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Florida Private Provider

What Is a Private Provider in Florida?

Under F.S. 553.791, the fee owner, or a contractor with the owner's written authorization, can hire a private provider for plan review and building code inspections, and the building department may not repeat a code review or inspection that provider performs. Here's how private provider code compliance works and where it fits.

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What is a private provider in Florida?

A Florida private provider is a licensed engineer, architect, or building code administrator, working with licensed plans examiners and inspectors, hired under F.S. 553.791 for plan review and building code inspections. The department may not repeat that work. FCC is a private provider firm: we review plans and run virtual code inspections. You still file the permit application and NTBO.

Who Uses It
Where the Private Provider Route Fits Best

Single-trade contractors

Good fit for HVAC, roofing, solar, plumbing, electrical, pool, aluminum, and window-door work.

  • Fast plan reviews help permits move before the crew is ready to install.
  • Virtual inspections help crews avoid waiting around for public inspection windows.

Home builders

Useful when build timelines are getting stretched by review backlogs and phase-to-phase inspection delays.

  • Single-family plan reviews come back in hours.
  • Virtual inspections reduce dead time between milestones.

Commercial teams

Best when the schedule risk is coming from plan review queues, revision cycles, and inspection timing.

  • Commercial plan reviews take 1–2 days.
  • Live and eligible offline inspections help phased work keep moving.
Related
Related Resources

Private Provider Services

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Plan Reviews

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Virtual Inspections

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Home Builders

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Commercial Builders Trade Page

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Florida Statute 553.791

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Verified Permit Partners

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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is using a private provider legal in Florida?
Yes. Florida Statute 553.791 authorizes private providers as a lawful alternative to the local building department for plan review and inspection services.
Does FCC pull permits or file permit applications?
No. FCC does not pull permits, file permit applications, or file the NTBO. FCC handles the private provider review and inspection scope.
Can private providers be used for both builders and single-trade contractors?
Yes. FCC supports home builders, commercial teams, and single-trade contractors across HVAC, roofing, solar, plumbing, electrical, pool, aluminum, and window-door workflows.
Can I still use a permit expediter with FCC?
Yes. The roles split cleanly. A permit expediter speeds up the permit itself: the application and municipal follow-up. FCC, as your private provider, speeds up plan review and inspections. FCC does not pull, run, or expedite permits. Pick the expediter you want from our permit partners list.
See permit partners
What building code inspections can a private provider perform?
Building, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (BMEP) code inspections inside the private provider scope, such as foundation, framing, roofing, rough-in, and final inspections. Zoning, fire, public works, utilities, and similar inspections stay with the jurisdiction. FCC performs its inspections virtually, by live video or from offline photos and video.
Virtual and video inspections
How do I find private provider inspections near me?
Start with your building department, not your zip code. FCC inspects virtually, so a licensed inspector can join your job by video from anywhere, as long as FCC is taking new projects with the building department that issues your permit. Check your jurisdiction on the service areas map.
Check service areas
Who can act as a private provider in Florida?
Florida Statute 553.791 limits private providers to licensed engineers, licensed architects, and licensed building code administrators, carrying the insurance the statute requires. Licensed plans examiners and inspectors work as their authorized representatives. FCC's reviews and inspections are performed by licensed building code professionals.
Does using a private provider cost extra?
You pay the private provider's fee for the review and inspection scope it handles. On commercial projects, HB 803 (in effect since July 1, 2026) requires the building department to reduce the fee portion tied to qualifying plan review and inspection services — by at least 25 percent for partial scope and at least 50 percent when a private provider handles all required qualifying services.

Single-family plan reviews come back in hours.

Apply to Work With FCC

You've done the math on what a 3-week plan review lag costs. FCC's single-family plan reviews come back in hours, commercial and multifamily take 1–2 days, and inspections get matched in minutes, not scheduled into a vague window where your crew waits all morning.

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