Building Permits & Inspections

Building permit and inspection processes vary widely across Florida, causing delays, uncertainty, and increased costs. Inconsistent application requirements and timelines make it difficult for builders to plan projects, while outdated regulations for private providers add unnecessary administrative burdens without improving efficiency.

FHBA Position: Support legislation that improves efficiency, predictability, and accountability in the building permit and inspection process.

• SB 1234 by Sen. DiCeglie
  • Community Affairs: Favorable, 1/20/26
  • Now In Regulated Industries
  • Rules
• HB 803 by Reps. Trabulsy and Overdorf
  • Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee: Favorable, 1/20/26
  • Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
  • Commerce Committee

Onsite Sewage Treatment
and Disposal System Permits

Delays in onsite sewage permitting continue to stall residential construction, particularly where OSTDS approval is required before a building permit can be issued. Newly adopted rules can also be applied mid-process, forcing revisions or restarts and creating regulatory uncertainty.

FHBA Position: Support legislation to streamline onsite sewage permitting by allowing proof of application in place of an issued permit, while maintaining environmental protections.

• SB 698 by Sen. Martin
  • Environment & Natural Resources: Favorable, 1/20/26
  • Community Affairs
  • Rules
• HB 589 by Rep. Nix
  • Natural Resources & Disaster Subcommittee: Favorable, 1/20/26
  • Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
  • State Affairs Committee

Growth Management

Local governments are increasingly raising impact fees far beyond growth-related needs, often citing “extraordinary circumstances” without clear or consistent standards. These unpredictable increases add significant housing costs and undermine affordability.

FHBA Position: Support legislation that defines and limits “extraordinary circumstances” through objective, data-driven criteria; strengthens transparency and accountability; caps increases over a four-year period; and provides enforcement when statutory authority is exceeded.

• SB 548 by Sen. McClain
  • Community Affairs: Favorable, 1/20/26
  • Finance and Tax
  • Rules
• HB 1139 by Rep. Gentry
  • Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee: Favorable, 1/28/26
  • Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee
  • State Affairs Committee

Supporting the Transfer of the State’s Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal System (OSTDS)

Transfer of the State’s Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal System (OSTDS): The state’s transfer of the OSDTS in the Panhandle is modernizing and streamlining the permitting process. However, failure to transfer the rest of the state has only exacerbated permitting time delays.

FHBA Position: The FHBA supports the transfer of the state’s Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal System from the Department of Health to the Department of Environmental Protection.

Sadowski Funding

Before 2023, Sadowski Trust Fund dollars were diverted to unrelated state programs. Fully funding the program would generate over $3 billion in economic impact, create nearly 30,000 jobs, and expand affordable housing access.

FHBA Position: Support full funding of the Sadowski Program and legislation requiring the trust fund monies to be spent on their requisite purpose.

Contractor Criminalization

FHBA strongly opposes any proposal that would force builders to release payments on rigid timelines regardless of contracts or whether project milestones have been met under the threat of a felony charge.