuildingproducts.com/TDS/TDS-127.pdf
https://www.custombuildingproducts.com/TDS/TDS-119.pdf
https://www.custombuildingproducts.com/frequently-asked-questions
https://mapeihome.com/flooranddecor/faq_question/regrouting-4/
https://cdnmedia.mapei.com/docs/librariesprovider65/line-technical-documentation-documents/25-1672-grout-troubleshooting-guide-en.pdf?sfvrsn=cdc9e853_39
https://cdn-global.laticrete.com/-/media/project/laticrete-international/shared/files/support-and-downloads/technical-datasheets/tds186.ashx?la=en

This guide is general informational content, not professional or legal advice. Codes and county rules change — confirm permit requirements with your local building department, and use a licensed professional for electrical, gas, structural, or main-line plumbing work.

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