Florida Licensed PE Needed – Structural Drawings and Permit Support
Freestanding Waterfront Pergola | Palmetto, FL (City of Palmetto, Manatee County)
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ABOUT THE PROJECT
I am an owner-builder in Palmetto, FL planning a DIY construction of a freestanding detached pergola on my waterfront residential property. I have a complete schematic drawing package already prepared (site section, foundation plan, framing plan, roof assembly detail, and cover letter). I need a Florida-licensed Professional Engineer (PE – Structural) to review those schematics, perform all required structural calculations, finalize the drawing set, and provide signed and sealed plans ready for submission to the City of Palmetto Building Department.
This is a collaborative engagement. I will be doing the construction myself, so I need a PE who is communicative, responsive to plan review comments, and comfortable working with an owner-builder through inspections.
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CONFIRMED PROJECT DIMENSIONS
All of the following have been field-verified and are fixed:
- Structure type: Freestanding detached pergola – no attachment to dwelling
- Width (E-W): 26'-0"
- Post-to-post depth: 15'-0" (N-S)
- Water-side overhang: 1'-0"
- Total covered area: 26' x 16' = 416 sq ft
- House wall to seawall: 21'-0" (confirmed field dimension)
- Rear setback: 5'-0" from seawall (low-side posts)
- Max structure height: ~11–12 ft (high-side posts) – under City of Palmetto
15 ft accessory structure limit; no variance required
- Roof assembly: 1x6 cedar boards with 3/8" gaps (ceiling layer)
16mm twin-wall polycarbonate panels (weather layer)
Roof pitched from house side (high) to water side (low)
- Posts: 6x6 PT SYP UC4B minimum
- Foundation: Concrete piers below grade
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WHAT I NEED YOU TO DETERMINE AND DOCUMENT
The following items require your engineering judgment and must be reflected in the sealed drawings:
1. House-wall to high-side post gap (maintenance clearance – you set the dimension)
2. Post spacing E-W (based on beam span capacity for 26 ft width)
3. High-side post exact height (must clear house eave of approx. 10 ft; est. 11–12 ft)
4. Low-side post height (derived from minimum roof pitch for polycarbonate drainage)
5. Minimum roof pitch for polycarbonate panel drainage (manufacturer minimum typ. 3:12)
6. Beam size and type (26 ft span may require LVL, glulam, or intermediate posts – your call)
7. Rafter size (est. 2x8 SYP for 15 ft span with combined cedar + poly dead load)
8. Pier diameter and depth (based on soil conditions and 150 mph Exposure D wind loading)
9. All connection hardware specifications
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DESIGN PARAMETERS
- Wind speed: 150 mph (3-sec gust), Risk Category II
- Exposure: D (open water / waterfront)
- Code: Florida Building Code 8th Edition (2023) + ASCE 7-22
- Jurisdiction: City of Palmetto Building Department
- Zoning: PL_RS-2 (City of Palmetto)
- Hardware: 316 stainless steel or HDG throughout (coastal salt-air environment)
- Flood zone: Likely FEMA AE – confirm and address if required
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DELIVERABLES
1. Review of my existing schematic drawing package and gap analysis
2. Structural calculations (wind uplift, lateral loads, beam sizing, pier design)
3. Finalized drawing set:
– Foundation plan with pier schedule and post layout
– Framing plan with beam, rafter, and purlin member schedule
– Roof assembly section detail
– Four-sided elevation drawings with all heights dimensioned
– Structural connection details (post base, beam-to-post, hurricane ties)
4. Signed and sealed drawings (Florida PE e-seal accepted per FL statute)
5. Response to City of Palmetto plan review comments – 1 round included
6. Availability by phone or email to answer inspector questions during my build
All drawings in PDF format, sized for 24x36 or 11x17 plan sheets.
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WHAT I WILL PROVIDE YOU
- Complete schematic drawing package (site section, foundation, framing, roof assembly, cover letter)
- Property address, parcel ID (2844900007), and certified survey
- FEMA flood zone documentation
- Polycarbonate panel product data sheet and manufacturer wind load tables
- Any additional site information you request
- Quick response to questions – I am actively engaged on this project
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IDEAL CANDIDATE
- Active Florida PE license (Structural or Civil/Structural) – include license number in proposal
- Experience with permitted residential accessory structures in Florida, especially waterfront or coastal sites
- Familiar with City of Palmetto or Manatee County Building Department submittal requirements
- Comfortable working with a DIY owner-builder – clear communicator, patient with questions
- Can deliver sealed drawings within 2–3 weeks of receiving all project information
- Bonus: has previously pulled permits in the City of Palmetto or knows the plan reviewers
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TO APPLY, PLEASE INCLUDE
1. Your Florida PE license number
2. One or two examples of similar projects you have stamped (pergolas, covered patios,
accessory structures, or other residential structures in FL coastal environments)
3. Fixed-fee quote and estimated turnaround time
4. Any questions or clarifications about the scope
Budget is open – I am looking for the right engineer, not the lowest bid.
Looking to get started as soon as possible.
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