COMMERCIAL
Commercial Architect in Florida
A commercial architect designs non-residential buildings and prepares the drawings and specifications they are permitted and built from. Scope runs from shell and core through accessibility, egress, fire separation and wind provisions. Developers bring one in for new buildings and changes of use in existing ones.
Overview
What Commercial Architect covers
A commercial architect designs non-residential buildings and prepares the drawings and specifications they are permitted and built from. Scope runs from shell and core through accessibility, egress, fire separation and wind provisions. Developers bring one in for new buildings and changes of use in existing ones.
Deliverables
What you receive
The exact set depends on the scope, the county and what the reviewer asks for. These are the documents this work produces.
- commercial drawing set
- life safety plan
- project specifications
Scope
Parts of the work
Depending on the project, the work commonly covers the parts below.
- ceiling plan
- core and shell
- egress path
- mechanical room layout
- restroom layout
- storefront system
Project types
Projects this applies to
These are the projects this is most often requested for.
- medical clinic
- office building
- place of worship
- retail center
- warehouse
Permits
Permit context
In permit terms it is usually filed alongside these.
- commercial building permit
- fire marshal approval
- threshold building inspection
Occupancy
Occupancy and use
- assembly
- business
- institutional
Preparation
What to have ready
- The project address, and the county it is in
- What you are building, adding or changing
- Rough dimensions, or the survey or plot plan if you have one
- Any drawings, sketches or inspiration you already have
- Whether the property is residential or commercial
- Whether a permit has already been applied for
Related
Services often requested together
Coverage
Where Commercial Architect is available
These are the areas with a dedicated page for this service. The service itself is available statewide.
FLORIDA PERMIT DATA
What the permit records show
Data through August 2026
- Matching permits
- 917
- Median declared job value
- $500,000
- Middle 50% of declared values
- $120,000–$1,454,341
- Permits with a declared value
- 844
"shell building" appears in 917 matching permits in the Florida records we analyzed. Declared job value is the value shown on the permit application, not a contract price, and it is based on 844 matching permits with a declared value. How we count.
Questions
Commercial Architect questions
What does commercial architect involve?
It depends on the project. Tell us what you are building and you will get the scope, the documents and the likely permit path in one reply.
Are the drawings sealed?
Where a sealed set is required, the work is prepared and sealed by a Florida architect who signs them, and that signature is what the reviewing office relies on.
How do I check a Florida architect's registration?
Professional registration is a matter of public record in Florida. Check it directly with the state before you engage anyone.
Tell us what you are building
Send the project details once and you will get the scope, the drawings it needs and a price.
Prefer to talk it through? (321) 462-5592 or ask@floridaarch.com