# Florida HB 803: Building Permits and Inspections

Florida HB 803, Building Permits and Inspections, is a 2026 House bill sponsored by Dana Trabulsy (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-05-07 (Chapter No. 2026-63; Companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/CS/HB 399 (Ch. 2026-7)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-14).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/FL-HB803-2026
- As of: 2026-10-14
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Florida HB 803
- State: Florida
- Session: 2026
- Title: Building Permits and Inspections
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-12-17
- Last action: 2026-05-07, Chapter No. 2026-63; Companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/CS/HB 399 (Ch. 2026-7)
- Sponsor: Dana Trabulsy (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Subjects: Appropriation, Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee, Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee, Commerce Committee, House Calendar, Rules
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 3 (260 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 17

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- More places for offsite-built homes: benefit, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, qualifying offsite-built single-family homes must be allowed wherever detached single-family homes are allowed. Local rules cannot treat them more strictly than site-built homes; conflicting or exclusionary rules are unenforceable. Compatibility rules are limited to roof pit…
- Faster certificates let owners finish projects: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, private-provider projects gain firm deadlines for occupancy or completion certificates. After a request and compliance certificate, officials have 2 business days for one- or two-family homes and 10 for other permits. All other legally required approvals must be complete, in…
- Faster decisions on home permit applications: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, local reviewers have 5 business days to decide complete applications for covered existing-home work under $15,000. This applies to structural, accessory-structure, alarm, electrical, gas, irrigation, landscaping, mechanical, plumbing, and roofing permits using local plan rev…
- Homeowners gain flexible private inspection choices: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, owners can choose and pay a licensed private provider for plan review, inspections, or both at any time. Contractors need explicit written owner approval and must send it to the building official; a service contract is required, but agencies cannot demand it to issue permits…
- Homeowners gain simpler permit steps: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, single-family home permits expire one year after issuance or when the next Florida Building Code takes effect, whichever is later. Counties may extend their permits beyond that date. Local governments must issue one permit for a retaining wall spanning multiple lots at a sin…
- Inspection fees stay tied to costs: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, local building inspection fees cannot be based on a project's total cost. Fees also cannot exceed the local agency's actual inspection costs.
- Permit applicants gain online filing options: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, local agencies must accept completed permit applications electronically, including payments, drawings, and attachments. Officials may also accept paper applications in person. Private-provider notices and documents can be sent electronically with the same legal effect as pos…
- Private reviews bring lower permit fees: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, local permit fees must reflect savings from privately performed reviews or inspections, without charging for that work. Commercial projects receive at least a 25% cut in the review or inspection portion; using private providers for all required reviews and inspections requir…
- Small home projects skip building permits: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, work under $7,500 on an owner's single-family home is exempt from building permits. The owner or contractor must submit a written request with a contract or other proof of the work and value. Electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical, and gas work are excluded. The exempt…
- Temporary home storm barriers skip permits: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, temporary storm or flood barriers can be exempt from building permits. They must protect a single-family home, two-family home, or townhouse and cannot support loads or provide living space. A state-licensed contractor must install them, following local zoning, drainage, eas…
- Private inspectors gain simpler paperwork rules: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, private providers have 4 business days, up from 2, to provide or post inspection records. They must use Florida Building Commission forms and keep completed records at the site unless electronically posted or transmitted. Missing site copies alone cannot cause failure when r…
- Businesses face fewer local design demands: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, local governments cannot require glazing above 15% of the main facade's area in its first 10 feet above the ground floor. This limit covers new commercial or mixed-use construction and restoration projects. An exception applies to individually listed contributing structures…
- Public projects gain more inspection options: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, the Florida Department of Management Services must maintain state contracts for building inspection services. Counties, cities, school districts, and independent special districts can use private firms or employ licensed inspectors or people with equivalent credentials for t…
- Mobile home taxes cover manufactured units: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, covered housing units on mobile home lots are taxed as mobile homes. They are also subject to payments to the Florida Mobile Home Relocation Fund. The law does not state the tax or payment amounts.
- Contractors face discipline for permit violations: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, certified or registered contractors face licensing discipline for proceeding without required local permits or inspections. The exception is work that another law allows without them. For these rules, construction is treated as starting when a contract is signed and funds ar…
- Private inspectors face insurance coverage rules: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, local agencies are not responsible for supervising owner-hired private inspections and cannot repeat license or insurance checks beyond registration. Private providers must carry professional liability coverage of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million total for projects c…
- Private inspections face narrower local oversight: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, officials can inspect privately approved construction only when they know required inspections were not performed. They must first give written notice explaining the facts, and document review is limited to completeness. Local agencies must give private providers at least 5…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Dana Trabulsy (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Commerce Committee
- Cosponsor: Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee
- Cosponsor: Tobin Rogers "Toby" Overdorf (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-12 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 109 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 37 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 114 | 0 |   |

## Actions (50)

- 2026-05-07: Chapter No. 2026-63; Companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/CS/HB 399 (Ch. 2026-7)
- 2026-05-06: Approved by Governor
- 2026-04-30: Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
- 2026-03-12: Ordered engrossed, then enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-12: CS passed as amended; YEAS 109, NAYS 0 (House)
- 2026-03-12: Amendment 140962 Concur (House)
- 2026-03-12: Added to Senate Message List (House)
- 2026-03-05: In Messages (House)
- 2026-03-05: CS passed as amended; YEAS 37 NAYS 0 -SJ 608 (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Read 3rd time -SJ 608 (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Amendment(s) adopted (140962) -SJ 608 (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Read 2nd time -SJ 599 (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Substituted for CS/CS/SB 1234 -SJ 599 (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 599 (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Received (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Referred to Rules (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: In Messages (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: CS passed as amended; YEAS 114, NAYS 0 (House)
- 2026-02-25: Read 3rd time (House)
- 2026-02-25: Added to Third Reading Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-25: Amendment 725319 adopted (House)
- 2026-02-25: Read 2nd time (House)
- 2026-02-19: 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2) (House)
- 2026-02-19: Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026) (House)
- 2026-02-19: Bill referred to House Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-19: CS Filed (House)
- 2026-02-19: Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a) (House)
- 2026-02-19: Reported out of Commerce Committee (House)
- 2026-02-18: Favorable with CS by Commerce Committee (House)
- 2026-02-16: Added to Commerce Committee agenda (House)
- 2026-02-05: Now in Commerce Committee (House)
- 2026-02-05: Reported out of Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee (House)
- 2026-02-05: Favorable by Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee (House)
- 2026-02-03: Added to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee agenda (House)
- 2026-01-22: Now in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee (House)
- 2026-01-22: Referred to Commerce Committee (House)
- 2026-01-22: Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee (House)
- 2026-01-21: 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1) (House)
- 2026-01-21: CS Filed (House)
- 2026-01-21: Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a) (House)
- 2026-01-21: Reported out of Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee (House)
- 2026-01-20: Favorable with CS by Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee (House)
- 2026-01-15: Added to Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee agenda (House)
- 2026-01-13: 1st Reading (Original Filed Version) (House)
- 2026-01-05: Now in Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee (House)
- 2026-01-05: Referred to Commerce Committee (House)
- 2026-01-05: Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee (House)
- 2026-01-05: Referred to Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee (House)
- 2025-12-17: Filed (House)

## Bill text

- er, 2026-07-01: [PDF](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/803/BillText/er/PDF)
- e2, 2026-03-13: [PDF](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/803/BillText/e2/PDF)
- e1, 2026-02-25: [PDF](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/803/BillText/e1/PDF)
- c2, 2026-02-19: [PDF](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/803/BillText/c2/PDF)
- c1, 2026-01-21: [PDF](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/803/BillText/c1/PDF)
- Filed, 2025-12-17: [PDF](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/803/BillText/Filed/PDF)

## Related bills

- SB 14: Relief of Jose Correa by Miami-Dade County (signed)
- HB 6509: Relief/Estate of Mark LaGatta/Department of Transportation (signed)
- HB 6515: Relief/Lourdes Latour and Edward Latour/Miami-Dade County (signed)
- HB 6507: Relief/L.E./Department of Children and Families (signed)
- HB 6517: Relief/Heriberto A. Sanchez-Mayen/City of St. Petersburg (signed)
- HB 4103: Apalachicola Water and Sewer District, Franklin County (signed)

## Sources
- [er (PDF)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/803/BillText/er/PDF)
- [e2 (PDF)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/803/BillText/e2/PDF)
- [e1 (PDF)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/803/BillText/e1/PDF)
- [c2 (PDF)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/803/BillText/c2/PDF)
- [c1 (PDF)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/803/BillText/c1/PDF)
- [Filed (PDF)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/803/BillText/Filed/PDF)

## Related
- [SB 14: Relief of Jose Correa by Miami-Dade County](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/FL-SB14-2026)
- [HB 6509: Relief/Estate of Mark LaGatta/Department of Transportation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/FL-HB6509-2026)
- [HB 6515: Relief/Lourdes Latour and Edward Latour/Miami-Dade County](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/FL-HB6515-2026)
- [HB 6507: Relief/L.E./Department of Children and Families](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/FL-HB6507-2026)
- [HB 6517: Relief/Heriberto A. Sanchez-Mayen/City of St. Petersburg](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/FL-HB6517-2026)
- [HB 4103: Apalachicola Water and Sewer District, Franklin County](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/FL-HB4103-2026)
- [Florida bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/florida/bills)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/FL-HB803-2026 (as of 2026-10-14).