Northeast Florida

St. Johns County, Florida — Notice of Commencement

St. Johns County (St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra) is one of Florida's fastest-growing counties, with heavy single-family residential and beachside construction. Serving St. Augustine and St. Augustine Beach and the surrounding St. Johns County communities. Florida law (Fla. Stat. § 713.13) requires a recorded Notice of Commencement for most direct contracts over $2,500 — recorded with the St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court in St. Augustine, and posted on the jobsite before the first inspection.

Recording in St. Johns County

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

St. Johns 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 St. Johns Clerk of Court before recording.

Cities and towns in St. Johns County

St. Johns County includes 2 incorporated municipalities — St. Augustine and St. Augustine Beach. Wherever your project is — inside any of these city limits or in unincorporated St. Johns County — the Notice of Commencement is recorded in one place: the St. Johns County Clerk of Court in St. Augustine. 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 St. Johns 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:

• Legal description and street address of the St. Johns County property
• General description of the improvement
• Owner's name, address, and interest in the property
• Contractor's name, address, and phone number
• Surety, lender, and designated person for service of notices (if any)
• Expiration date (if other than the statutory default of one year)

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 St. Johns Clerk of Court, the owner must:

• Post a certified copy of the NOC in a conspicuous place at the jobsite
• Provide a copy to the building department before the first inspection
• File a Notice of Termination if the project is abandoned or finished early

St. Johns County NOC — frequently asked questions

Where do I file a Notice of Commencement in St. Johns County?

Notices of Commencement for projects in St. Johns County are recorded with the St. Johns County Clerk of Court in St. Augustine. 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 St. Augustine — do I record the NOC with the city or with St. Johns County?

With the county. St. Johns County includes 2 incorporated municipalities — St. Augustine and St. Augustine Beach. Wherever your project is — inside any of these city limits or in unincorporated St. Johns County — the Notice of Commencement is recorded in one place: the St. Johns County Clerk of Court in St. Augustine. City building departments may issue the permit and run inspections, but the NOC itself is always a county-level recording.

When does a St. Johns 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 St. Johns 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 St. Johns 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 St. Johns Clerk of Court.

Can I e-sign a Notice of Commencement for St. Johns 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 St. Johns Clerk of Court before the first inspection.

What is a Notice of Intent to Lien, and do I need one for a St. Johns 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 St. Johns 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 St. Johns County?

There is no statutory minimum, but 10 days is the standard demand window used in St. Johns County and statewide in Florida. After the window expires, the claimant may proceed to record a Claim of Lien with the St. Johns 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 St. Johns County:

• Clay County Notice of Commencement
• Duval County Notice of Commencement
• Flagler County Notice of Commencement
• Putnam County Notice of Commencement

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