Florida House Bill 803 – Residential Permit Exemption Policy
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Florida House Bill 803 – Building Permits and Inspections
Effective July 1, 2026
Purpose: Florida House Bill 803 (HB 803) requires local governments to exempt certain residential work from building permit requirements when the total value of the work is less than $7,500. The intent of this legislation is to reduce permitting requirements for minor residential projects while maintaining public safety protections for structural work and regulated trades.
Key Provisions
$7,500 Permit Exemption: Homeowners of single-family dwellings, or their contractors, are no longer required to obtain a building permit for projects valued under $7,500, including both labor and materials. The exemption does not apply to electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical, or gas work, nor to properties in flood hazard areas. Projects cannot be split into smaller parts to evade the threshold, and condos, townhomes, and multifamily buildings are excluded.
Private Provider Inspections: HB 803 expands the role of licensed private providers for plan review and inspections. Local building officials may no longer re-review plans approved by private providers except for completeness, local ordinance compliance, floodplain management, and life-safety checks. Virtual inspections are permitted, and fee reductions apply when private providers are used.
Permit Review Deadlines: Local governments must adhere to strict timelines for permit decisions. For small residential projects, certain applications must be reviewed within five business days once deemed complete. Failure to meet deadlines can result in automatic approval by law.
HOA Architectural Review: Homeowners’ associations cannot require a government-issued building permit as a prerequisite for reviewing proposed improvements. This ensures HOA review is not delayed by permitting processes.
Temporary Hurricane and Flood Protection: Installation of temporary residential hurricane or flood barriers is exempt from permits if they meet specified requirements, allowing homeowners to act quickly during emergencies.
Standardization and Electronic Submissions: The Florida Building Commission will develop uniform statewide permit applications by July 1, 2027. Local governments must accept electronic submissions and comply with standardized review timelines.
Questions:
Please contact the Building & Licensing Department prior to beginning work if you are unsure whether your project qualifies for exemption.
City of Opa Locka | 780 Fisherman Street, Opa Locka FL 33054| 305 953-2868 Option 4
https://:www.opalockafl.gov
