[Fredesch]

I prefer an outdoor area with fresh air. I like our covered back porch. It doesn't have any walls but then again we rarely have mosquitos or biting bugs in our beachside neighborhood. If biting bugs were in our area we would have a screened in porch.

[jambo101]

Some creative ideas =
https://www.google.ca/search?q=Lanai...w=1097&bih=500

[Robino1]

My lanai

[Robino1]

Another view

[Sunshine Rules]

Before enclosing any porch or lanai in Florida, homeowners should be aware of permitting requirements per the state building codes.

Florida building regulations are governed by the Florida building commission and the Florida building code. These codes are enforced by local municipal building departments at the city or county level, depending on who has jurisdiction.

Basically, if you are enclosing a porch or lanai for any purpose you need a permit. If you want to make it air conditioned living space, the requirements are many, because the slab, walls, electrical all must be brought up to code for living space vs porch/lanai.

What happens if you do the work without the required permits?

If you get caught doing work without a permit, the city/county will make you apply for a permit and the improvements must be done up to current code or the work would probably have to be torn out if it cannot be brought up to code. Fines are often imposed as well.

Your homeowners insurance may refuse to pay out a claim on an un-permitted home improvement if you should have an incident.

Then there's the problems that come to light when you decide to put your home on the market. The tax records official square footage does not match the actual square footage. A red flag for buyers and their agents. Since this is something that materially affects the value of the property, you the seller should disclose the un-permitted work to prospective buyers. Appraisers often will not include un-permitted square footage in the appraisal. The buyers may also have problems getting hazard insurance on the home as many exclude un-permitted work. Then there's the potential liability to the buyers -- if the city/county discovers the un-permitted work after the buyer closes on the property, that new homeowners becomes financially responsible for getting the work permitted, fines, demands by code enforcement.


Better to go through the proper steps up front before enclosing a porch/lanai than to deal with the consequences later.

[Fredesch]

Originally Posted by Sunshine Rules

Before enclosing any porch or lanai in Florida, homeowners should be aware of permitting requirements per the state building codes.

Florida building regulations are governed by the Florida building commission and the Florida building code. These codes are enforced by local municipal building departments at the city or county level, depending on who has jurisdiction.

Basically, if you are enclosing a porch or lanai for any purpose you need a permit. If you want to make it air conditioned living space, the requirements are many, because the slab, walls, electrical all must be brought up to code for living space vs porch/lanai.

What happens if you do the work without the required permits?

If you get caught doing work without a permit, the city/county will make you apply for a permit and the improvements must be done up to current code or the work would probably have to be torn out if it cannot be brought up to code. Fines are often imposed as well.

Your homeowners insurance may refuse to pay out a claim on an un-permitted home improvement if you should have an incident.

Then there's the problems that come to light when you decide to put your home on the market. The tax records official square footage does not match the actual square footage. A red flag for buyers and their agents. Since this is something that materially affects the value of the property, you the seller should disclose the un-permitted work to prospective buyers. Appraisers often will not include un-permitted square footage in the appraisal. The buyers may also have problems getting hazard insurance on the home as many exclude un-permitted work. Then there's the potential liability to the buyers -- if the city/county discovers the un-permitted work after the buyer closes on the property, that new homeowners becomes financially responsible for getting the work permitted, fines, demands by code enforcement.


Better to go through the proper steps up front before enclosing a porch/lanai than to deal with the consequences later.

Hurricane Mathew took the roof off my neighbors enclosed porch. The hurricane just peeled back the aluminium roof and left the walls untouched. He ended up having to take the sides down as he couldn't get anyone to put a new roof on as all work needed to meet current code and we are in a 135mph wind rating area. Be careful that any modification you do meets current code and be aware if you need major repairs in the future it will need to meet the code at that time too.