Florida Senate - 2026                          SENATOR AMENDMENT
       Bill No. CS/CS/HB 803, 1st Eng.
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì390734-Î390734                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
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               Floor: 1a/RE/2R         .                                
             03/05/2026 03:15 PM       .                                
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       Senator DiCeglie moved the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment to Amendment (741396) (with directory and
    2  title amendments)
    3  
    4         Delete lines 247 - 302
    5  and insert:
    6         (g)1.A local government that issues building permits shall
    7  exempt an owner of a single-family dwelling or the owner’s
    8  contractor from the requirement to obtain a building permit to
    9  perform any work valued at less than $7,500 on the owner’s
   10  property.
   11         2.The exemption under subparagraph 1. does not apply to
   12  any of the following:
   13         a.Work on a property that is partially or entirely located
   14  in a flood hazard area as defined by the Florida Building Code.
   15         b.Any electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical, or gas
   16  work performed on property containing a single-family dwelling.
   17  A construction project may not be divided into more than one
   18  project for the purpose of evading the requirements of this
   19  paragraph.
   20         3.To qualify for the exemption under subparagraph 1., the
   21  owner or the owner’s contractor must submit a written request
   22  for exemption to the local enforcement agency with a copy of the
   23  contract or other documentation demonstrating the nature and the
   24  value of the work to be performed.
   25         4.A local government has no legal duty to the owner,
   26  contractor, or successors or assigns thereof for exempted work
   27  performed under this paragraph.
   28         (h)1.A local government that issues building permits shall
   29  exempt an owner of a single-family dwelling or the owner’s
   30  contractor from the requirement to obtain a building permit for
   31  the installation of temporary residential hurricane and flood
   32  protection walls or barriers that meet all of the following
   33  conditions:
   34         a.The wall or barrier is nonhabitable and non-load
   35  bearing.
   36         b.The wall or barrier is installed on the residential
   37  property of a single-family or two-family dwelling or townhouse.
   38         c.The wall or barrier is constructed to mitigate or
   39  prevent storm surge or floodwaters from entering a structure or
   40  property.
   41         d.The wall or barrier is installed by a contractor
   42  licensed under part I of chapter 489.
   43         e.The wall or barrier complies with applicable local
   44  zoning, drainage, easement, and setback requirements.
   45         2.The exemption under subparagraph 1. does not apply to
   46  work on a property that is partially or entirely located in a
   47  flood hazard area as defined by the Florida Building Code.
   48         3.To qualify for the exemption under subparagraph 1., the
   49  owner or the owner’s contractor must submit a written request
   50  for exemption to the local enforcement agency with a copy of the
   51  contract or other documentation demonstrating the nature of the
   52  work to be performed.
   53         4.A local government has no legal duty to the owner,
   54  contractor, or successors or assigns thereof for work performed
   55  under this paragraph.
   56         5.The commission may adopt rules under s. 120.54 to
   57  incorporate necessary standards to implement this paragraph.
   58         (i)If a retaining wall spans more than one lot or parcel,
   59  a local government that issues building permits must issue a
   60  permit for a retaining wall for the project as a whole and may
   61  not require a building permit for each lot or parcel upon which
   62  a retaining wall is installed on the property of a single-family
   63  or two-family residential dwelling or a townhouse.
   64  
   65  ====== D I R E C T O R Y  C L A U S E  A M E N D M E N T ======
   66  And the directory clause is amended as follows:
   67         Delete line 168
   68  and insert:
   69  Florida Statutes, are amended, and paragraphs (g), (h), and (i)
   70  
   71  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
   72  And the title is amended as follows:
   73         Delete lines 1166 - 1182
   74  and insert:
   75         prohibitions for inspection fees; requiring a local
   76         government to exempt certain owners and contractors
   77         from building permit requirements for work valued
   78         below a specified amount; providing exceptions;
   79         prohibiting a construction project from being divided
   80         into multiple projects for a certain purpose;
   81         requiring certain owners and contractors to submit a
   82         written request for exemption to the local enforcement
   83         agency with specified documentation; providing that
   84         local governments do not have a duty to certain
   85         persons; requiring local governments to exempt certain
   86         owners and contractors from requiring a building
   87         permit for the installation of temporary residential
   88         hurricane and flood protection walls or barriers that
   89         meet certain requirements; providing an exception;
   90         requiring certain owners and contractors to submit a
   91         written request for exemption to the local enforcement
   92         agency with specified documentation; providing that
   93         local governments do not have a duty to certain
   94         persons; authorizing the Florida Building Commission
   95         to adopt rules; requiring certain local governments to
   96         issue a building permit for the installation of
   97         certain retaining walls as a whole; prohibiting such
   98         local governments from requiring building permits for
   99         each lot or parcel under certain circumstances;
  100         prohibiting a