Responsibilities of building code administrators, plans examiners, and inspectors.

(1) It is the responsibility of the building code administrator or building official to administrate, supervise, direct, enforce, or perform the permitting and inspection of construction, alteration, repair, remodeling, or demolition of structures and the installation of building systems within the boundaries of their governmental jurisdiction, when permitting is required, to ensure compliance with the Florida Building Code and any applicable local technical amendment to the Florida Building Code. The building code administrator or building official shall faithfully perform these responsibilities without interference from any person. These responsibilities include:

(a) The review of construction plans to ensure compliance with all applicable sections of the code. The construction plans must be reviewed before the issuance of any building, system installation, or other construction permit. The review of construction plans must be done by the building code administrator or building official or by a person having the appropriate plans examiner license issued under this chapter.

(b) The inspection of each phase of construction where a building or other construction permit has been issued. The building code administrator or building official, or a person having the appropriate building code inspector license issued under this chapter, shall inspect the construction or installation to ensure that the work is performed in accordance with applicable sections of the code.

(2) It is the responsibility of the building code inspector to conduct inspections of construction, alteration, repair, remodeling, or demolition of structures and the installation of building systems, when permitting is required, to ensure compliance with the Florida Building Code and any applicable local technical amendment to the Florida Building Code. Each building code inspector must be licensed in the appropriate category as defined in s. 468.603. The building code inspector’s responsibilities must be performed under the direction of the building code administrator or building official without interference from any unlicensed person.

(3) It is the responsibility of the plans examiner to conduct review of construction plans submitted in the permit application to assure compliance with the Florida Building Code and any applicable local technical amendment to the Florida Building Code. The review of construction plans must be done by the building code administrator or building official or by a person licensed in the appropriate plans examiner category as defined in s. 468.603. The plans examiner’s responsibilities must be performed under the supervision and authority of the building code administrator or building official without interference from any unlicensed person.

(4) The Legislature finds that the electronic filing of construction plans will increase governmental efficiency, reduce costs, and increase timeliness of processing permits. If the building code administrator or building official provides for electronic filing, then construction plans, drawings, specifications, reports, final documents, or documents prepared or issued by a licensee may be dated and electronically signed and sealed by the licensee in accordance with ss. 668.001-668.006, and may be transmitted electronically to the building code administrator or building official for approval.