Alternative plans review and inspection.

(1) As used in this section, the term:

(a) “Applicable codes” means the Florida Building Code and any local technical amendments to the Florida Building Code but does not include the applicable minimum fire prevention and firesafety codes adopted pursuant to chapter 633.

(b) “Audit” means the process to confirm that the building code inspection services have been performed by the private provider, including ensuring that the required affidavit for the plan review has been properly completed and submitted with the permit documents and that the minimum mandatory inspections required under the building code have been performed and properly recorded. The local building official may not replicate the plan review or inspection being performed by the private provider, unless expressly authorized by this section.

(c) “Building” means any construction, erection, alteration, demolition, or improvement of, or addition to, any structure or site work for which permitting by a local enforcement agency is required.

(d) “Building code inspection services” means those services described in s. 468.603(5) and (8) involving the review of building plans as well as those services involving the review of site plans and site work engineering plans or their functional equivalent, to determine compliance with applicable codes and those inspections required by law, conducted either in person or virtually, of each phase of construction for which permitting by a local enforcement agency is required to determine compliance with applicable codes.

(e) “Deliver” or “delivery” means any method of delivery used in conventional business or commercial practice, including delivery by electronic transmissions such as e-mail or submission through an electronic fill-in form available on the building department’s website or through a third-party submission management software.

(f) “Duly authorized representative” means an agent of the private provider identified in the permit application who reviews plans or performs inspections as provided by this section and who is licensed as an engineer under chapter 471 or as an architect under chapter 481 or who holds a standard or provisional certificate under part XII of chapter 468. A duly authorized representative who only holds a provisional certificate under part XII of chapter 468 must be under the direct supervision of a person licensed as a building code administrator under part XII of chapter 468.

(g) “Electronic signature” means any letters, characters, or symbols manifested by electronic or similar means which are executed or adopted by a party with an intent to authenticate a writing or record.

(h) “Electronic transmission” or “submitted electronically” means any form or process of communication not directly involving the physical transfer of paper or another tangible medium which is suitable for the retention, retrieval, and reproduction of information by the recipient and is retrievable in paper form by the receipt through an automated process. All notices, documents, and applications provided for in this section may be transmitted electronically and shall have the same legal effect as if physically posted or mailed.

(i) “Electronically posted” means providing notices of decisions, results, or records, including inspection records, through the use of a website or other form of electronic communication used to transmit or display information.

(j) “Immediate threat to public safety and welfare” means 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. This paragraph does not limit the authority of the local building official to issue a Notice of Corrective Action at any time during the construction of a building project or any portion of such project if the official determines that a condition of the building or portion thereof may constitute a hazard when the building is put into use following completion as long as the condition cited is shown to be in violation of the building code or approved plans.

(k) “Local building official” means the individual within the governing jurisdiction responsible for direct regulatory administration or supervision of plans review, enforcement, and inspection of any construction, erection, alteration, demolition, or substantial improvement of, or addition to, any structure for which permitting is required to indicate compliance with applicable codes and includes any duly authorized designee of such person.

(l) “Permit application” means a properly completed and submitted application for the requested building or construction permit, including:

1. The plans reviewed by the private provider, or in the case of a single-trade plans review where a private provider uses an automated or software-based plans review system pursuant to subsection (7), the information reviewed by the automated or software-based plans review system to determine compliance with one or more applicable codes.

2. The affidavit from the private provider required under subsection (7).

3. Any applicable fees.

4. Any documents required by the local building official to determine that the fee owner has secured all other government approvals required by law.

(m) “Plans” means building plans, site engineering plans, or site plans, or their functional equivalent, submitted by a fee owner or fee owner’s contractor to a private provider or duly authorized representative for review.

(n) “Private provider” means 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. For purposes of performing inspections under this section for additions and alterations that are limited to 1,000 square feet or less to residential buildings, the term “private provider” also includes a person who holds a standard certificate under part XII of chapter 468.

(o) “Private provider firm” means a business organization, including a corporation, partnership, business trust, or other legal entity, which offers services under this chapter to the public through licensees who are acting as agents, employees, officers, or partners of the firm. A person who is licensed as a building code administrator under part XII of chapter 468, an engineer under chapter 471, or an architect under chapter 481 may act as a private provider for an agent, employee, or officer of the private provider firm.

(p) “Registration” means the roster of authorized private provider firms held by each local enforcement agency.

(q) “Request for certificate of occupancy or certificate of completion” means a properly completed and executed application for:

1. A certificate of occupancy or certificate of completion.

2. A certificate of compliance from the private provider required under subsection (15).

3. Any applicable fees.

4. Any documents required by the local building official to determine that the fee owner has secured all other government approvals required by law.

(r) “Single-trade inspection” or “single-trade plans review” means any inspection or plans review focused on a single construction trade, such as plumbing, mechanical, or electrical. The term includes, but is not limited to, inspections or plans reviews of door or window replacements; fences and block walls more than 6 feet high from the top of the wall to the bottom of the footing; stucco or plastering; reroofing with no structural alteration; solar energy and energy storage installations or alterations; HVAC replacements; ductwork or fan replacements; alteration or installation of wiring, lighting, and service panels; water heater changeouts; sink replacements; and repiping.

(s) “Site work” means the portion of a construction project that is not part of the building structure, including, but not limited to, grading, excavation, landscape irrigation, and installation of driveways.

(t) “Stop-work order” means the issuance of any written statement, written directive, or written order which states the reason for the order and the conditions under which the cited work will be permitted to resume.

(2)(a) Notwithstanding any other law or local government ordinance or local policy, the fee owner of a building or structure, or the fee owner’s contractor upon explicit written authorization from the fee owner, may choose at any time to use a private provider to provide plans review or building code inspection services with regard to such building or structure and may make payment directly to the private provider for the provision of such services. All such services shall be the subject of a contract between the private provider, or the private provider’s firm, and the fee owner or the fee owner’s contractor, upon explicit written authorization of the fee owner. A copy of such written authorization must be submitted to the local building official. The local enforcement agency may not require the contract to be provided as part of the permit application or as a condition for issuing a permit. The fee owner may elect to use a private provider to provide plans review or required building inspections, or both. However, if the fee owner or the fee owner’s contractor uses a private provider to provide plans review, the local building official, in his or her discretion and pursuant to duly adopted policies of the local enforcement agency, may require the fee owner or the fee owner’s contractor to use a private provider to also provide required building inspections.

(b) If a fee owner or the fee owner’s contractor retains a private provider for purposes of plans review or building inspection services, the local jurisdiction must reduce the permit fee by the amount of cost savings realized by the local enforcement agency for not having to perform such services. Such reduction may be calculated on a flat fee or percentage basis, or any other reasonable means by which a local enforcement agency assesses the cost for its plans review or inspection services. The permit fee must be based on the cost incurred by the local jurisdiction, including the labor cost of the personnel providing such services and the clerical and supervisory assistance required to comply with this section. The local jurisdiction may not charge fees for plans review or building inspections if the fee owner or the fee owner’s contractor hires a private provider to perform such services. The local enforcement agency may not charge punitive administrative fees when a fee owner has chosen to work with a private provider.

(c) If a fee owner or the fee owner’s contractor retains a private provider for purposes of plans review or building inspection services, the local jurisdiction must provide equal access to all permitting and inspection documents and reports to the private provider, owner, and contractor if such access is provided by software that protects exempt records from disclosure. Access to these documents must be promptly provided.

(d) If a fee owner or the fee owner’s contractor retains a private provider for purposes of plans review or building inspection services for a commercial construction project, the local enforcement agency must reduce the permit fee by at least 25 percent of the portion of the permit fee attributable to plans review or building inspection services, as applicable. If the fee owner or the fee owner’s contractor retains a private provider for all required plans review and building inspection services, the local enforcement agency must reduce the total permit fee by at least 50 percent of the amount otherwise charged for such services. If the local enforcement agency does not reduce such fee by at least the percentages provided in this paragraph, the local enforcement agency forfeits the ability to collect any fees for the commercial construction project. The surcharge required by s. 553.721 must be calculated based on the amount of the reduced permit fee. This paragraph does not prohibit a local enforcement agency from reducing a permit fee in excess of the percentages provided in this paragraph.

(e) A local government or local building official may not require additional forms beyond those required at registration, except for the written notice required under subsection (5), if a fee owner or the fee owner’s contractor uses a private provider.

(3) A private provider and any duly authorized representative may only perform building code inspection services that are within the disciplines covered by that person’s licensure or certification under chapter 468, chapter 471, or chapter 481, including single-trade inspections. A private provider may not provide building code inspection services pursuant to this section upon any building designed or constructed by the private provider or the private provider’s firm.

(4) A local enforcement agency must create a registration system for private providers and private provider firms working in the local enforcement agency’s jurisdiction. A local enforcement agency must have a method to register and update registration information electronically. The local enforcement agency may not charge an administrative fee for registration or updates to a registration. The private provider or private provider firm must provide its contact information and verify compliance with the licensure requirements of paragraph (1)(n) or paragraph (1)(o), as applicable, and the insurance requirements of subsection (20). The private provider or private provider firm must register with the local enforcement agency in the jurisdiction in which the provider or firm is working before contracting to provide services in such jurisdiction. The private provider or private provider firm must update its registration within 5 business days after any change to the provider’s or firm’s contact information, licensure, or insurance coverage.

(5) A fee owner or the fee owner’s contractor using a private provider to provide building code inspection services shall notify the local building official in writing at the time of permit application, or by 2 p.m. local time, 2 business days before the first scheduled inspection by the local building official or building code enforcement agency that a private provider has been contracted to perform the required inspections of construction under this section, including single-trade inspections, on a form adopted by the commission. The local enforcement agency may not alter the form. This notice must include the following information:

(a) The services to be performed by the private provider.

(b) The name, firm, address, telephone number, and e-mail address of each private provider who is performing or will perform such services; his or her professional license or certification number; and, if required by the local building official, a certificate of insurance demonstrating that professional liability insurance coverage is in place for the private provider’s firm, the private provider, and any duly authorized representative in the amounts required by this section.

(c) An acknowledgment from the fee owner or the fee owner’s contractor in substantially the following form:

I have elected to use one or more private providers to provide building code plans review and/or inspection services on the building or structure that is the subject of the enclosed permit application, as authorized by s. 553.791, Florida Statutes. I understand that the local building official may not review the plans submitted or perform the required building inspections to determine compliance with the applicable codes, except to the extent specified in said law. Instead, plans review and/or required building inspections will be performed by licensed or certified personnel identified in the application. The law requires minimum insurance requirements for such personnel, but I understand that I may require more insurance to protect my interests. By executing this form, I acknowledge that I have made inquiry regarding the competence of the licensed or certified personnel and the level of their insurance and am satisfied that my interests are adequately protected. I agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the local government, the local building official, and their building code enforcement personnel from any and all claims arising from my use of these licensed or certified personnel to perform building code inspection services with respect to the building or structure that is the subject of the enclosed permit application.

If the fee owner or the fee owner’s contractor makes any changes to the listed private providers or the services to be provided by those private providers, the fee owner or the fee owner’s contractor shall, within 1 business day after any change or within 2 business days before the next scheduled inspection, update the notice to reflect such changes. A change of a duly authorized representative named in the permit application does not require a revision of the permit, and the building code enforcement agency shall not charge a fee for making the change.

(6) After construction has commenced, the fee owner or the fee owner’s contractor may elect to use a private provider to provide inspection services for a single-trade inspection for a single-family or two-family dwelling by notifying the local building official of the owner’s or contractor’s intention to do so before the next scheduled inspection using the notice provided for in paragraphs (5)(a), (b), and (c).

(7) A private provider performing plans review under this section shall review the plans to determine compliance with the applicable codes. For single-trade plans reviews, a private provider may use an automated or software-based plans review system designed to determine compliance with one or more applicable codes, including, but not limited to, the National Electrical Code and the Florida Building Code. Upon determining that the plans reviewed comply with the applicable codes, the private provider shall prepare an affidavit or affidavits certifying, under oath, that the following is true and correct to the best of the private provider’s knowledge and belief:

(a) The plans were reviewed by the affiant, who is duly authorized to perform plans review pursuant to this section and holds the appropriate license or certificate.

(b) The plans comply with the applicable codes.

Such affidavit may bear a written or electronic signature and may be submitted electronically to the local building official. A local enforcement agency must accept electronically submitted affidavits.

(8)(a) The local building official may not review plans, construction drawings, or any other related documents determined by a private provider to be compliant with the applicable codes, except to the extent necessary to determine compliance with local ordinances, floodplain management regulations, site review requirements, and any other administrative or life safety review unrelated to building code compliance.

(b) The local building official may review other forms and documents required under this section for completeness only. The local building official must provide written notice to a permit applicant of any incomplete forms or documents required under this section no later than 10 business days after receipt of a permit application or, if the permit application is relating to a single-trade plans review for a single-family or two-family dwelling, no later than 5 business days after receipt of a permit application, and an affidavit from the private provider as required in subsection (7). The written notice must state with specificity which forms or documents are incomplete. If the local building official does not provide such written notice within the prescribed time period, the permit must be deemed approved as a matter of law, and the permit must be issued by the local building official on the next business day.

(c) If the local building official provides a written notice to the permit applicant of any incomplete forms or documents required under this section at the time of plan submission within the prescribed time period, such time period is tolled pending resolution of the matter. To resolve the issues raised in the notice, the permit applicant may elect to dispute the issues pursuant to subsection (17) or to submit revisions to correct the issues.

(d) If the permit applicant submits revisions, the local building official has the remainder of the tolled 10-day or 5-day time period plus 5 business days to issue the requested permit or to provide a second written notice to the permit applicant stating which of the previously identified forms or documents remain incomplete. Any subsequent review by the local building official is limited to the issues cited in the original written notice. If the local building official does not provide the second written notice within the prescribed time period, the permit must be deemed approved as a matter of law, and the local building official must issue the permit on the next business day.

(e) If the local building official provides a second written notice to the permit applicant within the prescribed time period, the permit applicant may elect to dispute the issues raised in the second notice pursuant to subsection (17) or to submit additional revisions to correct the issues. For all revisions submitted after the first revision, the local building official has an additional 5 business days to issue the requested permit or to provide a written notice to the permit applicant stating which of the previously identified forms or documents remain incomplete. If the local building official does not provide the notice within the prescribed time period, the permit must be deemed approved as a matter of law, and the local building official must issue the permit on the next business day.

(9) A private provider performing required inspections under this section shall inspect each phase of construction as required by the applicable codes. Such inspection, including a single-trade inspection, may be performed in person or virtually. The private provider may have a duly authorized representative perform the required inspections, provided all required reports are prepared by and bear the written or electronic signature of the private provider or the private provider’s duly authorized representative. The duly authorized representative must be an employee of the private provider entitled to receive reemployment assistance benefits under chapter 443. The contractor’s contractual or legal obligations are not relieved by any action of the private provider.

(10) The local building official may not prohibit the private provider from performing any inspection outside the local building official’s normal operating hours, including after hours, weekends, or holidays. A deficiency notice must be posted by the private provider, the duly authorized representative of the private provider, or the building department whenever a noncomplying item related to the building code or the permitted documents is found. Such notice may be physically posted at the job site or electronically posted. After corrections are made, the item must be reinspected by the private provider or the representative of the private provider before being concealed. The local jurisdiction may not charge reinspection or reaudit fees as a result of the local jurisdiction’s audit inspection occurring before the performance of the private provider’s inspection or for any other administrative matter not involving the detection of a violation of the building code or a permit requirement.

(11) A local enforcement agency is not responsible for the regulatory administration or supervision of building code inspection services performed by a private provider hired by a fee owner or the fee owner’s contractor. A local enforcement agency may not require additional verification of licensure or insurance requirements beyond that which is required at registration.

(12) If the private provider is a person licensed as an engineer under chapter 471 or an architect under chapter 481 and affixes his or her professional seal to the affidavit required under subsection (7), the local building official must issue the requested permit or provide a written notice to the permit applicant identifying the specific plan features that do not comply with the applicable codes, as well as the specific code chapters and sections, within 10 business days after receipt of the permit application and affidavit. In such written notice, the local building official must provide with specificity the plan’s deficiencies, the reasons the permit application failed, and the applicable codes being violated. If the local building official does not provide specific written notice to the permit applicant within the prescribed 10-day period, the permit application is deemed approved as a matter of law, and the local building official must issue the permit on the next business day.

(13) If equipment replacements and repairs must be performed in an emergency situation, subject to the emergency permitting provisions of the Florida Building Code, a private provider may perform emergency inspection services without first notifying the local building official. A private provider must conduct the inspection within 3 business days after being contacted to conduct an emergency inspection and must submit the inspection report to the local building official within 1 day after the inspection is completed.

(14) Upon completing the required inspections at each applicable phase of construction, the private provider shall record such inspections on a form provided by the commission. The form must bear the written or electronic signature of the private provider or the private provider’s duly authorized representative. These inspection records must reflect those inspections required by the applicable codes of each phase of construction for which permitting by a local enforcement agency is required. The private provider, upon completion of the required inspection, shall post each completed inspection record, indicating pass or fail, and provide the record to the local building official within 4 business days. Such inspection record may be electronically posted by the private provider, or the private provider may post such inspection record physically at the project site. The private provider may electronically transmit the record to the local building official. The local building official may waive the requirement to provide a record of each inspection within 4 business days if the record is electronically posted or transmitted or posted at the project site and all such inspection records are submitted with the certificate of compliance. Unless the records have been electronically posted or transmitted, records of all required and completed inspections shall be maintained at the building site at all times and made available for review by the local building official. A local building official may not fail any inspection performed by a private provider for not having the inspection records at the job site if the inspection records have been electronically transmitted to the local building official within the 4-business-day requirement. The private provider shall report to the local enforcement agency any condition that poses an immediate threat to public safety and welfare.

(15) Upon completion of all required inspections, the private provider firm shall prepare a certificate of compliance, on a form provided by the commission, summarizing the inspections performed and including a written representation, under oath, that the stated inspections have been performed and that, to the best of the private provider’s knowledge and belief, the building construction inspected complies with the approved plans and applicable codes. The certificate of compliance may be signed by any qualified licensed individual employed full time by the private provider firm under whose authority the inspection was completed. The statement required of the private provider shall be substantially in the following form and shall be signed and sealed by a private provider as established in subsection (1) or may be electronically transmitted to the local building official:

To the best of my knowledge and belief, the building components and site improvements outlined herein and inspected under my authority have been completed in conformance with the approved plans and the applicable codes.

(16)(a) The local building official may only perform building inspections of construction that a private provider has determined to be compliant with the applicable codes if the local building official has knowledge that the private provider did not perform the required inspections. If the local building official has such knowledge, the local building official must provide to the private provider written notice of the facts and circumstances upon which the local building official relied for such knowledge before performing a required inspection. The local building official may review forms and documents required under this section for completeness only. No more than 10 business days, or if the permit is related to single-family or two-family dwellings then no more than 2 business days, after receipt of a request for a certificate of occupancy or certificate of completion and the applicant’s presentation of a certificate of compliance and approval of all other government approvals required by law, including the payment of all outstanding fees, the local building official shall issue the certificate of occupancy or certificate of completion or provide notice to the applicant of any incomplete forms or documents required under this section.

(b) If the local building official does not provide notice of any incomplete forms or documents within the applicable time periods under paragraph (a), the request for a certificate of occupancy or certificate of completion is automatically granted and deemed issued as of the next business day. The local building official must provide the applicant with the written certificate of occupancy or certificate of completion within 10 days after it is automatically granted and issued. To resolve any identified issues, the applicant may elect to dispute the issues pursuant to subsection (17) or to submit a corrected request for a certificate of occupancy or certificate of completion.

(17) If the local building official determines that the building construction or plans do not comply with the applicable codes, the official may deny the permit or request for a certificate of occupancy or certificate of completion, as appropriate, or may issue a stop-work order for the project or any portion thereof as provided by law, if the official determines that the noncompliance poses an immediate threat to public safety and welfare, subject to the following:

(a) The local building official shall be available to meet with the private provider within 2 business days to resolve any dispute after issuing a stop-work order or providing notice to the applicant denying a permit or request for a certificate of occupancy or certificate of completion.

(b) If the local building official and private provider are unable to resolve the dispute, the matter shall be referred to the local enforcement agency’s board of appeals, if one exists, which shall consider the matter at its next scheduled meeting or sooner. Any decisions by the local enforcement agency’s board of appeals, or local building official if there is no board of appeals, may be appealed to the commission as provided by this chapter.

(c) Notwithstanding any provision of this section, any decisions regarding the issuance of a building permit, certificate of occupancy, or certificate of completion may be reviewed by the local enforcement agency’s board of appeals, if one exists. Any decision by the local enforcement agency’s board of appeals, or local building official if there is no board of appeals, may be appealed to the commission as provided by this chapter, which shall consider the matter at the commission’s next scheduled meeting.

(18) For the purposes of this section, any notice to be provided by the local building official shall be deemed to be provided to the person or entity when successfully transmitted to the e-mail address listed for that person or entity in the permit application or revised permit application, or, if no e-mail address is stated, when actually received by that person or entity.

(19)(a) A local enforcement agency, local building official, or local government may not adopt or enforce any laws, rules, procedures, policies, qualifications, or standards more stringent than those prescribed by this section.

(b) This section does not limit the authority of the local building official to issue a stop-work order for a building project or any portion of the project, as provided by law, if the official determines that a condition on the building site constitutes an immediate threat to public safety and welfare.

(c) A local enforcement agency may not prohibit or limit private providers from using virtual inspections if a virtual inspection is not prohibited by any applicable code.

(20) A private provider may perform building code inspection services on a building project under this section only if the private provider maintains insurance for professional liability covering all services performed as a private provider. Such insurance shall have minimum policy limits of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million in the aggregate for any project with a construction cost of $5 million or less and $2 million per occurrence and $4 million in the aggregate for any project with a construction cost of over $5 million. Nothing in this section limits the ability of a fee owner to require additional insurance or higher policy limits. For these purposes, the term “construction cost” means the total cost of building construction as stated in the building permit application. If the private provider chooses to secure claims-made coverage to fulfill this requirement, the private provider must also maintain coverage for a minimum of 5 years after the performance of building code inspection services. The insurance required under this subsection shall be written only by insurers authorized to do business in this state with a minimum A.M. Best’s rating of A. Before providing building code inspection services within a local building official’s jurisdiction, a private provider must provide to the local building official a certificate of insurance evidencing that the coverages required under this subsection are in force.

(21) When performing building code inspection services, a private provider is subject to the disciplinary guidelines of the applicable professional board with jurisdiction over his or her license or certification under chapter 468, chapter 471, or chapter 481. All private providers shall be subject to the disciplinary guidelines of s. 468.621(1)(c)-(h). Any complaint processing, investigation, and discipline that arise out of a private provider’s performance of building code inspection services shall be conducted by the applicable professional board.

(22) A local building code enforcement agency may not audit the performance of building code inspection services by private providers operating within the local jurisdiction until the agency has created standard operating private provider audit procedures for the agency’s internal inspection and review staff, which includes, at a minimum, the private provider audit purpose and scope, private provider audit criteria, an explanation of private provider audit processes and objections, and detailed findings of areas of noncompliance. Such private provider audit procedures must be publicly available online, and a printed version must be readily accessible in agency buildings. The private provider audit results of staff for the prior two quarters also must be publicly available. The agency’s audit processes must adhere to the agency’s posted standard operating audit procedures. The same private provider or private provider firm may not be audited more than four times in a year unless the local building official determines a condition of a building constitutes an immediate threat to public safety and welfare, which must be communicated in writing to the private provider or private provider firm. The private provider or private provider firm must be given notice of each audit to be performed at least 5 business days before the audit. Work on a building or structure may proceed after inspection and approval by a private provider. The work may not be delayed for completion of an inspection audit by the local building code enforcement agency.

(23) The local government, local building official, and building code enforcement personnel shall be immune from liability to any person or party for any action or inaction by a fee owner of a building, or by a private provider or its duly authorized representative, in connection with building code inspection services as authorized in this act. The local government, local enforcement agency, local building official, and building code enforcement personnel may not prohibit or discourage the use of a private provider or a private provider firm.

(24) Notwithstanding any other law, a county, a municipality, a school district, or an independent special district may use a private provider or a private provider firm, or may employ a licensed building inspector as described in s. 468.603(5)(a) or a person who holds the same licensure or certification as a private provider, to provide building code inspection services for a public works project, an improvement, a building, or any other structure that is owned by the county, municipality, school district, or independent special district.