The bill amends various sections of Florida Statutes concerning building construction, particularly focusing on the roles and responsibilities of building code administrators, inspectors, and contractors. Key provisions include the establishment of internship programs for residential inspectors and plans examiners, which will require specific training and certification. The bill also streamlines the building permit application process by allowing owners or their agents to sign applications both personally and virtually. Additionally, it revises the definition of a residential inspector and updates the requirements for a notice of commencement, raising the threshold contract value for when such a notice must be filed from $5,000 to $7,000.

Moreover, the bill introduces new regulations regarding the responsibilities of qualifying agents and the process for changing contractors. A newly designated qualifying agent must apply for a change of contractor within 90 days of their designation, and if the previous agent is unavailable, the property owner can notify them and submit a change of contractor form along with a hold harmless affidavit. The bill clarifies that the new qualifying agent is not liable for the previous agent's work but must address any necessary corrective actions. It also removes the requirement for a certified copy of the notice of commencement and adds a general description of the improvement to the information that must be verified by the issuing authority. The act is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 1298 Filed: 455.2124, 468.609, 489.103