Search both generations of county records
| Record | Starting point |
|---|---|
1987 to September 2022 county permits | MCeSearch, linked from the county Building page. |
Newer active permits | County online permit search / OPAL. |
Completed or expired online permits | The separate lists linked by the county. |
Property inside Islamorada | Village CityView and Building Services. |
Monroe County permit record systems · Islamorada Building Services
What does each document actually tell you?
| Record | Useful for | Still needs checking |
|---|---|---|
Approved plan | The design and work limits accepted for that permit. | Whether later revisions or field changes altered it. |
Inspection / completion record | The recorded inspection outcome or permit closeout. | The structure’s present condition. |
Survey | Recorded boundaries, features and stated elevations. | Its date, scope and reference system; changes since the survey. |
Invoice or warranty | What a provider charged for or agreed to cover. | Whether the work matches approved plans and the warranty transfers. |
Ask for the waterfront file by scope
- Supply the address and parcel identifier, plus any known permit numbers.
- Name seawall, dock, boat lift and shoreline work explicitly.
- Request approved plans, revisions, inspection results and final status.
- Ask for environmental authorizations and any Notice to Proceed in the file.
- Record which documents are missing and which office you contacted.
County application/revision help and issued-permit/inspection help have different mailboxes. Route the question to the right team from the permit guide.
OPAL support and inspections · Notice To Proceed Instructional Handout (Internet Archive copy)
What should you write when the file is missing?
The county’s public-records page links to NextRequest. It also distinguishes county records from deeds held by the Clerk. Request identifiable existing documents; a records request does not commission a new condition opinion.
A request you can adapt: “For [address and parcel ID], please provide existing seawall, dock and boat-lift permit files for [known dates or permit numbers], including approved plans, revisions, inspection results, final status and outside approvals held in the file. Please identify any fees before processing.”
Start with the dates you know, then widen the search if needed. Save the response even when it explains that a document is held elsewhere. For property inside Islamorada, start with Village Building Services instead of assuming the county holds the full file.
Monroe County public-record requests · Islamorada Building Services
Compare the paperwork with the structure
Have the assessor identify whether the visible wall, cap and dock match the retrieved plans. A closed permit is not a present-day structural condition report. An old drawing may describe components that were later altered. Keep those differences visible for your designer or transaction professional.
Make a one-page document index
| Field | Example of what to record |
|---|---|
Document | Survey, permit plan, revision or inspection record. |
Date and identifier | Original issue date and permit or report number. |
What it covers | Wall segment, dock, lift or other scope. |
Unresolved question | Missing page, unclear final status or mismatch with the site. |
Use this index for an assessment, a replacement quote or waterfront purchase review.
Show sourcesHide sources
- Monroe County permit record systemsSource reviewed 2026-10-25
- Islamorada Building ServicesSource reviewed 2026-10-25
- OPAL support and inspectionsSource reviewed 2026-10-25
- Notice To Proceed Instructional Handout (Internet Archive copy)Source reviewed 2026-11-05
- Monroe County public-record requestsSource reviewed 2026-10-26