Florida NTBO Guide for Private Provider Projects
The Notice to Building Official is the Florida Building Commission form used when a fee owner, or a contractor authorized by the fee owner, elects private-provider services for plan review, inspections, or both.
What does the Notice to Building Official do?
The NTBO tells the local building official that private-provider services have been contracted for the project. It does not replace the permit application, make the private provider the permit applicant, or transfer permit-filing responsibility to FCC. It documents the election to use private-provider plan review, inspections, or both, using the Florida Building Commission form adopted under F.S. 553.791.
Prefer to watch? The whole NTBO process — what it is, who files it, and what HB 803 changed — in about two minutes.
- 01
Fee Owner
Holds the right to elect private-provider services for the project.
- 02
Authorized Contractor
May elect and sign the NTBO with the fee owner's written authorization.
- 03
Permit Filer
Submits the signed NTBO to the building department with the permit filing.
Electronic Registration
Provider credentials shift to the department's e-registration system in 2026.
Three Things the NTBO Keeps Separate
The fee owner may elect private-provider services.
The fee owner's contractor may elect and sign when written owner authorization exists.
The authorization should specifically cover private-provider use and NTBO signature authority.
The NTBO is submitted by the party handling the permit filing.
That party is typically the contractor, permit runner, permit coordinator, or assigned permitting representative.
The building department still issues the permit and retains jurisdiction-side authority.
Beginning July 1, 2026, building departments must support electronic private-provider registration.
Provider credentials and insurance information belong in that registration system, not as a required attachment packet to every NTBO.
FCC may still include supplemental documents during the transition while departments adopt or stabilize electronic registration.
A contractor can elect a private provider and sign the NTBO on the fee owner’s behalf — but only with the fee owner’s explicit written authorization, and a copy of that authorization must be submitted to the building official (F.S. 553.791(2)(a)). A generic “owner allows contractor to act as agent” clause is not enough; it has to specifically cover using a private provider. There are two clean ways to satisfy it.
Authorization page in the contract
A signed owner-authorization page appended to (or exported from) the construction contract. It authorizes the contractor to (1) use a private provider and (2) sign and submit the NTBO on the owner’s behalf, with indemnification. Best when the authorization should live inside the existing contract package.
Notice to Building Official (NTBO)
The Florida Building Commission's standard NTBO form (Form 61G20-2.005-2002-01, effective January 1, 2025). Use this state form rather than a building-department custom form.
Private Provider Owner Authorization
Owner-authorization page for the construction contract (Option A). It authorizes the contractor to use a private provider and sign the NTBO on the owner's behalf, per F.S. 553.791(2)(a), with indemnification.
Provided as a convenience and for general information, not legal advice. Use the standard Florida Building Commission NTBO and keep the signed owner authorization with the permit record.
NTBO Responsibilities at a Glance
The clean workflow separates the legal election, the signature, the permit filing, and the private-provider registration record.
The fee owner, or the fee owner's contractor with written owner authorization.
FCC is selected as the private provider; FCC does not make the owner election.
Simple rule: if it is a filing step with the jurisdiction, your team owns it. If it is the private-provider review and inspection scope, FCC owns it.
Key Terms
- NTBO (Notice to Building Official)
- A Florida Building Commission form filed with the local building department to notify them that a private provider will perform plan review, inspections, or both on a project.
- Fee Owner
- The person or entity that owns the property or building in fee simple, usually the owner of record. For NTBO purposes, this is the owner whose written authorization allows a contractor to elect private-provider services and sign the NTBO on the owner's behalf.
- Private Provider
- A state-licensed entity authorized under Florida Statute 553.791 to perform building plan reviews and inspections as an alternative to the local building department.
- Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)
- The local government entity (typically the building department) responsible for enforcing the Florida Building Code. The AHJ receives the NTBO and retains authority over permit issuance, zoning, fire safety, and final occupancy.
- Certificate of Compliance
- A document issued by the private provider after a project passes all required inspections, confirming compliance with the Florida Building Code. Submitted to the AHJ to close out the permit.
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