Chapter 1 Scope and Administration

The provisions of this code shall apply to the construction, alteration, relocation, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, maintenance, removal and demolition of every building or structure or any appurtenances connected or attached to such buildings or structures.

For additional administrative and special code requirements, see Section 458, Florida Building Code, Building, and Rule 61-41 F.A.C.

The provisions of the Florida Building Code shall apply to the construction, erection, alteration, modification, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, maintenance, removal and demolition of every public and private building, structure or facility or floating residential structure, or any appurtenances connected or attached to such buildings, structures or facilities. Additions, alterations, repairs and changes of use or occupancy group in all buildings and structures shall comply with the provisions provided in the Florida Building Code, Existing Building. The following buildings, structures and facilities are exempt from the Florida Building Code as provided by law, and any further exemptions shall be as determined by the legislature and provided by law:

1. Building and structures specifically regulated and preempted by the federal government.
2. Railroads and ancillary facilities associated with the railroad.
3. Nonresidential farm buildings on farms.
4. Temporary buildings or sheds used exclusively for construction purposes.
5. Mobile or modular structures used as temporary offices, except that the provisions of Part II (Sections 553.501–553.513, Florida Statutes) relating to accessibility by persons with disabilities shall apply to such mobile or modular structures.
6. Those structures or facilities of electric utilities, as defined in Section 366.02, Florida Statutes, which are directly involved in the generation, transmission, or distribution of electricity.
7. Temporary sets, assemblies, or structures used in commercial motion picture or television production, or any sound-recording equipment used in such production, on or off the premises.
8. Chickees constructed by the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida or the Seminole Tribe of Florida. As used in this paragraph, the term “chickee” means an open-sided wooden hut that has a thatched roof of palm or palmetto or other traditional materials, and that does not incorporate any electrical, plumbing, or other nonwood features.
9. Family mausoleums not exceeding 250 square feet (23 m²) in area which are prefabricated and assembled on site or preassembled and delivered on site and have walls, roofs, and a floor constructed of granite, marble, or reinforced concrete.
10. Temporary housing provided by the Department of Corrections to any prisoner in the state correctional system.

11. A building or structure having less than 1,000 square feet (93 m²) which is constructed and owned by a natural person for hunting and which is repaired or reconstructed to the same dimension and condition as existed on January 1, 2011, if the building or structure:

    1. Is not rented or leased or used as a principal residence;
    2. Is not located within the 100-year floodplain according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s current Flood Insurance Rate Map; and
    3. Is not connected to an off-site electric power or water supply.

Residential buildings or structures moved into or within a county or municipality shall not be required to be brought into compliance with the state minimum building code in force at the time the building or structure is moved, provided:

1. The building or structure is structurally sound and in occupiable condition for its intended use;
2. The occupancy use classification for the building or structure is not changed as a result of the move;
3. The building is not substantially remodeled;
4. Current fire code requirements for ingress and egress are met;
5. Electrical, gas and plumbing systems meet the codes in force at the time of construction and are operational and safe for reconnection; and
6. Foundation plans are sealed by a professional engineer or architect licensed to practice in this state, if required by the Florida Building Code, Building for all residential buildings or structures of the same occupancy class.

Each enforcement district shall be governed by a board, the composition of which shall be determined by the affected localities.

1. At its own option, each enforcement district or local enforcement agency may adopt rules granting to the owner of a single-family residence one or more exemptions from the Florida Building Code relating to:

   1. Addition, alteration, or repairs performed by the property owner upon his or her own property, provided any addition or alteration shall not exceed 1,000 square feet (93 m²) or the square footage of the primary structure, whichever is less.
   2. Addition, alteration, or repairs by a nonowner within a specific cost limitation set by rule, provided the total cost shall not exceed $5,000 within any 12-month period.
   3. Building and inspection fees.
2. However, the exemptions under subparagraph 1 do not apply to single-family residences that are located in mapped flood hazard areas, as defined in the code, unless the enforcement district or local enforcement agency has determined that the work, which is otherwise exempt, does not constitute a substantial improvement, including the repair of substantial damage, of such single-family residences.
3. Each code exemption, as defined in sub-subparagraphs 1a, 1b, and 1c shall be certified to the local board 10 days prior to implementation and shall only be effective in the territorial jurisdiction of the enforcement district or local enforcement agency implementing it.

This section does not apply to swings and other playground equipment accessory to a one- or two-family dwelling.

Exception: Electrical service to such playground equipment shall be in accordance with Chapter 27 of this code.

1. Relocation of an existing manufactured building does not constitute an alteration.
2. A relocated building shall comply with wind speed requirements of the new location, using the appropriate wind speed map. If the existing building was manufactured in compliance with the Standard Building Code (prior to March 1, 2002), the wind speed map of the Standard Building Code shall be applicable. If the existing building was manufactured in compliance with the Florida Building Code (after March 1, 2002), the wind speed map of the Florida Building Code shall be applicable.
3. A relocated building shall comply with the flood hazard area requirements of the new location, if applicable.

Exemptions from permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this code. Permits shall not be required for the following:

• Gas:

  1. Portable heating appliance.
  2. Replacement of any minor part that does not alter approval of equipment or make such equipment unsafe.

• Mechanical:

  1. Portable heating appliance.
  2. Portable ventilation equipment.
  3. Portable cooling unit.
  4. Steam, hot or chilled water piping within any heating or cooling equipment regulated by this code.
  5. Replacement of any part that does not alter its approval or make it unsafe.
  6. Portable evaporative cooler.
  7. Self-contained refrigeration system containing 10 pounds (4.54 kg) or less of refrigerant and actuated by motors of 1 horsepower (0.75 kW) or less.
  8. The installation, replacement, removal or metering of any load management control device.

• Plumbing:

  1. The stopping of leaks in drains, water, soil, waste or vent pipe, provided, however, that if any concealed trap, drain pipe, water, soil, waste or vent pipe becomes defective and it becomes necessary to remove and replace the same with new material, such work shall be considered as new work and a permit shall be obtained and inspection made as provided in this code.
  2. The clearing of stoppages or the repairing of leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures and the removal and reinstallation of water closets, provided such repairs do not involve or require the replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes or fixtures.

To obtain a permit, the applicant shall first file an application therefor in writing on a form furnished by the building department for that purpose.

Permit application forms shall be in the format prescribed by a local administrative board, if applicable, and must comply with the requirements of Sections 713.135(5) and (6), Florida Statutes.

Each application shall be inscribed with the date of application, and the code in effect as of that date. For a building permit for which an application is submitted prior to the effective date of the Florida Building Code, the state minimum building code in effect in the permitting jurisdiction on the date of the application governs the permitted work for the life of the permit and any extension granted to the permit.

Effective October 1, 2017, a local enforcement agency shall post each type of building permit application on its website. Completed applications must be able to be submitted electronically to the appropriate building department. Accepted methods of electronic submission include, but are not limited to, e-mail submission of applications in portable document format or submission of applications through an electronic fill-in form available on the building department’s website or through a third-party submission management software. Payments, attachments, or drawings required as part of the permit application may be submitted in person in a nonelectronic format, at the discretion of the building official.

No permit may be issued for any building construction, erection, alteration, modification, repair, or addition unless the applicant for such permit provides to the enforcing agency which issues the permit any of the following documents which apply to the construction for which the permit is to be issued and which shall be prepared by or under the direction of an engineer registered under Chapter 471, Florida Statutes:

1. Plumbing documents for any new building or addition which requires a plumbing system with more than 250 fixture units or which costs more than $125,000.
2. Fire sprinkler documents for any new building or addition which includes a fire sprinkler system which contains 50 or more sprinkler heads. Personnel as authorized by chapter 633 Florida Statutes, may design a fire sprinkler system of 49 or fewer heads and may design the alteration of an existing fire sprinkler system if the alteration consists of the relocation, addition or deletion of not more than 49 heads, notwithstanding the size of the existing fire sprinkler system.

3. Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning documents for any new building or addition which requires more than a 15-ton-per-system capacity which is designed to accommodate 100 or more persons or for which the system costs more than $125,000. This paragraph does not include any document for the replacement or repair of an existing system in which the work does not require altering a structural part of the building or for work on a residential one-, two-, three-, or four-family structure.

   An air-conditioning system may be designed by an installing air-conditioning contractor certified under Chapter 489, Florida Statutes, to serve any building or addition which is designed to accommodate fewer than 100 persons and requires an air-conditioning system with a value of $125,000 or less; and when a 15-ton-per system or less is designed for a singular space of a building and each 15-ton system or less has an independent duct system. Systems not complying with the above require design documents that are to be sealed by a professional engineer.

   Example 1: When a space has two 10-ton systems with each having an independent duct system, the contractor may design these two systems since each unit (system) is less than 15 tons.

   Example 2: Consider a small single-story office building which consists of six individual offices where each office has a single three-ton package air conditioning heat pump. The six heat pumps are connected to a single water cooling tower. The cost of the entire heating, ventilation and air-conditioning work is $47,000 and the office building accommodates fewer than 100 persons. Because the six mechanical units are connected to a common water tower, this is considered to be an 18-ton system.

   Note: It was further clarified by the Commission that the limiting criteria of 100 persons and $125,000 apply to the building occupancy load and the cost for the total air-conditioning system of the building.

4. Any specialized mechanical, electrical, or plumbing document for any new building or addition which includes a medical gas, oxygen, steam, vacuum, toxic air filtration, halon, or fire detection and alarm system which costs more than $5,000.

5. Electrical documents. See Florida Statutes 471.003(2)(h).

   Documents requiring an engineer seal by this part shall not be valid unless a professional engineer who possesses a valid certificate of registration has signed, dated, and stamped such document as provided in Section 471.025, Florida Statutes.

6. All public swimming pools and public bathing places defined by and regulated under Chapter 514, Florida Statutes.

Moving, removal or disposal of asbestos-containing materials on a residential building where the owner occupies the building, the building is not for sale or lease, and the work is performed according to the owner-builder limitations provided in this paragraph. To qualify for exemption under this paragraph, an owner must personally appear and sign the building permit application. The permitting agency shall provide the person with a disclosure statement in substantially the following form:

• Disclosure Statement: State law requires asbestos abatement to be done by licensed contractors. You have applied for a permit under an exemption to that law. The exemption allows you, as the owner of your property, to act as your own asbestos abatement contractor even though you do not have a license. You must supervise the construction yourself. You may move, remove or dispose of asbestos-containing materials on a residential building where you occupy the building and the building is not for sale or lease, or the building is a farm outbuilding on your property. If you sell or lease such building within 1 year after the asbestos abatement is complete, the law will presume that you intended to sell or lease the property at the time the work was done, which is a violation of this exemption. You may not hire an unlicensed person as your contractor. Your work must be done according to all local, state and federal laws and regulations which apply to asbestos abatement projects. It is your responsibility to make sure that people employed by you have licenses required by state law and by county or municipal licensing ordinances.

Whenever a permit is issued in reliance upon an affidavit or whenever the work to be covered by a permit involves installation under conditions which, in the opinion of the building official, are hazardous or complex, the building official shall require that the architect or engineer who signed the affidavit or prepared the drawings or computations shall supervise such work. In addition, they shall be responsible for conformity to the permit, provide copies of inspection reports as inspections are performed, and upon completion make and file with the building official written affidavit that the work has been done in conformity to the reviewed plans and with the structural provisions of the technical codes. In the event such architect or engineer is not available, the owner shall employ in his stead a competent person or agency whose qualifications are reviewed by the building official. The building official shall ensure that any person conducting plans review is qualified as a plans examiner under Part XII of Chapter 468, Florida Statutes, and that any person conducting inspections is qualified as a building inspector under Part XII of Chapter 468, Florida Statutes.

Exception: Permit issued on basis of an affidavit shall not extend to the flood load and flood resistance requirements of the Florida Building Code.

When any activity requiring a building permit, not including roof covering replacement or repair work associated with the prevention of degradation of the residence, that is applied for on or after July 1, 2008, and for which the estimated cost is $50,000 or more for a site built single-family detached residential structure that is located in the wind borne debris region as defined in this code and that has an insured value of $750,000 or more, or, if the site built single-family detached residential structure is uninsured or for which documentation of insured value is not presented, has a just valuation for the structure for purposes of ad valorem taxation of $750,000 or more; opening protections as required within this code or Florida Building Code, Residential for new construction shall be provided.

Exception: Single family residential structures permitted subject to the Florida Building Code are not required to comply with this section.

1. A local enforcing agency, and any local building code administrator, inspector, or other official or entity, may not require as a condition of issuance of a one- or two-family residential building permit the inspection of any portion of a building, structure, or real property that is not directly impacted by the construction, erection, alteration, modification, repair, or demolition of the building, structure, or real property for which the permit is sought.

2. This subsection does not apply to a building permit sought for:

   1. A substantial improvement as defined in s. 161.54, Florida Statutes or as defined in the Florida Building Code.
   2. A change of occupancy as defined in the Florida Building Code.
   3. A conversion from residential to nonresidential or mixed use pursuant to s. 553.507(2)(a), Florida Statutes or as defined in the Florida Building Code.
   4. A historic building as defined in the Florida Building Code.

3. This subsection does not prohibit a local enforcing agency, or any local building code administrator, inspector, or other official or entity, from:

   1. Citing any violation inadvertently observed in plain view during the ordinary course of an inspection conducted in accordance with the prohibition in paragraph (a).
   2. Inspecting a physically nonadjacent portion of a building, structure, or real property that is directly impacted by the construction, erection, alteration, modification, repair, or demolition of the building, structure, or real property for which the permit is sought in accordance with the prohibition in paragraph (a).
   3. Inspecting any portion of a building, structure, or real property for which the owner or other person having control of the building, structure, or real property has voluntarily consented to the inspection of that portion of the building, structure, or real property in accordance with the prohibition in paragraph (a).
   4. Inspecting any portion of a building, structure, or real property pursuant to an inspection warrant issued in accordance with ss. 933.20-933.30, Florida Statutes.

1. As used in this section, the term:

   1. “Contractor” means a person who is qualified to engage in the business of electrical or alarm system contracting pursuant to a certificate or registration issued by the department under Part II of Chapter 489, Florida Statutes.
   2. “Low-voltage alarm system project” means a project related to the installation, maintenance, inspection, replacement, or service of a new or existing alarm system, as defined in s. 489.505, Florida Statutes, that is hardwired and operating at low voltage, as defined in the National Electrical Code Standard 70, Current Edition, or a new or existing low-voltage electric fence, and ancillary components or equipment attached to such a system, or fence, including, but not limited to, home-automation equipment, thermostats, closed-circuit television systems, access controls, battery recharging devices, and video cameras.
   3. “Low-voltage electric fence” means an alarm system, as defined in s. 489.505, that consists of a fence structure and an energizer powered by a commercial storage battery not exceeding 12 volts which produces an electric charge upon contact with the fence structure.
   4. “Wireless alarm system” means a burglar alarm system of smoke detector that is not hardwired.
2. Notwithstanding any provision of this code, this section applies to all low-voltage alarm system projects for which a permit is required by a local enforcement agency. However, a permit is not required to install, maintain, inspect, replace, or service a wireless alarm system, including any ancillary components or equipment attached to the system.

3. A low-voltage electric fence must meet all of the following requirements to be permitted as a low-voltage alarm system project and no further permit shall be required for the low-voltage alarm system project other than as provided in this section:

   1. The electric charge produced by the fence upon contact must not exceed energizer characteristics set forth in paragraph 22.108 and depicted in Figure 102 of International Electrotechnical Commission Standard No. 60335-2-76, Current Edition.
   2. A nonelectric fence or wall must completely enclose the low-voltage electric fence. The lowvoltage electric fence may be up to 2 feet higher than the perimeter nonelectric fence or wall.
   3. The low-voltage electric fence must be identified using warning signs attached to the fence at intervals of not more than 60 feet.
   4. The low-voltage electric fence shall not be installed in an area zoned exclusively for singlefamily or multi-family residential use.
   5. The low-voltage electric fence shall not enclose the portions of a property which are used for residential purposes.
4. This section does not apply to the installation or replacement of a fire alarm if a plan review is required.

5. A local enforcement agency shall make uniform basic permit labels available for purchase by a contractor to be used for the installation or replacement of a new or existing alarm system at a cost as indicated in s. 553.793, Florida Statutes. The local enforcement agency may not require the payment of any additional fees, charges, or expenses associated with the installation or replacement of a new or existing alarm.

   1. A local enforcement agency may not require a contractor, as a condition of purchasing a label, to submit information other than identification information of the licensee and proof of registration or certification as a contractor.
   2. A label is valid for 1 year after the date of purchase and may only be used within the jurisdiction of the local enforcement agency that issued the label. A contractor may purchase labels in bulk for one or more unspecified current or future projects.
6. A contractor shall post an unused uniform basic permit label in a conspicuous place on the premises of the low-voltage alarm system project site before commencing work on the project.
7. A contractor is not required to notify the local enforcement agency before commencing work on a low-voltage alarm system project. However, a contractor must submit a Uniform Notice of a Low-Voltage Alarm System Project as provided under subsection (7) to the local enforcement agency within 14 days after completing the project. A local enforcement agency may take disciplinary action against a contractor who fails to timely submit a Uniform Notice of a Low-Voltage Alarm System Project.
8. The Uniform Notice of a Low-Voltage Alarm System Project may be submitted electronically or by facsimile if all submissions are signed by the owner, tenant, contractor, or authorized representative of such persons. The Uniform Notice of a Low-Voltage Alarm System Project shall be in the format prescribed by the local enforcement agency and must comply with the requirements of s. 553.793(7), Florida Statutes.
9. A local enforcement agency may coordinate directly with the owner or customer to inspect a low-voltage alarm system to ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards. If a low-voltage alarm system project fails an inspection, the contractor must take corrective action as necessary to pass inspection.
10. A municipality, county, district, or other entity of local government may not adopt or maintain in effect any ordinance or rule regarding a low-voltage alarm system project that is inconsistent with this section.

11. A uniform basic permit label shall not be required for the subsequent maintenance, inspection, or service of an alarm system that was permitted in accordance with this section.

    The provisions of this act are not intended to impose new or additional licensure requirements on persons licensed in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 489, Florida Statutes.

Submittal documents consisting of construction documents, statement of special inspections, geotechnical report and other data shall be submitted in two or more sets with each permit application. The construction documents shall be prepared by a registered design professional where required by Chapter 471, Florida Statutes or Chapter 481, Florida Statutes. Where special conditions exist, the building official is authorized to require additional construction documents to be prepared by a registered design professional.

Exception: The building official is authorized to waive the submission of construction documents and other data not required to be prepared by a registered design professional if it is found that the nature of the work applied for is such that review of construction documents is not necessary to obtain compliance with this code.

Construction documents for all buildings shall describe the exterior wall envelope in sufficient detail to determine compliance with this code. The construction documents shall provide details of the exterior wall envelope as required, including flashing, intersections with dissimilar materials, corners, end details, control joints, intersections at roof, eaves or parapets, means of drainage, water-resistive membrane and details around openings.

The construction documents shall include manufacturer’s installation instructions that provide supporting documentation that the proposed penetration and opening details described in the construction documents maintain the weather resistance of the exterior wall envelope. The supporting documentation shall fully describe the exterior wall system that was tested, where applicable, as well as the test procedure used.

The building official shall examine or cause to be examined the accompanying submittal documents and shall ascertain by such examinations whether the construction indicated and described is in accordance with the requirements of this code and other pertinent laws or ordinances.

Deferral of any submittal items shall have the prior approval of the building official. The registered design professional in responsible charge shall list the deferred submittals on the construction documents for review by the building official.

Documents for deferred submittal items shall be submitted to the registered design professional in responsible charge who shall review them and forward them to the building official with a notation indicating that the deferred submittal documents have been reviewed and found to be in general conformance to the design of the building. The deferred submittal items shall not be installed until the deferred submittal documents have been approved by the building official.

The examination of the documents by the building official shall include the following minimum criteria and documents: a floor plan; site plan; foundation plan; floor/roof framing plan or truss layout; all fenestration penetrations; flashing; and rough opening dimensions; and all exterior elevations:

Commercial Buildings:

• Building:

  1. Site requirements:

     • Parking
     • Fire access
     • Vehicle loading
     • Driving/turning radius
     • Fire hydrant/water supply/post indicator valve (PIV)
     • Set back/separation (assumed property lines)
     • Location of specific tanks, water lines and sewer lines
     • Flood hazard areas, flood zones, and design flood elevations
  2. Occupancy group and special occupancy requirements shall be determined.
  3. Minimum type of construction shall be determined (see Table 503).

  4. Fire-resistant construction requirements shall include the following components:

     • Fire-resistant separations
     • Fire-resistant protection for type of construction
     • Protection of openings and penetrations of rated walls
     • Fire blocking and draftstopping and calculated fire resistance

  5. Fire suppression systems shall include:

     • Early warning smoke evacuation systems Schematic fire sprinklers
     • Standpipes
     • Pre-engineered systems
     • Riser diagram.

  6. Life safety systems shall be determined and shall include the following requirements:

     • Occupant load and egress capacities
     • Early warning
     • Smoke control
     • Stair pressurization
     • Systems schematic

  7. Occupancy load/egress requirements shall include:

     • Occupancy load
     • Gross
     • Net
     • Means of egress
     • Exit access
     • Exit
     • Exit discharge
     • Stairs construction/geometry and protection
     • Doors
     • Emergency lighting and exit signs
     • Specific occupancy requirements
     • Construction requirements
     • Horizontal exits/exit passageways

  8. Structural requirements shall include:

     • Soil conditions/analysis
     • Termite protection
     • Design loads
     • Wind requirements
     • Building envelope
     • Impact resistant coverings or systems
     • Structural calculations (if required)
     • Foundation
     • Flood requirements in accordance with Section 1612, including lowest floor elevations, enclosures, flood damage-resistant materials
     • Wall systems
     • Floor systems
     • Roof systems
     • Threshold inspection plan
     • Stair systems

  9. Materials shall be reviewed and shall at a minimum include the following:

     • Wood
     • Steel
     • Aluminum
     • Concrete
     • Plastic
     • Glass
     • Masonry
     • Gypsum board and plaster
     • Insulating (mechanical)
     • Roofing
     • Insulation

  10. Accessibility requirements shall include the following:

      • Site requirements
      • Accessible route
      • Vertical accessibility
      • Toilet and bathing facilities
      • Drinking fountains
      • Equipment
      • Special occupancy requirements
      • Fair housing requirements

  11. Interior requirements shall include the following:

      • Interior finishes (flame spread/smoke development)
      • Light and ventilation
      • Sanitation

  12. Special systems:

      • Elevators
      • Escalators
      • Lifts

  13. Swimming pools:

      • Barrier requirements
      • Spas
      • Wading pools
  14. Location and installation details. The specific location and installation details of each fire door, fire damper, ceiling damper and smoke damper shall be shown and properly identified on the building plans by the designer.

• Electrical:

  1. Electrical:

     • Wiring
     • Services
     • Feeders and branch circuits
     • Overcurrent protection
     • Grounding
     • Wiring methods and materials
     • GFCIs
  2. Equipment
  3. Special occupancies
  4. Emergency systems
  5. Communication systems
  6. Low voltage
  7. Load calculations
  8. Design flood elevation

• Plumbing:

  1. Minimum plumbing facilities
  2. Fixture requirements
  3. Water supply piping
  4. Sanitary drainage
  5. Water heaters
  6. Vents
  7. Roof drainage
  8. Back flow prevention
  9. Irrigation
  10. Location of water supply line
  11. Grease traps
  12. Environmental requirements
  13. Plumbing riser
  14. Design flood elevation

• Mechanical:

  1. Energy calculations

  2. Exhaust systems:

     • Clothes dryer exhaust
     • Kitchen equipment exhaust
     • Specialty exhaust systems
  3. Equipment
  4. Equipment location
  5. Make-up air
  6. Roof-mounted equipment
  7. Duct systems
  8. Ventilation
  9. Combustion air
  10. Chimneys, fireplaces and vents
  11. Appliances
  12. Boilers
  13. Refrigeration
  14. Bathroom ventilation
  15. Laboratory
  16. Design flood elevation

• Gas:

  1. Gas piping
  2. Venting
  3. Combustion air
  4. Chimneys and vents
  5. Appliances
  6. Type of gas
  7. Fireplaces
  8. LP tank location
  9. Riser diagram/shutoffs
  10. Design flood elevation

• Demolition:

  1. Asbestos removal

• Residential (one- and two-family):

  1. Site requirements:

     • Set back/separation (assumed property lines)
     • Location of septic tanks
  2. Fire-resistant construction (if required)
  3. Fire
  4. Smoke detector locations

  5. Egress:

     • Egress window size and location stairs construction requirements

  6. Structural requirements shall include:

     • Wall section from foundation through roof, including assembly and materials connector tables wind requirements structural calculations (if required)
     • Flood hazard areas, flood zones, design flood elevations, lowest floor elevations, enclosures, equipment, and flood damage-resistant materials

  7. Accessibility requirements:

     • Show/identify
     • Accessible bath
  8. Impact resistant coverings or systems

• Exemptions:

  Plans examination by the building official shall not be required for the following work:

  1. Replacing existing equipment such as mechanical units, water heaters, etc.
  2. Reroofs
  3. Minor electrical, plumbing and mechanical repairs
  4. Annual maintenance permits

  5. Prototype plans:

     • Except for local site adaptions, siding, foundations and/or modifications.
     • Except for structures that require waiver.
  6. Manufactured buildings plan except for foundations and modifications of buildings on site.

The building official upon notification from the permit holder or his or her agent shall make the following inspections, and shall either release that portion of the construction or shall notify the permit holder or his or her agent of any violations which must be corrected in order to comply with the technical codes. The building official shall determine the timing and sequencing of when inspections occur and what elements are inspected at each inspection.

• Building

  1. Foundation inspection. To be made after trenches are excavated and forms erected and shall at a minimum include the following building components:

     • Stem-wall
     • Monolithic slab-on-grade
     • Piling/pile caps

     • Footers/grade beams

       1. In flood hazard areas, upon placement of the lowest floor, including basement, and prior to further vertical construction, the elevation certification shall be submitted to the authority having jurisdiction.

  2. Framing inspection. To be made after the roof, all framing, fireblocking and bracing is in place, all concealing wiring, all pipes, chimneys, ducts and vents are complete and shall at a minimum include the following building components:

     • Window/door framing
     • Vertical cells/columns
     • Lintel/tie beams
     • Framing/trusses/bracing/connectors
     • Draft stopping/fire blocking
     • Curtain wall framing
     • Energy insulation
     • Accessibility
     • Verify rough opening dimensions are within tolerances.

  3. Sheathing inspection. To be made either as part of a dry-in inspection or done separately at the request of the contractor after all roof and wall sheathing and fasteners are complete and shall at a minimum include the following building components:

     • Roof sheathing
     • Wall sheathing
     • Sheathing fasteners
     • Roof/wall dry-in

  4. Roofing inspection. Shall at a minimum include the following building components:

     • Dry-in
     • Insulation
     • Roof coverings
     • Flashing

  5. Final inspection. To be made after the building is completed and ready for occupancy.

     1. 5.1. In flood hazard areas, as part of the final inspection, a final certification of the lowest floor elevation shall be submitted to the authority having jurisdiction.

  6. Swimming pool inspection. First inspection to be made after excavation and installation of reinforcing steel, bonding and main drain and prior to placing of concrete.

     Final inspection to be made when the swimming pool is complete and all required enclosure requirements are in place.

     In order to pass final inspection and receive a certificate of completion, a residential swimming pool must meet the requirements relating to pool safety features as described in Section 454.2.17 of this code.

  7. Demolition inspections. First inspection to be made after all utility connections have been disconnected and secured in such manner that no unsafe or unsanitary conditions shall exist during or after demolition operations.

     Final inspection to be made after all demolition work is completed.

  8. Manufactured building inspections. The building department shall inspect construction of foundations; connecting buildings to foundations; installation of parts identified on plans as site installed items, joining the modules, including utility crossovers; utility connections from the building to utility lines on site; and any other work done on site which requires compliance with the Florida Building Code. Additional inspections may be required for public educational facilities (see Section 453.27.20 of this code).

  9. Where impact-resistant coverings or impact-resistant systems are installed, the building official shall schedule adequate inspections of impact-resistant coverings or impact-resistant systems to determine the following:

     The system indicated on the plans was installed.

     The system is installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions and the product approval.

• Electrical

  1. Underground inspection. To be made after trenches or ditches are excavated, conduit or cable installed, and before any backfill is put in place.
  2. Rough-in inspection. To be made after the roof, framing, fireblocking and bracing is in place and prior to the installation of wall or ceiling membranes.
  3. Final inspection. To be made after the building is complete, all required electrical fixtures are in place and properly connected or protected, and the structure is ready for occupancy.
  4. Existing Swimming Pools. To be made after all repairs or alterations are complete, all required electrical equipment, GFCI protection, and equipotential bonding are in place on said alterations or repairs.

• Plumbing

  1. Underground inspection. To be made after trenches or ditches are excavated, piping installed, and before any backfill is put in place.
  2. Rough-in inspection. To be made after the roof, framing, fireblocking and bracing is in place and all soil, waste and vent piping is complete, and prior to this installation of wall or ceiling membranes.

  3. Final inspection. To be made after the building is complete, all plumbing fixtures are in place and properly connected, and the structure is ready for occupancy.

     Note: See Section 312 of the Florida Building Code, Plumbing for required tests.

• Mechanical

  1. Underground inspection. To be made after trenches or ditches are excavated, underground duct and fuel piping installed, and before any backfill is put in place.
  2. Rough-in inspection. To be made after the roof, framing, fire blocking and bracing are in place and all ducting, and other concealed components are complete, and prior to the installation of wall or ceiling membranes.
  3. Final inspection. To be made after the building is complete, the mechanical system is in place and properly connected, and the structure is ready for occupancy.

• Gas

  1. Rough piping inspection. To be made after all new piping authorized by the permit has been installed, and before any such piping has been covered or concealed or any fixtures or gas appliances have been connected.
  2. Final piping inspection. To be made after all piping authorized by the permit has been installed and after all portions which are to be concealed by plastering or otherwise have been so concealed, and before any fixtures or gas appliances have been connected. This inspection shall include a pressure test.
  3. Final inspection. To be made on all new gas work authorized by the permit and such portions of existing systems as may be affected by new work or any changes, to ensure compliance with all the requirements of this code and to assure that the installation and construction of the gas system is in accordance with reviewed plans.

Lath, gypsum board and gypsum panel product inspections shall be made after lathing, gypsum board and gypsum panel products, interior and exterior, are in place, but before any plastering is applied or gypsum board and gypsum panel product joints and fasteners are taped and finished.

Exception:Gypsum board and gypsum panel products that are not part of a fire-resistance-rated assembly or a shear assembly.

Where impact-resistant coverings or systems are installed to meet requirements of this code, the building official shall schedule adequate inspections of impact-resistant coverings or systems to determine the following:

1. The system indicated on the plans was installed.
2. The system is installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions and the product approval.

A building or structure shall not be used or occupied, and a change in the existing use or occupancy classification of a building or structure or portion thereof shall not be made, until the building official has issued a certificate of occupancy therefor as provided herein. Issuance of a certificate of occupancy shall not be construed as an approval of a violation of the provisions of this code or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction.

Exception: Certificates of occupancy are not required for work exempt from permits in accordance with Section 105.2.

After the building official inspects the building or structure and does not find violations of the provisions of this code or other laws that are enforced by the department of building safety, the building official shall issue a certificate of occupancy that contains the following:

1. The building permit number.
2. The address of the structure.
3. The name and address of the owner or the owner’s authorized agent.
4. A description of that portion of the structure for which the certificate is issued.
5. A statement that the described portion of the structure has been inspected for compliance with the requirements of this code for the occupancy and division of occupancy and the use for which the proposed occupancy is classified.
6. For buildings and structures in flood hazard areas, a statement that documentation of the as-built lowest floor elevation has been provided and is retained in the records of the authority having jurisdiction
7. The name of the building official.
8. The edition of the code under which the permit was issued.
9. The use and occupancy, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 3.
10. The type of construction as defined in Chapter 6.
11. The design occupant load.
12. If an automatic sprinkler system is provided, whether the sprinkler system is required.
13. Any special stipulations and conditions of the building permit.