North Central Florida

Putnam County, Florida — Notice of Commencement

Putnam County (Palatka) blends residential, agricultural, and St. Johns River–adjacent waterfront construction. Serving Palatka, Crescent City, Interlachen, and Pomona Park, and the surrounding Putnam County communities. Florida law (Fla. Stat. § 713.13) requires a recorded Notice of Commencement for most direct contracts over $2,500 — recorded with the Putnam County Clerk of the Circuit Court in Palatka, and posted on the jobsite before the first inspection.

Recording in Putnam County

Notice of Commencement filings for Putnam County are recorded with the Putnam County Clerk of Court in Palatka. A certified copy must be posted at the jobsite before the first inspection.

Putnam County Clerk of Court website

Florida statutory recording fees are set by Fla. Stat. § 28.24 — typically $10.00 for the first page and $8.50 per additional page, with an extra fee per name indexed beyond four. Confirm current totals with the Putnam Clerk of Court before recording.

Cities and towns in Putnam County

Putnam County includes 5 incorporated cities and towns — Palatka, Crescent City, Interlachen, Pomona Park, and Welaka. Wherever your project is — inside any of these city limits or in unincorporated Putnam County — the Notice of Commencement is recorded in one place: the Putnam County Clerk of Court in Palatka. City building departments may issue the permit and run inspections, but the NOC itself is always a county-level recording.

What Fla. Stat. § 713.13 requires for Putnam County projects

Florida Statute § 713.13 requires a property owner to record a Notice of Commencement before construction begins on most projects over $2,500. The NOC must include:

The recorded NOC protects the owner from paying twice if a subcontractor or supplier isn't paid by the general contractor. After recording with the Putnam Clerk of Court, the owner must:

Putnam County NOC — frequently asked questions

Where do I file a Notice of Commencement in Putnam County?

Notices of Commencement for projects in Putnam County are recorded with the Putnam County Clerk of Court in Palatka. Most Florida clerks accept the same statewide § 713.13 form — recorded in person, by mail, or through the clerk's e-recording portal.

My project is in Palatka — do I record the NOC with the city or with Putnam County?

With the county. Putnam County includes 5 incorporated cities and towns — Palatka, Crescent City, Interlachen, Pomona Park, and Welaka. Wherever your project is — inside any of these city limits or in unincorporated Putnam County — the Notice of Commencement is recorded in one place: the Putnam County Clerk of Court in Palatka. City building departments may issue the permit and run inspections, but the NOC itself is always a county-level recording.

When does a Putnam County NOC have to be recorded?

Florida law (Fla. Stat. § 713.13) requires the NOC to be recorded before the first inspection, and a certified copy must be posted on the jobsite. Recording an NOC after work begins can leave the owner exposed to paying twice for the same work.

Does Putnam County have its own special NOC form?

Florida's Notice of Commencement is a statewide form defined by Fla. Stat. § 713.13. Every county clerk, including Putnam County, accepts that form, though clerks may have minor formatting preferences (margins, recording-stamp space). NOC Signatures generates a Florida-compliant NOC ready for the Putnam Clerk of Court.

Can I e-sign a Notice of Commencement for Putnam County?

Yes. Florida's Uniform Electronic Transaction Act (Fla. Stat. § 668.50) gives an e-signature the same legal effect as an ink signature for construction documents, including the Notice of Commencement. The signed PDF still must be notarized and recorded with the Putnam Clerk of Court before the first inspection.

What is a Notice of Intent to Lien, and do I need one for a Putnam County job?

A Notice of Intent to Lien (NOI) is the final demand a contractor or supplier serves on the owner — and any contractor or lender on the project — before recording a Claim of Lien with the Putnam County Clerk of Court. Florida does not require an NOI before recording a lien under Chapter 713, but most Florida contractors send one as a 10-day final demand because it frequently triggers payment and documents a good-faith effort to resolve the debt before filing.

How long does the owner have to pay after receiving an NOI in Putnam County?

There is no statutory minimum, but 10 days is the standard demand window used in Putnam County and statewide in Florida. After the window expires, the claimant may proceed to record a Claim of Lien with the Putnam County Clerk of Court — subject to Florida's 90-day-from-last-furnishing deadline under Fla. Stat. § 713.08.

Neighboring Florida counties

NOC recording guides for the counties bordering Putnam County:

This page is general information about Florida law — not legal advice. For questions about your specific Putnam County project, consult a Florida construction attorney.