Building a new home inside Fort Myers city limits
Fort Myers publishes one of the clearest fee schedules in the region, which makes budgeting a new home easier than in most cities. For a single-family home permitted between May 4, 2026 and May 3, 2027, the city's impact fees come to $16,997.09, and that already includes city water and sewer.
Addresses with a Fort Myers mailing address are not always inside city limits. Inside the city, the City of Fort Myers issues the permit and its own fee schedule applies. Outside it, Lee County does. We check which side of the line your lot is on before we estimate anything.
What a Fort Myers build involves
| Permits | City of Fort Myers Building, Permitting and Inspections Division, filed through the EnerGov portal. |
|---|---|
| Impact fees | Official schedule for May 4, 2026 to May 3, 2027, flat per home with a 3% admin fee: roads $5,405.34, water $3,353.39, sewer $3,514.01, schools $2,965.47, community park $803.40, regional park $352.03, fire $391.66, EMS $61.80, meter installation $150. Total $16,997.09. |
| Water and sewer | The City of Fort Myers is the utility. Its water and sewer fees are in the schedule above. |
| Flood | Lowest floor at least 1 ft above base flood elevation under the Florida Building Code. For remodels, the city counts substantial improvement over a 12-month window, which matters if you are weighing a rebuild against renovating an older house. |
| Flood maps | FEMA's updated flood maps for Lee County take effect March 2, 2027. A lot's zone can change, so we check the new map as well as the current one. |
| Wind | All of Lee County is a wind-borne debris region. Every home we build has impact-rated windows and doors. |
Figures checked against official Lee County and city sources in October 2026. Fees change, so we confirm current numbers in every estimate.
Where we build around Fort Myers
We work on infill lots inside the city and on lots in the unincorporated areas around it, where Lee County handles the permit. If the lot is in Lehigh Acres, see our Lehigh Acres page, the rules there are different.
- Inside Fort Myers city limits
- Unincorporated Lee County
- North Fort Myers
- Infill and teardown lots
Homes we've built in Southwest Florida
Over 110 custom homes delivered since 2021. See the full gallery or browse our floor plans.
How a build with us works in Fort Myers
- Free consultation and lot review. Tell us your goal, budget and timeline. Send the address and we check the flood zone, utilities and fees for that parcel.
- Plan and fixed-price contract. Pick one of 100+ floor plans or bring your own design. The quote becomes your contract price, starting from $165 per square foot.
- Permits and engineering. We prepare the drawings and file the permit. Permits usually take 2-3 months.
- Build and keys. Construction runs 6-9 months, 8-12 months from permit to keys, with weekly video updates and a 10-year structural warranty.
Building in Fort Myers: common questions
How much are impact fees on a new home in Fort Myers?
Inside city limits, $16,997.09 for a single-family home permitted between May 4, 2026 and May 3, 2027, including water and sewer. Fees outside the city follow the Lee County schedule instead.
Is it cheaper to rebuild than renovate an old Fort Myers house?
Sometimes. If renovation costs reach 50% of the building's market value within 12 months, the city treats it as a substantial improvement and the whole house has to meet current flood rules. At that point a new build is often the better money.
Will the 2027 flood maps affect my lot?
They might. Lee County's new FEMA maps take effect March 2, 2027. We check both the current and the new map for your parcel so the floor height is right for the house's whole life.