Residential Architect
Design and documentation for new homes, additions, renovations and residential accessory buildings.
RESIDENTIAL
Outdoor Living Architect across Florida
Design and permit drawings for lanais, covered patios, decks and outdoor kitchens.
What the work involves
Plan the space around how you want to use it: dining, cooking, relaxing or moving between the home and garden. The design also needs to address the site, weather exposure and any connection to the existing house. Structural and trade work are coordinated as part of the agreed scope.
The scope may include
- Plan of the new structure and its footing layout
- Roof plan showing the tie-in to the house
- Elevations of the screen walls and openings
- Column and beam sizing notes
- Footing and slab details
- Screen panel and door schedule
- Outdoor kitchen rough-in plan
- Blocking plan for ceiling fans and lights
The final documents and any separate engineering work are confirmed with the practice before work starts.
Plan the outdoor space as part of the home
Describe how you will use the area and how it connects to indoor rooms. Dining, cooking, shade, circulation and privacy should be considered together before a patio cover, deck or outdoor kitchen is positioned.
New roofs or attached structures need their connections and existing supports assessed. Identify cooking equipment and services early, and agree the structural and trade information needed for the proposed work. Pool and enclosure packages have a separate scope.
Common project situations
Examples of where this service can help:
- Screened lanai added off a living room
- Covered patio built under a new roof
- Raised deck with a stair to the yard
- Pergola over an existing patio
- Outdoor kitchen with a grill and sink
- Porch converted into a screened room
Planning the scope
These points help define the work before drawings or reports are prepared.
Existing conditions to discuss
- Existing concrete patio beside the house
- Roof overhang at the proposed connection
- Ground falling away from the rear door
- Screen enclosure with corroded frames
- Sliding door providing access to the new space
Coordination with other specialists
- Structural sizing of the columns, beams and footings
- Roofing tie-in and flashing by the trade
- Electrical for fans, lights and outlets
- Plumbing for a sink or an outdoor shower
- Gas line for a grill or a fireplace
- Screen and aluminum fabrication
Issues that may affect review
- New structure inside a side or rear setback
- Roof tie-in that alters how the house drains
- An outdoor kitchen with plumbing or gas
- Structural members spanning further than a standard size allows
- Impervious area pushed above the lot limit
- Work inside a flood zone or wind-borne debris region
Work to discuss separately
- Pools and pool cages
- Landscape planting and irrigation
- Engineering of the screen structure and the roof tie-in
- Screen and aluminum installation labor
- Interior room additions with conditioned space
FLORIDA PERMIT DATA
What the permit records show
Data through August 2026
- Matching permits
- 18,392
- Median declared job value
- $19,428
- Middle 50% of declared values
- $3.9kâ$326.1k
- Permits with a declared value
- 17,088
"lanai" appears in 18,392 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 17,088 matching permits with a declared value.
How we count.
How the work progresses
Typical steps are outlined below. The practice confirms the scope and who handles each stage.
- Site and attachment conditions measured
- Structure sized and laid out with the owner
- Roof tie-in and drainage detailed
- Services routed to the new space
- Permit package filed with the county
- Comments from the reviewer addressed
Questions about this service
Do I need a permit for a screened lanai?
A new lanai or screen structure commonly requires a permit. Confirm the local submission requirements and whether the enclosure contractor or another party will handle the application. The supporting structure and attachment details need to be included where required.
Can I add a roof over my patio?
It may be possible, but the existing house, patio slab and proposed supports need to be assessed. The design should explain how the roof is supported and how water will drain at the connection.
How big can a deck be without a permit?
Permit exemptions vary with the deck's location, height, size and attachment. Ask the building department about the specific proposal rather than assume a small deck is exempt.
Does an outdoor kitchen need plumbing?
A sink needs suitable water supply and drainage. Cooking appliances may also need gas, electrical or ventilation work, depending on the equipment. Decide on the appliances early so the layout and trade work can be coordinated.
What happens after I send a request?
We pass your project details to a Florida architecture practice. Discuss the scope, fees and schedule directly with the practice before deciding to proceed.
Related services
Structural Drawings
How structural design is coordinated with architectural drawings and the responsible engineering provider.
Site Plans
Drawings showing proposed improvements in relation to the property and site constraints.
Pool & Screen Enclosure Plans
Site and permit documentation for pools, decks and screen enclosures.
Tell us about your project
Share the location and what you have in mind. A practice can review the scope and quote the work you need.
Prefer to talk it through? (321) 462-5592 or ask@floridaarch.com