Renovation work in Florida - beyond minor cosmetic repairs - generally requires a permit from the local county or city building department, reviewed against the Florida Building Code. Skipping that step, whether by a previous owner or during your own renovation, creates risk that surfaces at the worst possible time: at resale, at insurance claim time, or when a code enforcement complaint is filed.
Structural changes, electrical and plumbing work, roofing, additions, and most renovations that go beyond cosmetic finishes (paint, flooring, cabinets) generally require a permit reviewed by the local building department. Exact thresholds vary by county and city, which is why confirming with the specific local building department before starting work is worth more than relying on a general rule.
Most Florida county and city building departments maintain a permit history searchable by address, and this is a standard piece of due diligence before buying a property that shows signs of renovation (an added room, a converted garage, a newer-looking kitchen or bathroom layout) that does not match older official record for the structure.
A gap between what official record shows for the structure and what physically exists can complicate insurance (a claim can be denied or reduced if unpermitted work contributed to the damage), complicate a future sale (a buyer's lender or insurer may require it be brought up to code or removed), and expose the current owner to a code enforcement action regardless of who did the original work.
The prior owner's unpermitted work becomes the new owner's problem the moment they own the property - it does not stay the previous owner's liability.
Often, yes, through an after-the-fact permit process many Florida jurisdictions offer, which typically requires bringing the work up to current code (sometimes requiring it be partially exposed or inspected) and paying a higher fee than an original permit would have cost. It is not guaranteed to be approved if the existing work cannot reasonably be brought into compliance.
It substantially reduces the risk but does not guarantee it - permitting is the contractor's or owner's responsibility to initiate and the building department's to enforce, and not every licensed contractor pulls permits for every job. Confirming a permit was actually filed, not just that a licensed contractor was hired, is the more reliable check.
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