Equestrian & acreage
West Davie Horse Properties: Barn Permit Research
Quick answer
Ask the seller for permits first, then check them yourself. Request the Town of Davie Building Division's permit history for the address and match each structure you see — barn, stalls, covered arena, wash rack, electrical to the barn — to a permit with a final inspection. Anything without a match is a question for the seller, not an automatic deal-breaker. Resolve it during the inspection period, before you rely on the structure.
Use Davie’s public permit search and request the underlying file
The Town’s eSuite public information search accepts a service address without an account for general inquiries. Search the main address and compare the permit description with the barn, stall additions, roof, electrical service and plumbing actually present. A permit number alone is not proof of final approval for everything visible on the lot.
For plans, inspection results, amendments and older files not visible online, use the Town of Davie public records request form. Select Building and, where relevant, Planning & Zoning or Code Compliance. Identify the street address, folio, approximate construction dates and any permit numbers; request permit applications, approved plans, inspection history, final results and open/expired status. Ask for electronic copies where available. The form explains reasonable-time production under Chapter 119; no fixed turnaround is promised.
Review each inspection result against the approved scope. An electrical final does not establish zoning approval for a dwelling inside a barn. Ask the Building Division to explain unresolved results and missing records before deciding what corrective work, if any, is required. Neither a missing file nor a property-appraiser entry establishes legality.
Step 1: Make a structure list from the property itself
Photograph each one. This list is what you will check permits against.
- Barn and stalls
- Covered arena or shade structures
- Tack or feed room with electrical
- Wash rack with plumbing
- Fencing over typical residential height
- Any living space inside or above the barn
Step 2: Pull the permit history
Request the address's permit records from the Town of Davie Building Division and the parcel record from the Broward County Property Appraiser. Compare square footage and structure types between the two.
Step 3: Read what you find
| What you find | What it may mean | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Permit with final inspection | Final result applies to the listed permit scope; verify closure with the Town | Keep a copy in your file |
| Permit opened, no final | Open or expired permit | Ask seller to close it before closing |
| No permit found | Built without one, or records filed differently | Ask seller; ask the Town how it can be legalized |
| Living space in barn | May need separate approval | Ask Planning & Zoning before you rely on it |
Step 4: Put it in the contract
If something is open or unpermitted, ask your attorney and agent how to address it in the contract — a repair request, a credit, a seller obligation to close permits, or walking away. Don't wait until after closing to learn whether a structure can stay.
Related Mora Realty Davie pages
Sources
- Davie eSuite public permit search — Address-based public search without an account
- Davie public records request form — Building, zoning and code records requests
- Davie inspections — Permit status and inspection workflow