The terms that appear on a Florida permit, in the private provider statute, and in a building department's correction comments, defined with their statutory citation where one exists.
Defined at F.S. 553.791(1)(a) as the Florida Building Code and any local technical amendments to it, expressly excluding the minimum fire prevention and firesafety codes adopted under chapter 633. Fire code review and inspection stay with the authority having jurisdiction over those codes and are outside the private provider framework.
The document a private provider submits to the local building official stating that the construction complies with the applicable codes, triggering the certificate of occupancy or completion timeline in F.S. 553.791(16). Under F.S. 553.791(15), as amended in 2026, it may be signed by any qualified licensed individual employed full time by the private provider firm.
The consequence when a local building official fails to act within a statutory deadline. Under F.S. 553.791(8)(b), if the official does not give written notice of incomplete forms or documents within 10 business days, or 5 for a single-trade review on a one or two family dwelling, the permit is deemed approved as a matter of law and must be issued on the next business day. A parallel rule at F.S. 553.791(16)(b) automatically grants an unanswered certificate of occupancy request.
The temperature difference between supply and return air in an HVAC system. Inspectors verify delta-T during start-up and final mechanical inspections to confirm the system is producing adequate heating or cooling capacity.
An agent of a private provider, identified in the permit application, who reviews plans or performs inspections. Defined at F.S. 553.791(1)(f). Must be a licensed engineer or architect, or hold a standard or provisional certificate under part XII of chapter 468; a provisional certificate holder must work under the direct supervision of a licensed building code administrator. Under F.S. 553.791(9) the representative must be an employee of the private provider.
An electrical safety requirement for pools under NEC 680. All metallic components in and around the pool must be connected to a common bonding grid to ensure they are at the same electrical potential. Prevents shock hazards in the pool environment.
The Florida statute titled Alternative plans review and inspection, which creates the private provider framework. It gives the fee owner, or the owner's contractor with explicit written authorization, the right to elect a private provider at any time, sets deadlines the jurisdiction must meet, and requires permit fee reductions. Substantially amended by chapter 2026-63, Laws of Florida, effective July 1, 2026.
The statewide building code that governs all construction in Florida. Based on the International Building Code with Florida-specific amendments. Updated on a three-year cycle. All inspections verify compliance with the applicable FBC edition.
The last inspection for a specific trade or for the entire project. Verifies that all work is complete, operational, and compliant with approved plans and Florida Building Code. Required before permit closeout.
CS/CS/HB 803, enacted as chapter 2026-63, Laws of Florida and effective July 1, 2026. It renumbered s. 553.791 from 22 to 24 subsections, cut the building official's plan review window from 20 to 10 business days and narrowed it to completeness of forms and documents, moved the inspection record deadline from 2 to 4 business days, created minimum commercial permit fee reductions of 25 and 50 percent, and barred local agencies from prohibiting or limiting private provider virtual inspections.
Miami-Dade and Broward counties fall within the HVHZ, which imposes building requirements beyond the standard Florida Building Code. Roofing, windows, doors, and structural connections have enhanced requirements including specific product approvals (NOA) and installation methods.
A defined term at F.S. 553.791(1)(j) meaning a building code violation that, if allowed to persist, constitutes an immediate hazard that could result in death, serious bodily injury, or significant property damage. It is the standard a local building official must meet under F.S. 553.791(17) to deny a permit or certificate, or to issue a stop-work order, on a private provider project.
The electrical standard adopted by Florida as part of the FBC Electrical. Referenced as NEC 2020 in current Florida code. Specific articles (680 for pools, 690 for solar, 210 for branch circuits) govern different types of electrical installations.
A Miami-Dade County product approval required for building products used in the HVHZ. Products must be tested and approved to meet the enhanced wind resistance requirements. The NOA number must be visible on the product and verified during inspection.
A document recorded in the county's official records before construction begins on most Florida projects above a statutory threshold, identifying the owner, contractor, lender and property. Required as part of many permit packages and prepared as part of Inspektr's permit submission where a project needs one.
A required notification submitted to the local building department before a private provider inspection begins. It informs the jurisdiction that a private provider will be performing the inspection.
The final administrative step that moves a permit from open to closed once all required inspections have passed and the certificate of occupancy or completion has issued. Open permits that are never closed remain a liability against the property and the contractor's license, and are commonly surfaced during property sales, lender reviews and licensing complaints.
The statutory discount a Florida jurisdiction must apply when a private provider is used. Under F.S. 553.791(2)(d), for commercial construction projects the reduction is at least 25 percent of the portion attributable to plan review or inspection services, or at least 50 percent where a private provider performs all required services, and an agency that fails to apply it forfeits the ability to collect any fees for the project. Under F.S. 553.791(2)(b), on any project the jurisdiction may not charge plan review or inspection fees where a private provider performs them, and may not charge punitive administrative fees.
A person licensed as a building code administrator under part XII of chapter 468, as an engineer under chapter 471, or as an architect under chapter 481, who performs building code plan review or inspections in place of the local building department. Defined at F.S. 553.791(1)(n). For inspections of additions and alterations of 1,000 square feet or less to residential buildings, the term also includes a person holding a standard certificate under part XII of chapter 468.
A local enforcement agency's review of a private provider's performance, governed by F.S. 553.791(22). An agency may not audit until it has published standard operating audit procedures online, may not audit the same provider or firm more than four times in a year absent an immediate threat to public safety and welfare, and must give at least 5 business days notice of each audit. Work may proceed after private provider approval and may not be delayed for an audit.
Florida requires building products to be approved for use in the state. Products carry either a Florida Product Approval (FL number) or, in the HVHZ, a Miami-Dade NOA. Inspectors verify product approval labels during fenestration and roofing inspections.
An inspection performed after mechanical, electrical, or plumbing systems are installed but before they are concealed by walls, ceilings, or insulation. This is the last opportunity to verify compliance before the work is hidden.
A category added to F.S. 553.791 by chapter 2025-140, effective July 1, 2025, covering discrete scopes such as window and door replacement, reroofing without structural alteration, HVAC changeouts, water heaters, repiping, and solar and energy storage installation. Single-trade plans review on a one or two family dwelling carries an expedited 5 business day review window under F.S. 553.791(8)(b).
Temperature and pressure relief valve required on water heaters. Prevents tank rupture from excessive temperature or pressure. The discharge pipe must terminate at a safe location. Verified during water heater inspections.
A building requiring a special inspector for structural inspections under F.S. 553.79(5)(a), performed under a structural inspection plan prepared by the engineer or architect of record. Threshold buildings are not excluded from private provider use, but the special inspector regime runs in parallel, and F.S. 553.79(6) bars virtual inspections for structural inspections on a threshold building when a state or local enforcement agency performs them.
Defined at F.S. 553.79(6) as a form of visual inspection which uses visual or electronic aids to allow a building code administrator or an inspector, or team of inspectors, to perform an inspection without having to be physically present at the job site during the inspection. Under F.S. 553.791(9) a private provider's inspection may be performed in person or virtually, and under F.S. 553.791(19)(c) a local enforcement agency may not prohibit or limit a private provider's use of virtual inspections.
Statutory definitions summarize Florida Statutes chapter 553 as amended through chapter 2026-63, Laws of Florida, effective July 1, 2026. Provided for general information by Inspektr, a Florida private provider. Not legal advice. Last reviewed September 2026.