No. A homeowner who owns and occupies a 1 or 2 family dwelling can do their own construction work, as long as they can demonstrate that they are knowledgeable of the code requirements of concern. You may not use or hire unlicensed people to help you or to do the work for you.

Not only is it the law, but building permits can also protect you. With a building permit you get the advice of reviewers and inspectors who will approve each phase of your project, checking to see that the work is done in accordance with the Standard Building Code, zoning laws and the approved plans. Additionally, a building permit is required to show compliance with sanitary, safety and welfare concerns including required setbacks from property lines and adjacent structures.

Working without a permit, when one is required, can result in fines and can cause problems when you sell your home. And, probably more importantly, you lose the assurance that the work you're paying for is built to code, a minimum standard for safety.

Any person who is not licensed and registered with the Construction Industry Licensing Board is doing so illegally. In addition, the State Attorney General's Office has stated that contracts made with an unlicensed contractor are not enforceable under law. Another reason is the license provides some protection to the owner from being charged for work and materials not provided or paying twice for them (material suppliers and sub-contractors can place a lien on your home if they do not receive payment from your contractor). There are also trade licenses for those persons doing other work to provide some assurance that they have adequate knowledge and training in those fields. Avoid any contractor who requires large advance payments.

Here are some suggestions:

• Ask people you know for names of contractors they have used.
• Once you have a list of contractors, ask for references.
• Make sure you are comfortable with the contractor and that good lines of communication exist.
• Check the contractor's insurance coverage. The contractor should carry comprehensive policies to protect his business and your home, including public liability, property damage protection, and workers' compensation. May want an original from the insurance company, listing your name.
• Ask for written quotes with all details from more than one contractor. It is advisable to get, at least three contractors to provide bids. Remember - the lowest price is not always the best one. It could mean a misunderstanding of the project.
• Arrange to pay the contractor after the work is completed and according to a payment schedule.
• The payments should reflect approximately the work that has been done.
• Avoid paying cash. Payment by check will be a record of your payment.
• Make all payment by check to the company contracted to do the work; not to cash or a person's name.
• Do not sign a completion certificate unless all the work is completed according to the contract, your satisfaction and an approved final inspection by your local building department.

If your contract exceeds $2,500, a Notice of Commencement must be filed by the homeowner or contractor.

In accordance with Section 713.13 (1) (h) of the Florida Statutes, a "Notice of Commencement" must be filed with the Clerk of the Court (County Records Division) prior to commencement of construction of a project, and a certified copy or affidavit attesting to the recording of the Notice of Commencement, must be posted at the jobsite. This notice contains detailed information about the project such as property owner, financial institution, jobsite address, contractor, etc., and protects the property owner's title to the property.

The Building Department at Bartow City Hall will provide this form to permit applicants upon request.

Note: Your failure to record a Notice of Commencement may result in your paying twice for improvements to your property. If you intend to obtain financing, consult with your lender or an attorney before recording your Notice of Commencement. A recorded copy of the Notice of Commencement must be posted on the job-site.

Once a permit has been issued and work has begun, inspections are performed by the City's inspectors at intervals designated by the Standard Building Code. Simply stated, an inspection is required prior to concealing any part of the construction. The building permit that is issued will indicate the types of work that requires inspections and when to call for one. This permit must be displayed on the job site. The contractor should call the Building Department when the stage of work indicated on the building permit has been completed.

Failure to comply with the inspection requirements could result in a request to dismantle any work done beyond the inspection stage. In order to prevent delays in performing inspections, we ask your assurance that properly installed and visible address appear on buildings. The scheduling of inspections can be done by calling 863-534-0157.

Inspections are required at various stages of the project to see that the work is following the approved plans and codes.

Simple projects, such as A/C change outs, electrical and plumbing usually can be checked immediately when you bring your plans into City Hall, and you can get your permit before you leave. Simple projects generally can be checked within 5 working days. More complex projects could take up to 15 to 30 working days.

Building permits are required for the construction/renovation of most buildings and structures. Almost anything constructed on or attached to the ground or attached to something located on the ground is considered a structure, including fences, walls greater than 18 inches tall, antennas, and pools more than 24 inches deep. Accessory buildings (i.e., storage sheds, playhouses, etc.)

However, all buildings and structures, regardless of whether they require a building permit, are subject to development standards and code requirements, including those that are temporary or portable. Before erecting or constructing anything on your property, you should first consult with Development Services.

State law requires that either a licensed contractor or the owner of the property obtain the building permit. Please provide the following when applying for a building permit.

Owner/Builder

1. Proof of ownership (Deed, driver's license, etc.)

Contractors

1. Original certificate of workman's compensation insurance made out to the City of Bartow.
2. Proof of current State Contractor's license.

The first step is to stop by the Building Department at City Hall to discuss what you would like to do. You should bring along a preliminary site plan/plot plan that shows the shape and dimensions of your property, any adjacent streets, and the locations of all existing and proposed buildings and structures on the property. Usually this can be a simple pencil drawing on an 8-1/2 inch by 11 inch paper. At that point, City staff will tell you what the next steps in the approval/permitting process will be. Some projects will require more technical drawings. City staff will assist you in determining the level of detail that is needed for your particular project.

Yes, separate permits are required for this type of work. The Development Services will tell you if you need to get these permits.

You must begin work within 180 days from the date the permit is issued. Once work has begun, the permit will expire if work is stopped for more than 180 days. If necessary, extensions can be arranged through the Building Department.

Your water pressure may be low due to the flushing of fire hydrants, which lowers the water pressure in the area that is being tested. 

Due to the fire hydrant flushing, customers could experience a temporary discoloration of water, which is due to the unsettling of rust in the water main. 

Run the cold water for about five minutes - this should clear up the water. 

Yes. If the water would be unsafe for any reason to drink, a boil alert would be issued.

Run the Hot and Cold laundry water until it runs clear. Then it should be safe to wash.

At the Bartow Police Department lobby, 450 N Broadway Avenue.

Please call and make an appointment with the Crime Scene Technicians by calling 863-534-5034. You may pick up your property Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, or Tuesday and Thursday 5:30 am to 2:30 pm.

• You must have a Bartow Police Department case number, and
• A Picture Identification card, for example (state driver license, state I.D. card, passport or U.S. armed forces I.D. Card)

Yes, however they must have a notarized letter of Power of Attorney authorizing them to pick up your property and/or a court order. The Court Order should indicate the Power of Attorney’s name.

Property must be claimed within 60 days following the completion of your case. 

You must file a “Motion for the Return of Property” through the Clerk of the Court.

Wastewater is a combination of used water that comes out of homes, schools, businesses, restaurants, car washes and industries.

During business hours call: 863-534-0146 

After hours Call: 863-534-0159  or  863-534-5034

• Oil and grease are very detrimental to the sewer system and can clog up the pipes and cause plugged lines.
• Never put any harmful chemicals down the drain.
• The only thing flushed down the toilet should be tissues, never paper towels.
• All substances put down the drain should be biodegradable.

First verify that the issue is on the entire house and not just one sink. If so, call 863-534-0122 to report your issue. Please provide your address and a return phone number. We will check our sewer main and jet-rod it if necessary. If the problem turns out to be the property owners, you will need to call a plumber.

Run fresh water in all sinks to fill traps inside the house. If this does not cure the problem, check the toilet, and make sure it’s firmly attached to the floor, the wax seal around the toilet may be compromised. If this does not work call 863-534-0122 and we will send someone out to assist you with the problem. It may be a situation where you will need to call a plumber immediately.

If the sewer line (service lateral) is broken, then notify the Public Works Department, 863-534-0122. The City is responsible for the structural integrity of the sewer main and sewer main blockages.

Stay away from the water and call 863-534-0122 immediately to report the problem. Please have the address including cross streets or an approximate location within the street.

Call 863-534-0122 to report your issue. The City of Bartow Public Works Department may currently be working on another issue and jet-rodding the sewer lines near your property.

The manhole in your backyard is an access point for the sanitary sewer and in most cases cannot be moved. The most likely reason that it’s in your back yard is the terrain.

A lift station is basically a pump that moves sewerage through the system. Sewerage is gravity fed into a main line, and those lines will be pumped at the lift station from that location to another location, and then downstream to the treatment plant.

The City of Bartow operates the Wastewater Treatment Plant located at 2505 East Wabash Street Bartow, Florida 33830.

There are many reasons to treat the wastewater before discharging back to the environment. Untreated wastewater can consume oxygen that is available for plants and animals and cause them to suffer and may even kill them which would be damaging to marine life and aquatic habitats. Untreated wastewater can affect swimming, sport fishing, boating, picnicking etc., by imparting undesirable color and unpleasant odor to the receiving water. Untreated wastewater can cause disease causing microorganisms to enter receiving water that we may use for drinking and recreation.

The type of wastewater treatment used in Bartow is called the “Sequencing Batch Reactors” Activated Sludge Process. This is a biological process in which naturally occurring living microorganisms (bacteria, protozoa, tiny plants, and animals) are maintained at a very high population level. They quickly consume the dissolved and suspended organic material carried over from the primary treatment of the incoming wastewater as a source of food. This process promotes the formation of biological masses that clump together by adhesion.

The final effluent is monitored daily. In-house laboratory staff performs sampling and analysis for process control and FDEP compliance.

Bartow Library items include:

• Books
• Books on CD
• DVDs
• CDs
• Magazines
• LTE Mobile Hotspots (see below for more details)

Search for available items in our online catalog.

• Most items check out for two weeks.
• If an item is not on hold for another patron, check out can be extended to four weeks.
• LTE Mobile Hotspots check out for two weeks and cannot be renewed.

Bartow Library owned items are fine free.

• When an item is 30 days overdue, it will be marked as lost and a replacement fee charged to the account. (This fee will be removed once the item is returned.)
• Please contact other libraries in the cooperative for their overdue policies.

A photo ID and proof of a Polk County address is required to get a library card.

Visit our Get a Library Card page for more details.

Bartow Library owned items can be returned to any Polk County library with a few exceptions:

• LTE Mobile Hotspots
• Interlibrary loans

These items may only be returned at the Bartow Library.

What To Do

We strongly believe that our resources and collection should be accessible to everyone, and we definitely don't want anyone to feel nervous or embarrassed to come to the library. 

If you still have the item: return it.

Bartow Library is fine free, so all lost or overdue fees are cancelled once an item is returned. Other Polk County libraries are also fine free, and most of the others change a lost fee to a reduced overdue fee when the item comes back.

If you have no idea where the item is: that's still okay.

We understand that much has probably changed between today and the last time an account was active. We work on a case-by-case basis to help people who want to use library resources but have accounts blocked by accumulated fines. Please contact the library and we will do everything we can to help.