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. 553.382, F.S.; providing that any certified residential manufactured building may not be denied a building permit for placement on specified lots or property associations; creating s. 553.385, F.S.; defining the terms “local government” and “offsite-constructed residential dwelling”; requiring that an offsite-constructed residential dwelling be permitted as of right in any zoning district where certain dwellings are allowed; prohibiting a local government from adopting or enforcing a certain zoning, land use, or development regulation that treats an offsite-constructed residential dwelling differently or more restrictively than certain dwellings in the same district; providing construction; authorizing a local government to adopt compatibility standards for specified architectural features; prohibiting a local government from treating offsite-constructed residential dwellings differently than factory-built buildings based on the method or location of construction; prohibiting a local government from adopting or enforcing certain zoning, land use, or development ordinances or regulations; prohibiting local government ordinances or regulations from having the effect of excluding offsite constructed residential dwellings; requiring that such ordinances or regulations be reasonable and uniformly enforced without distinction as to type of housing; providing that any such ordinance or regulation is void and unenforceable as applied to offsite constructed residential dwellings; amending s. 553.77, F.S.; requiring the Florida Building Commission to adopt by rule uniform statewide building permit applications for commercial and residential construction projects; 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; amending s. 553.79, F.S.; requiring local enforcement agencies to allow building permit applicants to submit certain documents and payments electronically; authorizing building officials to accept such documents and payments in person in a nonelectronic format; providing that a building permit issued by a local government for a single-family dwelling expires after a specified timeframe; authorizing a local government to extend such a building permit beyond the specified timeframe; prohibiting inspection fees from being based on the total cost of a project and from exceeding the actual inspection costs incurred by the local enforcement agency; prohibiting a local government that issues building permits from requiring the owner of a single-family dwelling or the owner’s contractor to obtain a building permit to perform work that is at valued less than a specified sum; providing exceptions; prohibiting the division of a construction project into more than one project for a specified purpose; requiring certain persons who perform work on a property to file a notice of permit exemption with the local enforcement agency within a specified timeframe; providing that a notice is not required for work performed personally by the property owner; providing that a local government has no legal duty to the owner, contractor, or their successors or assigns for such work performed; prohibiting a local government that issues building permits from requiring an owner of certain dwellings, or the owner’s contractor, to obtain a building permit for certain work under certain circumstances; providing that a local government has no legal duty to the owner, contractor, or their successors or assigns for such work performed; authorizing the Florida Building Commission to adopt rules; prohibiting a local government that issues building permits from requiring a building permit for each lot or parcel upon which a retaining wall is installed on the property of certain buildings; providing construction; prohibiting a political subdivision from imposing certain requirements for glazing on certain proposed construction or restoration projects; providing an exception; defining the terms “glazing” and “primary facade”; amending s. 553.791, F.S.; revising definitions; defining the term “registration”; revising the authorization of a fee owner or the fee owner’s contractor to use a private provider for certain services to include plans review; requiring that the written authorization of a fee owner to a contractor for the use of a private provider be explicit; providing that such explicit written authorization be submitted to the local building official; prohibiting a local enforcement agency from requiring that the explicit written authorization be submitted as part of a permit application or as a condition for issuing a permit; specifying how the permit fee must be calculated; prohibiting a local jurisdiction from charging certain administrative fees or other additional fees; requiring the local jurisdiction to promptly provide equal access to all permitting and inspection documents and reports to the private provider, fee owner, and contractor under certain circumstances; specifying requirements for reduced permit fees and surcharge calculations; prohibiting local governmental entities and local building officials from requiring additional forms in certain circumstances; providing an exception; requiring local enforcement agencies to create a registration system for private providers and private provider firms working in their jurisdiction; requiring a local enforcement agency to establish a method to register and update registration information electronically; prohibiting local enforcement agencies from charging an administrative fee for registration or updating registration; requiring private providers and private provider firms to include certain information when registering; prohibiting a private provider or a private provider firm from working in the local enforcement agency’s jurisdiction until it registers; requiring the private provider or private provider firm to update its registration within a specified timeframe if there is a change in specified information; prohibiting local enforcement agencies 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; revising the authorization for a fee owner or the fee owner’s contractor to use a private provider to provide inspection services for single-trade inspections for a single-family or two-family dwelling; requiring local enforcement agencies to accept electronically submitted affidavits; 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; revising the circumstances for when any time periods are tolled for any incomplete forms or documents; making technical changes; revising the timeframe in which the local building official has to issue the requested permit or provide a second written notice; providing that certain permits are deemed approved and a local building official is required to issue the permit within a specified timeframe; deleting a requirement of private providers that are performing required inspections to provide notice to the local building official of specified information; deleting a provision authorizing the local building official to visit the building site as often as necessary to verify certain information; prohibiting the local jurisdiction from charging reaudit or reinspection fees under certain circumstances; providing that local enforcement agencies are not responsible for the administration or supervision of services performed by a private provider; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; 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 under certain circumstances; specifying requirements for local building officials under such circumstances; providing that a local building official may review certain forms and documents for completeness only; deleting a provision authorizing certain governmental entities to establish a system of registration for certain private providers, private provider firms, and duly authorized representatives; providing that certain virtual inspections may not be prohibited or limited; requiring that a private provider or private provider firm subject to an audit be given notice of such audit to be performed within a specified timeframe; prohibiting certain entities from prohibiting or 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 or 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.; revising the timeframe in which a local government must approve, approve with conditions, or deny certain work on certain buildings if such work is valued at less than a specified sum; 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 (2)

Laid on Table, refer to CS/CS/HB 803 (on 03/05/2026)

Official Document