Legislation that would have waived building permits for jobs valued at up to $7,500 failed to pass the Florida House this year, but the key clause found its way into another bill that is now awaiting the governor’s signature.
“A local government that issues building permits shall exempt an owner of a single-family dwelling or the owner’s contractor from the requirement to obtain a building permit to perform any work valued at less than $7,500 on the owner’s property,” reads House Bill 803.
The House approved the bill last week, a week after the state Senate passed it and just before the non-budgetary legislative session drew to a close.
If the bill becomes law, it should raise concerns for residential property insurance companies because more construction projects are likely to be done by unlicensed firms and work will not be inspected, one longtime roofing contractor said.
Some contractors could officially charge less than the $7,500 threshold, then take cash payments to cover larger jobs, avoiding inspections, said Mike Silvers, director of technical services for the Florida Roofing and Sheetmetal Contractors Association. The Florida Association of Counties spoke against the permit clause in January, arguing it would not allow local governments to inspect work, even if requested by a homeowner.
When examining claims, insurers often utilize building permit information in determining if work was properly completed, contributed to a loss, or if the contractor can be sued in subrogation for defective work.
A sponsor of the earlier bill said it was designed to help speed up minor projects, such as fences and decking.
The final version of the bill also bars local governments from adopting zoning rules or other regulations that treat offsite-built homes differently from factory-built structures. It also directs the Florida Building Commission to adopt, by July 1, 2027, uniform residential and uniform commercial building permit applications to be used statewide.
It’s one of a number of bills approved by the Florida Legislature this year that would limit the authority of counties and cities in the state. Lawmakers this month approved Senate Bill 1434, which would bar local governments from tightening rules on housing development on contaminated lands. That measure is now on its way to the governor’s desk.
HB 803 could make it a little easier for homeowners to protect their property from storms and flooding. If signed into law, it would order municipalities to exempt homeowners and their contractors from needing a building permit for temporary hurricane and flood barriers.
The full text of the final bill can be seen here.
Topics
Legislation
Florida
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