Bill > S1234

Introduced Session

An act relating to building permits and inspections; amending s. 125.56, F.S.; providing for expiration of certain building permits issued by a county after a specified timeframe; providing construction; amending s. 489.129, F.S.; providing that certain persons are not subject to discipline for performing a job without applicable permits and inspections if otherwise provided by law; amending s. 553.73, F.S.; requiring the Florida Building Commission to modify the Florida Building Code to exempt from building permit requirements the installation of certain walls or barriers; authorizing the commission to adopt rules; providing that a local government has no legal duty to the owner, the contractor, or their successors or assigns for specified work performed; requiring the commission to modify the Florida Building Code to state that a permit is not required for each lot or parcel for installation of certain retaining walls; amending s. 553.79, F.S.; providing for expiration of certain building permits issued by a local government after a specified timeframe; providing construction; providing limits for inspection fees; prohibiting a local government from requiring building permits for certain projects; prohibiting a construction project from being divided into more than one project for a specified purpose; providing an exception; requiring certain persons to file a notice of work with the local enforcement agency; specifying what information is to be included in such notice; providing that a local government has no legal duty to the owner, the contractor, or their successors or assigns for specified work performed; amending s. 553.791, F.S.; revising definitions; requiring all permit applications be able to be submitted electronically; requiring certain services to be subject to an agreement, rather than a written contract; providing that such agreement is not required to be submitted as part of a permit application; prohibiting a local building official or local government entity from requesting such agreement or consent form as a condition for issuing a permit; specifying requirements for reduced permit fees; prohibiting a local jurisdiction from charging certain administrative fees or other additional fees; prohibiting local governmental entities and local building officials from requiring additional forms in certain circumstances; providing an exception; prohibiting local governmental entities and local building officials from altering a form adopted by the commission; deleting a requirement that a private provider’s qualification statements or resumes be included in a certain notice; deleting time restrictions for electing to use a private provider; requiring that a certain affidavit have the ability to be submitted electronically; specifying which forms and documents a local building official may not review; providing that a local building official may review certain forms and documents for completeness only; requiring that written notice of incomplete forms be given to an applicant within a specified timeframe; requiring the written notice to state with specificity which forms or documents are incomplete; deleting a requirement that the local building official issue the requested permit or provide a written notice to the permit applicant with specific information within a specified timeframe; making technical changes; providing that certain permits are deemed approved and a local building official is required to issue the permit within a specified timeframe; specifying requirements for a private provider’s duly authorized representatives; deleting provisions requiring a private provider to provide notice to the local building official to perform inspections; prohibiting the local jurisdiction from charging any fees related to the reinspection or any administrative matter related to the reinspection; providing that local building officials are not responsible for the administration or supervision of services performed by a private provider; providing that the responsibility to verify licensure and insurance requirements for a private provider firm’s duly authorized representative is the private provider’s management firm; prohibiting a local building official from verifying compliance or storing information relating to such verification; prohibiting local building officials from failing certain inspections under certain circumstances; revising the timeframe in which certain records must be provided; authorizing certain persons to sign certificates of compliance; authorizing a local building official to perform certain building inspections only if the local building official has actual knowledge that a private provider did not perform a required inspection; specifying requirements for local building officials under such circumstances; providing that a local building official may review certain forms and documents for completeness only; revising the timeframe in which a local building official must provide the applicant with the written certificate of occupancy or certificate of completion after it is automatically granted and issued; authorizing certain entities to establish a registration system; prohibiting a local building official from charging certain administrative fees; conforming a provision to changes made by the act; providing that certain virtual inspections may not be prohibited or limited; requiring the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to maintain a statewide registry of licensed persons and business organizations qualified to act as private providers; requiring a local enforcement agency to use the statewide registry to verify certain information; providing that a private provider’s registration in the department’s registry is deemed sufficient to satisfy any local registration requirements; prohibiting a local enforcement agency from requiring a private provider to submit a separate local registration or pay a registration fee for any project in its jurisdiction if the private provider is currently active in the statewide registry; requiring certain notice before an audit; prohibiting certain entities from discouraging the use of private providers; revising a provision authorizing a county, a municipality, a school district, or an independent special district to use a private provider firm or a licensed building inspector, or a person who holds the same licensure or certification as a private provider, to provide certain services; amending s. 553.792, F.S.; requiring the commission to develop a uniform building permit application for mandatory use by local governments; providing a requirement for the application; requiring that such building permit applications, to the extent feasible, be capable of integration with existing building permit software systems used by local governments and account for local amendments to the Florida Building Code; requiring a local government to make certain decisions relating to certain building permits within a specified timeframe; specifying that certain permit applications are deemed approved and must be issued within a certain timeframe; amending s. 720.3035, F.S.; prohibiting an association or certain committees from requiring a building permit as a prerequisite for a certain review; providing an effective date.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Nick DiCeglie (R)*, 

Other Sponsors (1)

CS/CS by- Rules; YEAS 18 NAYS 4 (on 02/24/2026)

Official Document