Florida Statutes
Part IV - Florida Building Code (Ss. 553.70-553.899)
553.792 - Building permit application to local government.

(1)(a) Within 10 days of an applicant submitting an application to the local government, the local government shall advise the applicant what information, if any, is needed to deem the application properly completed in compliance with the filing requirements published by the local government. If the local government does not provide written notice that the applicant has not submitted the properly completed application, the application shall be automatically deemed properly completed and accepted. Within 45 days after receiving a completed application, a local government must notify an applicant if additional information is required for the local government to determine the sufficiency of the application, and shall specify the additional information that is required. The applicant must submit the additional information to the local government or request that the local government act without the additional information. While the applicant responds to the request for additional information, the 120-day period described in this subsection is tolled. Both parties may agree to a reasonable request for an extension of time, particularly in the event of a force majeure or other extraordinary circumstance. The local government must approve, approve with conditions, or deny the application within 120 days following receipt of a completed application.

(b)1. When reviewing an application for a building permit, a local government may not request additional information from the applicant more than three times, unless the applicant waives such limitation in writing.
2. If a local government requests additional information from an applicant and the applicant submits the requested additional information to the local government within 30 days after receiving the request, the local government must, within 15 days after receiving such information:
a. Determine if the application is properly completed;
b. Approve the application;
c. Approve the application with conditions;
d. Deny the application; or
e. Advise the applicant of information, if any, that is needed to deem the application properly completed or to determine the sufficiency of the application.

3. If a local government makes a second request for additional information from the applicant and the applicant submits the requested additional information to the local government within 30 days after receiving the request, the local government must, within 10 days after receiving such information:
a. Determine if the application is properly completed;
b. Approve the application;
c. Approve the application with conditions;
d. Deny the application; or
e. Advise the applicant of information, if any, that is needed to deem the application properly completed or to determine the sufficiency of the application.

4. Before a third request for additional information may be made, the applicant must be offered an opportunity to meet with the local government to attempt to resolve outstanding issues. If a local government makes a third request for additional information from the applicant and the applicant submits the requested additional information to the local government within 30 days after receiving the request, the local government must, within 10 days after receiving such information unless the applicant waived the local government’s limitation in writing, determine that the application is complete and:
a. Approve the application;
b. Approve the application with conditions; or
c. Deny the application.

5. If the applicant believes the request for additional information is not authorized by ordinance, rule, statute, or other legal authority, the local government, at the applicant’s request, must process the application and either approve the application, approve the application with conditions, or deny the application.

(c) If a local government fails to meet a deadline provided in paragraphs (a) and (b), it must reduce the building permit fee by 10 percent for each business day that it fails to meet the deadline. Each 10-percent reduction shall be based on the original amount of the building permit fee, unless the parties agree to an extension of time.

(2)(a) The procedures set forth in subsection (1) apply to the following building permit applications: accessory structure; alarm permit; nonresidential buildings less than 25,000 square feet; electric; irrigation permit; landscaping; mechanical; plumbing; residential units other than a single family unit; multifamily residential not exceeding 50 units; roofing; signs; site-plan approvals and subdivision plats not requiring public hearings or public notice; and lot grading and site alteration associated with the permit application set forth in this subsection. The procedures set forth in subsection (1) do not apply to permits for any wireless communications facilities or when a law, agency rule, or local ordinance specify different timeframes for review of local building permit applications.
(b) If a local government has different timeframes than the timeframes set forth in subsection (1) for reviewing building permit applications described in paragraph (a), the local government must meet the deadlines established by local ordinance. If a local government does not meet an established deadline to approve, approve with conditions, or deny an application, it must reduce the building permit fee by 10 percent for each business day that it fails to meet the deadline. Each 10-percent reduction shall be based on the original amount of the building permit fee, unless the parties agree to an extension of time. This paragraph does not apply to permits for any wireless communications facilities.

(3) If any building permit fees are refunded under this section, the surcharges provided in s. 468.631 or s. 553.721 must be recalculated based on the amount of the building permit fees after the refund.
History.—s. 35, ch. 2005-147; s. 63, ch. 2006-1; s. 5, ch. 2021-224; s. 5, ch. 2022-136.