Local service guide
Concrete Work in Jacksonville, FL: Hiring Guide
For Concrete Work in Jacksonville, hire a contractor who will inspect the site, specify preparation and drainage in writing, and establish permit responsibilities before demolition. The city exempts patio slabs from building permits. For street-side work, confirm jurisdiction and maintenance status: city guidance differs on unmaintained rights of way, so ask Development Services to determine whether a ROW permit or site-work permit applies. [1] [2] [3]
Define the work before requesting prices
Give each contractor the same description: approximate dimensions, intended use, desired finish, and whether you want repair or removal and replacement. Photograph cracks, uneven edges, standing water, and adjoining pavement. Ask the contractor to explain which problems the proposal addresses and which remain outside the scope.
For repairs, request the suspected cause of the damage and the reason for choosing filling, leveling, resurfacing, or replacement. For a new pour, request the proposed thickness, concrete specification, reinforcement where applicable, joint layout, and curing method. Have the contractor explain those choices in relation to your intended use.
Resolve patio, structural, and street-side permits
Jacksonville's Building Inspection Division lists patio slabs as building-permit exempt. It lists additions, including patio covers, as permit-required work. Describe the complete project before relying on the slab exemption, especially if you intend to add a roof or incorporate the slab into an addition. [1]
The city's main ROW page requires permits for disturbing, obstructing, excavating, or placing construction materials in city roads, rights of way, or easements. Its separate permit-eligibility page exempts work in an unmaintained city ROW, while noting that a site-work permit may be necessary. Because these pages differ, ask Development Services to determine the applicable permit for an unmaintained ROW before arranging construction or storage. [2] [3]
Have the contractor identify the driveway apron, sidewalk, equipment staging area, and property boundaries. Confirm which authority controls the work area: the city distinguishes its jurisdiction from FDOT rights of way and private roads. Development Services lists its Review Group contact as (904) 255-8310. [2] [3]
For permitted building work, the city lists foundation and slab inspections before concrete placement among typical inspections. Name the person responsible for scheduling the applicable inspection and confirming clearance before the pour. [1]
Compare the complete installed scope
Request an itemized quote covering measured area, demolition, hauling, excavation, base preparation, placement, finishing, and cleanup. Include delivery arrangements and any pump charges. Identify who will restore lawn edges, irrigation, gates, or adjoining surfaces that the crew disturbs.
Ask the contractor to show finished elevations and explain where surface water will go. Review transitions at doors, the garage, existing walkways, and the street. For culvert work under the city's ROW process, the city requires site-plan information covering pipe type, sizing, flowlines, cover, and mitered end sections. [2]
Jacksonville lists residential ROW permits at $127 and commercial ROW permits at $191, excluding fee-exempt work. Treat these as administrative budget entries. Ask the contractor to separate applicable permit fees, application handling, bonding, and construction charges in the quote. [5]
Check qualifications and agree on scheduling
Ask which qualification covers the proposed scope and verify it through the contractor-verification channels in the city's Building Inspection FAQs. Request liability insurance documentation and workers' compensation coverage or an applicable exemption. Where a ROW permit applies, the city's process requires the contractor to have a current ROW surety bond on file before applying. [1] [2]
Resolve the review route before fixing a pour date. Under its ROW process, the city lists replacement of existing pavement among projects without field review. It lists pavement construction in subdivisions at least five years old among projects requiring field review. Have Development Services confirm the route for your proposal. [2]
Agree on parking, pedestrian access, barriers, and delivery routes. Get written curing instructions and dates for walking, furniture placement, and vehicle use. Include procedures for weather delays, unsuitable ground discovered during excavation, price changes, and warranty claims.
Published Jacksonville right of way permit fees
Local details that affect your job
Keep ROW permit liability with the performing contractor
For work requiring a ROW permit, Jacksonville warns that the person pulling it assumes liability even if someone else performs the work. Have your hired contractor obtain the permit and provide the approved copy. The city cautions that a contractor asking you to pull it may lack the required bond. [3]
Resolve owner approval for pavers or yard drains
The city's nonstandard-construction guidance includes brick pavers and yard drains in city rights of way or easements. It requires an owner revocable permit, approval, and recording before the ROW application, with the owner accepting liability and maintenance responsibilities. For an unmaintained ROW, first have Development Services reconcile that process with the exemption on its permit-eligibility page. [2] [3] [4]
Identify who will connect to city storm drainage
If the concrete project includes utility work connecting to the city drainage system, Jacksonville requires a licensed underground utility contractor for that work. Identify that contractor and connection scope in the proposal before accepting a drainage solution. [3]
Choose the next step for your project
| Project | Local distinction | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Patio slab | City lists patio slabs as building-permit exempt | Confirm the complete scope, including any cover or addition |
| Slab for an addition | City requires permits for additions | Resolve plans and applicable inspections before the pour |
| Driveway, sidewalk, or storage in city ROW | General ROW guidance requires a permit; the eligibility page exempts unmaintained city ROW and flags possible site-work permitting | Confirm jurisdiction and maintenance status; ask Development Services to determine requirements for an unmaintained ROW |
| Pavers or yard drain in city ROW | Nonstandard guidance requires owner approval and recording before a ROW application | Confirm applicability, including any unmaintained-ROW exception, before completing the revocable-permit process |
| Utility connection to city storm drainage | City requires a licensed underground utility contractor | Identify the qualified contractor for the connection |
Your hiring checklist
- Prepare photos, approximate dimensions, intended use, and drainage concerns.
- Identify property boundaries, easements, ROW jurisdiction, and maintenance status.
- Get a written permit plan, including a Development Services determination for an unmaintained city ROW.
- Compare preparation, concrete specifications, joints, finish, and restoration.
- Verify applicable qualifications and request insurance documentation.
- Agree on access, staging, barriers, and inspection coordination.
- Get curing instructions, return-to-use dates, warranty terms, and change-order procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a backyard patio need a building permit?
Jacksonville lists patio slabs as exempt. Describe associated work before relying on that exemption: the city lists patio covers among permit-required additions. [1]
Can the crew store materials on the sidewalk?
The main city ROW guidance requires a permit for construction materials in city rights of way and an approved Maintenance of Traffic plan when work or equipment storage affects traffic. The eligibility page exempts unmaintained city ROW but flags possible site-work permitting. For that situation, have Development Services determine the requirements before staging materials. [2] [3]
How much should I budget for a driveway ROW permit?
The city lists a residential ROW permit at $127, excluding fee-exempt work. Confirm whether it applies and what other charges your scope involves. The city doubles ROW fees when construction starts before plan approval, payment, and issuance of a valid permit. [5]
Should I repair the slab or replace it?
Request an assessment of the damage's cause and a written explanation for the proposed method. If the contractor considers both options suitable, compare separate scopes covering drainage, appearance, future-movement exclusions, and access restrictions.
Sources and scope
This guide combines the sources below with practical planning guidance. Figures apply to the stated geography and period; request a written quote for your property.