Florida 2024 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H0267 Latest Draft

Bill / Enrolled Version Filed 03/12/2024

                                    
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      1 
An act relating to building regulations; amending s. 2 
468.609, F.S.; revising the eligibility requirements a 3 
person must meet to take an examination for 4 
certification as a building code inspector or plans 5 
examiner; amending s. 553.73, F.S.; requiring the 6 
Florida Building Commission to modify provisions in 7 
the Florida Building Code relating to sealed drawings 8 
by a design professional for replacement windows , 9 
doors, or garage doors on certain dwellings or 10 
townhouses; providing requirements for such 11 
modifications; amending s. 553.79, F.S.; removing 12 
provisions relating to acquiring building permits for 13 
certain residential dwellings; amending s. 553.791, 14 
F.S.; defining the term "private provider firm"; 15 
amending provisions requiring private providers to 16 
provide specified notice to the local building 17 
official; revising the timeframes in which local 18 
building officials must issue permits or provide 19 
certain written notice if certain private providers 20 
affix their professional seal to an affidavit; 21 
providing requirements for such written notices; 22 
deeming a permit application approved under certain 23 
circumstances; prohibiting a local building code 24 
enforcement agency from a uditing the performance of 25          
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private providers until the local building code 26 
enforcement agency creates standard operating private 27 
provider audit procedures; providing requirements for 28 
such audit procedures; requiring the audit procedures 29 
to be publicly available online and printed; requiring 30 
printed audit procedures to be available in the 31 
agency's buildings; requiring that private provider 32 
audit results of staff for a specified timeframe be 33 
made publicly available; requiring the agency's audit 34 
processes to adhere to the agency's standard operating 35 
audit procedures; revising how often a private 36 
provider or private provider firm may be audited; 37 
requiring certain written communication be provided to 38 
the private provider or private provider firm under 39 
certain circumstances; conforming cross -references; 40 
conforming provisions to changes made by the act; 41 
amending s. 553.792, F.S.; revising the timeframes for 42 
approving, approving with conditions, or denying 43 
certain building permits; prohibiting a local 44 
government from requiring a waiver of certain 45 
timeframes; requiring local governments to meet the 46 
prescribed timeframes unless a local ordinance is more 47 
stringent; requiring a local government to provide 48 
written notice to an applicant under certain 49 
circumstances; requiri ng a local government to reduce 50          
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permit fees by a certain percentage if certain 51 
deadlines are not met; providing exceptions; 52 
specifying requirements for the written notice to the 53 
permit applicant; specifying a timeframe for the 54 
applicant to correct the appl ication; specifying a 55 
timeframe for the local government and local 56 
enforcement agency to approve or deny certain building 57 
permits following revision; requiring a reduction in 58 
the building permit fee if the approval deadline is 59 
not met; providing an excepti on; amending s. 553.80, 60 
F.S.; authorizing local governments to use certain 61 
fees for certain technology upgrades; creating s. 62 
553.9065, F.S.; providing that certain unvented attic 63 
and unvented enclosed rafter assemblies meet the 64 
requirements of the Florida Building Code, Energy 65 
Conservation; requiring the commission to review and 66 
consider certain provisions of law and technical 67 
amendments thereto and report its findings to the 68 
Legislature by a specified date; amending s. 440.103, 69 
F.S.; conforming a cross -reference; providing 70 
effective dates. 71 
 72 
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 73 
 74 
 Section 1.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section 75          
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468.609, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 76 
 468.609  Administration of this part; standards for 77 
certification; additional categories of certification. — 78 
 (2)  A person may take the examination for certification as 79 
a building code inspector or plans examiner pursuant to this 80 
part if the person: 81 
 (c)  Meets eligibility requirements according to one of the 82 
following criteria: 83 
 1.  Demonstrates 4 years' combined experience in the field 84 
of construction or a related field, building code inspection, or 85 
plans review corresponding to the certification category sought; 86 
 2.  Demonstrates a combination of postsec ondary education 87 
in the field of construction or a related field and experience 88 
which totals 3 years, with at least 1 year of such total being 89 
experience in construction, building code inspection, or plans 90 
review; 91 
 3.  Demonstrates a combination of technic al education in 92 
the field of construction or a related field and experience 93 
which totals 3 years, with at least 1 year of such total being 94 
experience in construction, building code inspection, or plans 95 
review; 96 
 4.  Currently holds a standard certificate is sued by the 97 
board or a firesafety inspector license issued under chapter 98 
633, with a minimum of 3 years' verifiable full -time experience 99 
in firesafety inspection or firesafety plan review, and has 100          
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satisfactorily completed a building code inspector or plans 101 
examiner training program that provides at least 100 hours but 102 
not more than 200 hours of cross -training in the certification 103 
category sought. The board shall establish by rule criteria for 104 
the development and implementation of the training programs. The 105 
board must accept all classroom training offered by an approved 106 
provider if the content substantially meets the intent of the 107 
classroom component of the training program; 108 
 5.  Demonstrates a combination of the completion of an 109 
approved training program in the field of building code 110 
inspection or plan review and a minimum of 2 years' experience 111 
in the field of building code inspection, plan review, fire code 112 
inspections and fire plans review of new buildings as a 113 
firesafety inspector certified under s. 633.2 16, or 114 
construction. The approved training portion of this requirement 115 
must include proof of satisfactory completion of a training 116 
program that provides at least 200 hours but not more than 300 117 
hours of cross-training that is approved by the board in the 118 
chosen category of building code inspection or plan review in 119 
the certification category sought with at least 20 hours but not 120 
more than 30 hours of instruction in state laws, rules, and 121 
ethics relating to professional standards of practice, duties, 122 
and responsibilities of a certificateholder. The board shall 123 
coordinate with the Building Officials Association of Florida, 124 
Inc., to establish by rule the development and implementation of 125          
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the training program. However, the board must accept all 126 
classroom training offered by an approved provider if the 127 
content substantially meets the intent of the classroom 128 
component of the training program; 129 
 6.  Currently holds a standard certificate issued by the 130 
board or a firesafety inspector license issued under chapter 633 131 
and: 132 
 a.  Has at least 4 years' verifiable full -time experience 133 
as an inspector or plans examiner in a standard certification 134 
category currently held or has a minimum of 4 years' verifiable 135 
full-time experience as a firesafety inspector licensed under 136 
chapter 633. 137 
 b.  Has satisfactorily completed a building code inspector 138 
or plans examiner classroom training course or program that 139 
provides at least 200 but not more than 300 hours in the 140 
certification category sought, except for residential training 141 
programs, which must provide at least 500 but not more than 800 142 
hours of training as prescribed by the board. The board shall 143 
establish by rule criteria for the development and 144 
implementation of classroom training courses and programs in 145 
each certification categor y; or 146 
 7.a.  Has completed a 4 -year internship certification 147 
program as a building code inspector or plans examiner , 148 
including an internship program for residential inspectors, 149 
while also employed full -time by a municipality, county, or 150          
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other governmental jurisdiction, under the direct supervision of 151 
a certified building official. A person may also complete the 152 
internship certification program , including an internship 153 
program for residential inspectors, while employed full time by 154 
a private provider or a private provider's firm that performs 155 
the services of a building code inspector or plans examiner, 156 
while under the direct supervision of a certified building 157 
official. Proof of graduation with a related vocational degree 158 
or college degree or of verifiable work experience may be 159 
exchanged for the internship experience requirement year -for-160 
year, but may reduce the requirement to no less than 1 year. 161 
 b.  Has passed an examination administered by the 162 
International Code Council in the certifica tion category sought. 163 
Such examination must be passed before beginning the internship 164 
certification program. 165 
 c.  Has passed the principles and practice examination 166 
before completing the internship certification program. 167 
 d.  Has passed a board -approved 40-hour code training 168 
course in the certification category sought before completing 169 
the internship certification program. 170 
 e.  Has obtained a favorable recommendation from the 171 
supervising building official after completion of the internship 172 
certification program. 173 
 Section 2.  Paragraph (g) is added to subsection (7) of 174 
section 553.73, Florida Statutes, to read: 175          
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 553.73  Florida Building Code. — 176 
 (7) 177 
 (g)  The commission shall modify the Florida Building Code 178 
to state that sealed drawings by a design professi onal are not 179 
required for the replacement of windows, doors, or garage doors 180 
in an existing one-family or two-family dwelling or townhouse if 181 
all of the following conditions are met: 182 
 1.  The replacement windows, doors, or garage doors are 183 
installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions for 184 
the appropriate wind zone. 185 
 2.  The replacement windows, doors, or garage doors meet 186 
the design pressure requirements in the most recent version of 187 
the Florida Building Code, Residential. 188 
 3.  A copy of the manufacturer's instructions is submitted 189 
with the permit application in a printed or digital format. 190 
 4.  The replacement windows, doors, or garage doors are the 191 
same size and are installed in the same opening as the existing 192 
windows, doors, or garage door s. 193 
 Section 3.  Subsection (16) of section 553.79, Florida 194 
Statutes, is amended to read: 195 
 553.79  Permits; applications; issuance; inspections. — 196 
 (16)  Except as provided in paragraph (e), a building 197 
permit for a single-family residential dwelling must b e issued 198 
within 30 business days after receiving the permit application 199 
unless the permit application fails to satisfy the Florida 200          
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Building Code or the enforcing agency's laws or ordinances. 201 
 (a)  If a local enforcement agency fails to issue a 202 
building permit for a single-family residential dwelling within 203 
30 business days after receiving the permit application, it must 204 
reduce the building permit fee by 10 percent for each business 205 
day that it fails to meet the deadline. Each 10 -percent 206 
reduction shall be b ased on the original amount of the building 207 
permit fee. 208 
 (b)  A local enforcement agency does not have to reduce the 209 
building permit fee if it provides written notice to the 210 
applicant, by e-mail or United States Postal Service, within 30 211 
business days after receiving the permit application, that 212 
specifically states the reasons the permit application fails to 213 
satisfy the Florida Building Code or the enforcing agency's laws 214 
or ordinances. The written notice must also state that the 215 
applicant has 10 business d ays after receiving the written 216 
notice to submit revisions to correct the permit application and 217 
that failure to correct the application within 10 business days 218 
will result in a denial of the application. 219 
 (c)  The applicant has 10 business days after rece iving the 220 
written notice to address the reasons specified by the local 221 
enforcement agency and submit revisions to correct the permit 222 
application. If the applicant submits revisions within 10 223 
business days after receiving the written notice, the local 224 
enforcement agency has 10 business days after receiving such 225          
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revisions to approve or deny the building permit unless the 226 
applicant agrees to a longer period in writing. If the local 227 
enforcement agency fails to issue or deny the building permit 228 
within 10 business days after receiving the revisions, it must 229 
reduce the building permit fee by 20 percent for the first 230 
business day that it fails to meet the deadline unless the 231 
applicant agrees to a longer period in writing. For each 232 
additional business day, but not to exceed 5 business days, that 233 
the local enforcement agency fails to meet the deadline, the 234 
building permit fee must be reduced by an additional 10 percent. 235 
Each reduction shall be based on the original amount of the 236 
building permit fee. 237 
 (d)  If any building permit fees are refunded under this 238 
subsection, the surcharges provided in s. 468.631 or s. 553.721 239 
must be recalculated based on the amount of the building permit 240 
fees after the refund. 241 
 (e)  A building permit for a single -family residential 242 
dwelling applied for by a contractor licensed in this state on 243 
behalf of a property owner who participates in a Community 244 
Development Block Grant –Disaster Recovery program administered 245 
by the Department of Economic Opportunity must be issued within 246 
15 working days after receipt of the application unless the 247 
permit application fails to satisfy the Florida Building Code or 248 
the enforcing agency's laws or ordinances. 249 
 Section 4.  Present paragraphs (o) through (r) of 250          
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subsection (1) and subsections (10) through (21) of section 251 
553.791, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as paragraphs (p) 252 
through (s) and subsections (11) through (22), respectively, a 253 
new paragraph (o) is added to subsection (1) and a new 254 
subsection (10) is added to that section, and present paragraph 255 
(o) of subsection (1), paragraph (c) of subsection (4), 256 
paragraphs (b) and (d) of subsection (7), subsection (9), 257 
paragraph (b) of present subsection (13), paragraph (b) of 258 
present subsection (16), and present subsection (19) are 259 
amended, to read: 260 
 553.791  Alternative plans review and inspection. — 261 
 (1)  As used in this section, the term: 262 
 (o)  "Private provider firm" means a business organization, 263 
including a corporation, partnership, business trust, or other 264 
legal entity, which offers services under this chap ter to the 265 
public through licensees who are acting as agents, employees, 266 
officers, or partners of the firm. A person who is licensed as a 267 
building code administrator under part XII of chapter 468, an 268 
engineer under chapter 471, or an architect under chapte r 481 269 
may act as a private provider for an agent, employee, or officer 270 
of the private provider firm. 271 
 (p)(o) "Request for certificate of occupancy or 272 
certificate of completion" means a properly completed and 273 
executed application for: 274 
 1.  A certificate of occupancy or certificate of 275          
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completion. 276 
 2.  A certificate of compliance from the private provider 277 
required under subsection (13) (12). 278 
 3.  Any applicable fees. 279 
 4.  Any documents required by the local building official 280 
to determine that the fee owner has secured all other government 281 
approvals required by law. 282 
 (4)  A fee owner or the fee owner's contractor using a 283 
private provider to provide building code inspection services 284 
shall notify the local building official in wr iting at the time 285 
of permit application, or by 2 p.m. local time, 2 business days 286 
before the first scheduled inspection by the local building 287 
official or building code enforcement agency that a private 288 
provider has been contracted to perform the required i nspections 289 
of construction under this section, including single -trade 290 
inspections, on a form to be adopted by the commission. This 291 
notice shall include the following information: 292 
 (c)  An acknowledgment from the fee owner or the fee 293 
owner's contractor in substantially the following form: 294 
 295 
I have elected to use one or more private providers to 296 
provide building code plans review and/or inspection 297 
services on the building or structure that is the 298 
subject of the enclosed permit application, as 299 
authorized by s. 553.791, Florida Statutes. I 300          
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understand that the local building official may not 301 
review the plans submitted or perform the required 302 
building inspections to determine compliance with the 303 
applicable codes, except to the extent specified in 304 
said law. Instead, plans review and/or required 305 
building inspections will be performed by licensed or 306 
certified personnel identified in the application. The 307 
law requires minimum insurance requirements for such 308 
personnel, but I understand that I may require more 309 
insurance to protect my interests. By executing this 310 
form, I acknowledge that I have made inquiry regarding 311 
the competence of the licensed or certified personnel 312 
and the level of their insurance and am satisfied that 313 
my interests are adequately protected. I agree to 314 
indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the local 315 
government, the local building official, and their 316 
building code enforcement personnel from any and all 317 
claims arising from my use of these licensed or 318 
certified personnel to perform building code 319 
inspection services with respect to the building or 320 
structure that is the subject of the enclosed permit 321 
application. 322 
 323 
If the fee owner or the fee owner's contractor makes any changes 324 
to the listed private providers or the services to be provided 325          
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by those private provi ders, the fee owner or the fee owner's 326 
contractor shall, within 1 business day after any change or 327 
within 2 business days before the next scheduled inspection, 328 
update the notice to reflect such changes. A change of a duly 329 
authorized representative named in the permit application does 330 
not require a revision of the permit, and the building code 331 
enforcement agency shall not charge a fee for making the change. 332 
 (7) 333 
 (b)  If the local building official provides a written 334 
notice of plan deficiencies to the permit applicant within the 335 
prescribed 20-day period, the 20-day period shall be tolled 336 
pending resolution of the matter. To resolve the plan 337 
deficiencies, the permit applicant may elect to dispute the 338 
deficiencies pursuant to subsection (15) (14) or to submit 339 
revisions to correct the deficiencies. 340 
 (d)  If the local building official provides a second 341 
written notice of plan deficiencies to the permit applicant 342 
within the prescribed time period, the permit applicant may 343 
elect to dispute the deficiencies pursuant to subsection (15) 344 
(14) or to submit additional revisions to correct the 345 
deficiencies. For all revisions submitted after the first 346 
revision, the local building official has an additional 5 347 
business days from the date of resubmittal to issue the 348 
requested permit or to provide a written notice to the permit 349 
applicant stating which of the previously identified plan 350          
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features remain in noncompliance with the applicable codes, with 351 
specific reference to the relevant code chapters and sections. 352 
 (9)  A private provider performing required inspections 353 
under this section shall provide notice to the local building 354 
official of the approximate date and approximate time of any 355 
such inspection no later than the prior business day by 2 p.m. 356 
local time or by any later time permitted by the local building 357 
official in that jurisdiction . The local building official may 358 
not prohibit the private provider from performing any inspection 359 
outside the local building official's normal operating hours, 360 
including after hours, weekends, o r holidays. The local building 361 
official may visit the building site as often as necessary to 362 
verify that the private provider is performing all required 363 
inspections. A deficiency notice must be posted by the private 364 
provider, the duly authorized representa tive of the private 365 
provider, or the building department whenever a noncomplying 366 
item related to the building code or the permitted documents is 367 
found. Such notice may be physically posted at the job site or 368 
electronically posted. After corrections are mad e, the item must 369 
be reinspected by the private provider or representative before 370 
being concealed. Reinspection or reaudit fees shall not be 371 
charged by the local jurisdiction as a result of the local 372 
jurisdiction's audit inspection occurring before the perf ormance 373 
of the private provider's inspection or for any other 374 
administrative matter not involving the detection of a violation 375          
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of the building code or a permit requirement. 376 
 (10)  If the private provider is a person licensed as an 377 
engineer under chapter 47 1 or an architect under chapter 481 and 378 
affixes his or her professional seal to the affidavit required 379 
under subsection (6), the local building official must issue the 380 
requested permit or provide a written notice to the permit 381 
applicant identifying the spe cific plan features that do not 382 
comply with the applicable codes, as well as the specific code 383 
chapters and sections, within 10 business days after receipt of 384 
the permit application and affidavit. In such written notice, 385 
the local building official must pr ovide with specificity the 386 
plan's deficiencies, the reasons the permit application failed, 387 
and the applicable codes being violated. If the local building 388 
official does not provide specific written notice to the permit 389 
applicant within the prescribed 10 -day period, the permit 390 
application is deemed approved as a matter of law, and the local 391 
building official must issue the permit on the next business 392 
day. 393 
 (14)(13) 394 
 (b)  If the local building official does not provide notice 395 
of the deficiencies within the app licable time periods under 396 
paragraph (a), the request for a certificate of occupancy or 397 
certificate of completion is automatically granted and deemed 398 
issued as of the next business day. The local building official 399 
must provide the applicant with the writte n certificate of 400          
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occupancy or certificate of completion within 10 days after it 401 
is automatically granted and issued. To resolve any identified 402 
deficiencies, the applicant may elect to dispute the 403 
deficiencies pursuant to subsection (15) (14) or to submit a 404 
corrected request for a certificate of occupancy or certificate 405 
of completion. 406 
 (17)(16) 407 
 (b)  A local enforcement agency, local building official, 408 
or local government may establish, for private providers , 409 
private provider firms, and duly authorized representatives 410 
working within that jurisdiction, a system of registration to 411 
verify compliance with the licensure requirements of paragraph 412 
(1)(n) and the insurance requirements of subsection (18) (17). 413 
 (20)(19) A Each local building code enfo rcement agency may 414 
not audit the performance of building code inspection services 415 
by private providers operating within the local jurisdiction 416 
until the agency has created standard operating private provider 417 
audit procedures for the agency's internal inspe ction and review 418 
staff, which includes, at a minimum, the private provider audit 419 
purpose and scope, private provider audit criteria, an 420 
explanation of private provider audit processes and objections, 421 
and detailed findings of areas of noncompliance. Such pr ivate 422 
provider audit procedures must be publicly available online and 423 
a printed version must be readily accessible in agency 424 
buildings. The private provider audit results of staff for the 425          
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prior two quarters also must be publicly available. The agency's 426 
audit processes must adhere to the agency's posted standard 427 
operating audit procedures . However, The same private provider 428 
or private provider firm may not be audited more than four times 429 
in a year month unless the local building official determines a 430 
condition of a building constitutes an immediate threat to 431 
public safety and welfare , which must be communicated in writing 432 
to the private provider or private provider firm . Work on a 433 
building or structure may proceed after inspection and approval 434 
by a private provider. if the provider has given notice of the 435 
inspection pursuant to subsection (9) and, subsequent to such 436 
inspection and approval, The work may shall not be delayed for 437 
completion of an inspection audit by the local building code 438 
enforcement agency. 439 
 Section 5.  Subsections (1) and (2) of section 553.792, 440 
Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 441 
 553.792  Building permit application to local government. — 442 
 (1)(a)  A local government must approve, approve with 443 
conditions, or deny a building permit applica tion after receipt 444 
of a completed and sufficient application within the following 445 
timeframes, unless the applicant waives such timeframes in 446 
writing: 447 
 1.  Within 30 business days after receiving a complete and 448 
sufficient application, for an applicant using a local 449 
government plans reviewer to obtain the following building 450          
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permits if the structure is less than 7,500 square feet: 451 
residential units, including a single -family residential unit or 452 
a single-family residential dwelling, accessory structure, 453 
alarm, electrical, irrigation, landscaping, mechanical, 454 
plumbing, or roofing. 455 
 2.  Within 60 business days after receiving a complete and 456 
sufficient application, for an applicant using a local 457 
government plans reviewer to obtain the following building 458 
permits if the structure is 7,500 square feet or more: 459 
residential units, including a single -family residential unit or 460 
a single-family residential dwelling, accessory structure, 461 
alarm, electrical, irrigation, landscaping, mechanical, 462 
plumbing, or roofing. 463 
 3.  Within 60 business days after receiving a complete and 464 
sufficient application, for an applicant using a local 465 
government plans reviewer to obtain the following building 466 
permits: signs or nonresidential buildings that are less than 467 
25,000 square feet. 468 
 4.  Within 60 business days after receiving a complete and 469 
sufficient application, for an applicant using a local 470 
government plans reviewer to obtain the following building 471 
permits: multifamily residential, not exceeding 50 units; site -472 
plan approvals and subdivisio n plats not requiring public 473 
hearing or public notice; and lot grading and site alteration. 474 
 5.  Within 12 business days after receiving a complete and 475          
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sufficient application, for an applicant using a master building 476 
permit consistent with s. 553.794 to ob tain a site-specific 477 
building permit. 478 
 6.  Within 10 business days after receiving a complete and 479 
sufficient application, for an applicant for a single -family 480 
residential dwelling applied for by a contractor licensed in 481 
this state on behalf of a property o wner who participates in a 482 
Community Development Block Grant -Disaster Recovery program 483 
administered by the Department of Commerce, unless the permit 484 
application fails to satisfy the Florida Building Code or the 485 
enforcing agency's laws or ordinances. 486 
 487 
However, the local government may not require the waiver of the 488 
timeframes in this section as a condition precedent to reviewing 489 
an applicant's building permit application. 490 
 (b)  A local government must meet the timeframes set forth 491 
in this section for rev iewing building permit applications 492 
unless the timeframes set by local ordinance are more stringent 493 
than those prescribed in this section. 494 
 (c)  After Within 10 days of an applicant submits 495 
submitting an application to the local government, the local 496 
government must provide written notice to the applicant within 5 497 
business days after receipt of the application advising shall 498 
advise the applicant what information, if any, is needed to deem 499 
or determine that the application is properly completed in 500          
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compliance with the filing requirements published by the local 501 
government. If the local government does not provide timely 502 
written notice that the applicant has not submitted the properly 503 
completed application, the application is shall be automatically 504 
deemed or determined to be properly completed and accepted. 505 
Within 45 days after receiving a completed application, a local 506 
government must notify an applicant if additional information is 507 
required for the local government to determine the sufficiency 508 
of the application, and shall specify the additional information 509 
that is required. The applicant must submit the additional 510 
information to the local government or request that the local 511 
government act without the additional information. While the 512 
applicant responds to t he request for additional information, 513 
the 120-day period described in this subsection is tolled. Both 514 
parties may agree to a reasonable request for an extension of 515 
time, particularly in the event of a force majeure or other 516 
extraordinary circumstance. The local government must approve, 517 
approve with conditions, or deny the application within 120 days 518 
following receipt of a completed application. 519 
 (d) A local government shall maintain on its website a 520 
policy containing procedures and expectations for expedi ted 521 
processing of those building permits and development orders 522 
required by law to be expedited. 523 
 (b)1.  When reviewing an application for a building permit, 524 
a local government may not request additional information from 525          
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the applicant more than three times , unless the applicant waives 526 
such limitation in writing. 527 
 2.  If a local government requests additional information 528 
from an applicant and the applicant submits the requested 529 
additional information to the local government within 30 days 530 
after receiving the request, the local government must, within 531 
15 days after receiving such information: 532 
 a.  Determine if the application is properly completed; 533 
 b.  Approve the application; 534 
 c.  Approve the application with conditions; 535 
 d.  Deny the application; or 536 
 e.  Advise the applicant of information, if any, that is 537 
needed to deem the application properly completed or to 538 
determine the sufficiency of the application. 539 
 3.  If a local government makes a second request for 540 
additional information from the applicant and the applicant 541 
submits the requested additional information to the local 542 
government within 30 days after receiving the request, the local 543 
government must, within 10 days after receiving such 544 
information: 545 
 a.  Determine if the application is properly completed; 546 
 b.  Approve the application; 547 
 c.  Approve the application with conditions; 548 
 d.  Deny the application; or 549 
 e.  Advise the applicant of information, if any, that is 550          
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needed to deem the application properly completed or to 551 
determine the sufficiency of the ap plication. 552 
 4.  Before a third request for additional information may 553 
be made, the applicant must be offered an opportunity to meet 554 
with the local government to attempt to resolve outstanding 555 
issues. If a local government makes a third request for 556 
additional information from the applicant and the applicant 557 
submits the requested additional information to the local 558 
government within 30 days after receiving the request, the local 559 
government must, within 10 days after receiving such information 560 
unless the applicant waived the local government's limitation in 561 
writing, determine that the application is complete and: 562 
 a.  Approve the application; 563 
 b.  Approve the application with conditions; or 564 
 c.  Deny the application. 565 
 5.  If the applicant believes the request f or additional 566 
information is not authorized by ordinance, rule, statute, or 567 
other legal authority, the local government, at the applicant's 568 
request, must process the application and either approve the 569 
application, approve the application with conditions, o r deny 570 
the application. 571 
 (e)(c) If a local government fails to meet a deadline 572 
under this subsection provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) , it 573 
must reduce the building permit fee by 10 percent for each 574 
business day that it fails to meet the deadline , unless the 575          
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parties agree in writing to a reasonable extension of time, the 576 
delay is caused by the applicant, or the delay is attributable 577 
to a force majeure or other extraordinary circumstances . Each 578 
10-percent reduction shall be based on the original amount of 579 
the building permit fee, unless the parties agree to an 580 
extension of time. 581 
 (f)  A local enforcement agency does not have to reduce the 582 
building permit fee if it provides written notice to the 583 
applicant by e-mail or United States Postal Service within the 584 
respective timeframes in paragraph (a) which specifically states 585 
the reasons the permit application fails to satisfy the Florida 586 
Building Code or the enforcing agency's laws or ordinances. The 587 
written notice must also state that the applicant has 10 588 
business days after receiving the written notice to submit 589 
revisions to correct the permit application and that failure to 590 
correct the application within 10 business days will result in a 591 
denial of the application. 592 
 (g)  If the applicant submits revisions within 10 business 593 
days after receiving the written notice, the local enforcement 594 
agency has 10 business days after receiving such revisions to 595 
approve or deny the building permit unless the applicant agrees 596 
to a longer period in writing. If the local enforcement agency 597 
fails to issue or deny the building permit within 10 business 598 
days after receiving the revisions, it must reduce the building 599 
permit fee by 20 percent for each business day that it fails to 600          
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meet the deadline unless the applicant agrees to a longer period 601 
in writing. 602 
 (2)(a)  The procedures set forth in subsection (1) apply to 603 
the following building permit applications: accessory structure; 604 
alarm permit; nonresidential buildings less than 25,000 square 605 
feet; electric; irrigation permit; landscaping; mechanical; 606 
plumbing; residential units other than a single family unit; 607 
multifamily residential not exceeding 50 units; roofing; signs; 608 
site-plan approvals and subdivision plats not requiring public 609 
hearings or public notice; and lot grading and site alte ration 610 
associated with the permit application set forth in this 611 
subsection. The procedures set forth in subsection (1) do not 612 
apply to permits for any wireless communications facilities or 613 
when a law, agency rule, or local ordinance specify different 614 
timeframes for review of local building permit applications. 615 
 (b)  If a local government has different timeframes than 616 
the timeframes set forth in subsection (1) for reviewing 617 
building permit applications described in paragraph (a), the 618 
local government must me et the deadlines established by local 619 
ordinance. If a local government does not meet an established 620 
deadline to approve, approve with conditions, or deny an 621 
application, it must reduce the building permit fee by 10 622 
percent for each business day that it fai ls to meet the 623 
deadline. Each 10-percent reduction shall be based on the 624 
original amount of the building permit fee, unless the parties 625          
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agree to an extension of time. This paragraph does not apply to 626 
permits for any wireless communications facilities. 627 
 Section 6.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of section 628 
553.80, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 629 
 553.80  Enforcement. — 630 
 (7)(a)  The governing bodies of local governments may 631 
provide a schedule of reasonable fees, as authorized by s. 632 
125.56(2) or s. 166.222 and this section, for enforcing this 633 
part. These fees, and any fines or investment earnings related 634 
to the fees, may only shall be used solely for carrying out the 635 
local government's responsibilities in enforcing the Florida 636 
Building Code. When providing a schedule of reasonable fees, the 637 
total estimated annual revenue derived from fees, and the fines 638 
and investment earnings related to the fees, may not exceed the 639 
total estimated annual costs of allowable activities. Any 640 
unexpended balances must be carried forward to future years for 641 
allowable activities or must be refunded at the discretion of 642 
the local government. A local government may not carry forward 643 
an amount exceeding the average of its operating budget for 644 
enforcing the Florida Building Code for the previous 4 fiscal 645 
years. For purposes of this subsection, the term "operating 646 
budget" does not include reserve amounts. Any amount exceeding 647 
this limit must be used as authorized in subparagraph 2. 648 
However, a local government that established, as of January 1, 649 
2019, a Building Inspections Fund Advisory Board consisting of 650          
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five members from the construction stakeholder community and 651 
carries an unexpended balance in excess of the average of its 652 
operating budget for the previous 4 fisc al years may continue to 653 
carry such excess funds forward upon the recommendation of the 654 
advisory board. The basis for a fee structure for allowable 655 
activities must relate to the level of service provided by the 656 
local government and must include considerati on for refunding 657 
fees due to reduced services based on services provided as 658 
prescribed by s. 553.791, but not provided by the local 659 
government. Fees charged must be consistently applied. 660 
 1.  As used in this subsection, the phrase "enforcing the 661 
Florida Building Code" includes the direct costs and reasonable 662 
indirect costs associated with review of building plans, 663 
building inspections, reinspections, and building permit 664 
processing; building code enforcement; and fire inspections 665 
associated with new construc tion. The phrase may also include 666 
training costs associated with the enforcement of the Florida 667 
Building Code and enforcement action pertaining to unlicensed 668 
contractor activity to the extent not funded by other user fees. 669 
 2.  A local government must use any excess funds that it is 670 
prohibited from carrying forward to rebate and reduce fees, to 671 
upgrade technology hardware and software systems to enhance 672 
service delivery, or to pay for the construction of a building 673 
or structure that houses a local governmen t's building code 674 
enforcement agency, or for the training programs for building 675          
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officials, inspectors, or plans examiners associated with the 676 
enforcement of the Florida Building Code. Excess funds used to 677 
construct such a building or structure must be desi gnated for 678 
such purpose by the local government and may not be carried 679 
forward for more than 4 consecutive years. An owner or builder 680 
who has a valid building permit issued by a local government for 681 
a fee, or an association of owners or builders located in the 682 
state that has members with valid building permits issued by a 683 
local government for a fee, may bring a civil action against the 684 
local government that issued the permit for a fee to enforce 685 
this subparagraph. 686 
 3.  The following activities may not be fu nded with fees 687 
adopted for enforcing the Florida Building Code: 688 
 a.  Planning and zoning or other general government 689 
activities. 690 
 b.  Inspections of public buildings for a reduced fee or no 691 
fee. 692 
 c.  Public information requests, community functions, 693 
boards, and any program not directly related to enforcement of 694 
the Florida Building Code. 695 
 d.  Enforcement and implementation of any other local 696 
ordinance, excluding validly adopted local amendments to the 697 
Florida Building Code and excluding any local ordinance directly 698 
related to enforcing the Florida Building Code as defined in 699 
subparagraph 1. 700          
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 4.  A local government must use recognized management, 701 
accounting, and oversight practices to ensure that fees, fines, 702 
and investment earnings generated under this subse ction are 703 
maintained and allocated or used solely for the purposes 704 
described in subparagraph 1. 705 
 5.  The local enforcement agency, independent district, or 706 
special district may not require at any time, including at the 707 
time of application for a permit, the payment of any additional 708 
fees, charges, or expenses associated with: 709 
 a.  Providing proof of licensure under chapter 489; 710 
 b.  Recording or filing a license issued under this 711 
chapter; 712 
 c.  Providing, recording, or filing evidence of workers' 713 
compensation insurance coverage as required by chapter 440; or 714 
 d.  Charging surcharges or other similar fees not directly 715 
related to enforcing the Florida Building Code. 716 
 Section 7.  Effective July 1, 2025, section 553.9065, 717 
Florida Statutes, is created to read: 718 
 553.9065  Thermal efficiency standards for unvented attic 719 
and unvented enclosed rafter assemblies. — 720 
 (1)  Unvented attic and unvented enclosed rafter assemblies 721 
that are insulated and air sealed with a minimum of R -20 air-722 
impermeable insulation meet the req uirements of sections R402 of 723 
the Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), Energy 724 
Conservation, if all of the following apply: 725          
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 (a)  The building has a blower door test result of less 726 
than 3 ACH50. 727 
 (b)  The building has a positive input ventilation system 728 
or a balanced or hybrid whole -house mechanical ventilation 729 
system. 730 
 (c)  If the insulation is installed below the roof deck and 731 
the exposed portion of roof rafters is not already covered by 732 
the R-20 air-impermeable insulation, the exposed portion of the 733 
roof rafters is insulated by a minimum of R -3 air-impermeable 734 
insulation unless directly covered by a finished ceiling. Roof 735 
rafters are not required to be covered by a minimum of R -3 air-736 
impermeable insulation if continuous insulation is installed 737 
above the roof deck. 738 
 (d)  All indoor heating, cooling, and ventilation equipment 739 
and ductwork is inside the building thermal envelope. 740 
 (2)  The commission shall review and consider this section 741 
and any technical changes thereto and report such findings to 742 
the Legislature by December 31, 2024. 743 
 Section 8.  Section 440.103, Florida Statutes, is amended 744 
to read: 745 
 440.103  Building permits; identification of minimum 746 
premium policy.—Every employer shall, as a condition to applying 747 
for and receiving a building permit, show proof and certify to 748 
the permit issuer that it has secured compensation for its 749 
employees under this chapter as provided in ss. 440.10 and 750          
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440.38. Such proof of compensation must be evidenced by a 751 
certificate of coverage issued by the carrier, a valid exemption 752 
certificate approved by the department, or a copy of the 753 
employer's authority to self -insure and shall be presented, 754 
electronically or physically, each time the employer applies for 755 
a building permit. As provided in s. 553.79(23) s. 553.79(24), 756 
for the purpose of inspection and record retention, site plans 757 
or building permits may be maintained at the worksite in the 758 
original form or in the form of an electronic copy. These plans 759 
and permits must be open to inspection by the building official 760 
or a duly authorized representative, as required by the Florida 761 
Building Code. As provided in s. 627.413(5), each certificate of 762 
coverage must show, on its face, whether or not coverage is 763 
secured under the minimum premium provisions of rules adopted by 764 
rating organizations licensed pursuant to s. 627.221. The words 765 
"minimum premium policy" or equivalent language shall be typed, 766 
printed, stamped, or legibly handwritten. 767 
 Section 9.  Except as otherwis e expressly provided in this 768 
act and except for this section, which shall take effect upon 769 
this act becoming a law, this act shall take effect January 1, 770 
2025. 771