453.3 Code Enforcement

Section 553.80(6), Florida Statutes, provides options for plan review services and inspections by school boards and Florida college boards.

A school board or Florida college board which undertakes the construction, remodeling, renovation, lease, or lease-purchase of any educational plant or ancillary facility, or day labor project, regardless of cost or fund source, shall review construction documents as required by law in Section 1013.38, Florida Statutes, and Section 553.80(6), Florida Statutes, and shall ensure compliance with requirements of law, rule, and the Florida Building Code and the Florida Fire Prevention Code as adopted by the State Fire Marshal. Section 553.80(6), Florida Statutes, states that district school boards and Florida college boards shall provide for plan review and inspections for their projects. They shall use personnel certified under Part XII of Chapter 468, Florida Statutes, to perform the plan reviews and inspections or use one of the options provided in Section 1013.38, Florida Statutes. Under this arrangement, school boards and Florida college boards are not subject to local government permitting, plan review, and inspection fees.

As an option to the owner providing plan review and inspection services, school boards and Florida college boards may use local government code enforcement officers who will not charge fees more than the actual labor and administrative costs for the plan review and inspections. Local government code enforcement offices shall expedite permitting. Any action by local government not in compliance with Section 553.80(6), Florida Statutes, may be appealed to the Florida Building Commission, which may suspend the authority of that local government to enforce the Florida Building Code and the Florida Fire Prevention Code as adopted by the State Fire Marshal on the facilities of school boards and Florida college boards.

Boards shall coordinate the planning of projects with state and regional regulatory and permitting agencies, as applicable. Other state or local agencies may inspect new construction or existing facilities when required by law; however, such inspections shall be in conformance with the code as modified by this section.

Any one construction project estimated to cost $300,000 or less where bonafide board employees or contracted labor provide the work. Day labor projects are subject to the same Florida Building Code and the Florida Fire Prevention Code as adopted by the State Fire Marshal as new construction.

Maintenance projects are subject to the same Florida Building Code and Florida Fire Prevention Code as adopted by the State Fire Marshal as new construction. Chapter 489, Florida Statutes, exempts boards from the use of a licensed general contractor for projects up to $200,000 where bonafide board employees provide the work. Maintenance projects which include construction, renovation and/or remodeling, shall be reviewed for compliance with the code.

New buildings, additions, renovations, and remodeling shall not be occupied until the building has received a certificate of occupancy for compliance with codes that were in effect on the date of permit application.

Reuse and prototype plans shall be code updated with each new project.