What to know
before you build.
Plain-English answers for owners and for the realtors, architects and designers who advise them. Where a rule matters, the guide says where it comes from.
Planning and choosing
How to Choose a Luxury Contractor
Hiring a builder for a home of real value is a decision about trust as much as skill. This guide lists what a careful owner can check, in the order that tends to matter, and ends with how Mike Johnson works.
GUIDEDesign-Build vs General Contractor
Two structures dominate high-end residential work, and the choice shapes who you hire first, who you rely on for advice, and where the contracts sit. Here is how each works and when each tends to fit.
GUIDERenovate or Rebuild
An older waterfront house often raises the same question: improve what stands, or start over. The answer rests on the structure, the lot, the seawall and the rules, and the rules should be checked early.
GUIDEPreconstruction: What It Is
Preconstruction is the work done before any demolition begins. It turns an idea into a defined scope, an early budget and a set of decisions, so that construction starts with fewer unknowns.
GUIDEThe Renovation Process, Start to Closeout
A large renovation moves through recognizable stages. Knowing who does what at each stage, and where your decisions are due, makes the project calmer and the result better.
GUIDELiving In or Moving Out During a Renovation
Whether to stay in the house or leave is one of the first practical questions of a renovation. This guide covers general considerations for an occupied or vacant home, and the people who share the street.
Rules that shape a project
Flood Zones and the 50 Percent Rule
If your house sits in a FEMA flood hazard area, a remodel or addition can trigger flood elevation requirements for the whole building. This guide explains the 50 percent rule, how Fort Lauderdale measures it, and the one question the sources we read leave open.
GUIDESeawalls and Docks in Fort Lauderdale
A waterfront house is only as protected as its seawall, and a seawall is regulated separately from the house. This guide sets out what the city and county sources say, and flags the numbers you must confirm before you design.
GUIDEPermits and Private Providers
A permit decides when your project can start, and who applies for it matters. This guide covers how residential permits work in Fort Lauderdale, what Florida's private provider law allows, and how to check the person pulling the permit.
GUIDEHistoric Review and Neighborhood Rules
Some Fort Lauderdale properties are designated historic, and for those the review changes the design process. This guide explains what the city says about historic review and what to ask about neighborhood rules before you buy or design.
GUIDECoastal and Wind Rules
Broward County sits in a high wind region and has a state coastal line along its beaches. This guide covers the Coastal Construction Control Line, product approval for windows and doors, and the Florida Building Code edition that may change at the end of 2026.
GUIDECondo Association Approval
Renovating a condominium usually means two approvals: the city permit and your association. The sources we read are thin on association procedure, so this guide covers what Chapter 718 says, then lists what to ask the association in writing.