The State of Florida allows property owners to hire a private inspector and avoid relying on the local building department for plan approval and inspections on a residential or commercial building project. Florida Statute 553.791, entitled “Alternative Plans Review And Inspection,” which became effective October 1, 2002,  allows a person licensed as a Building Code Administrator, Architect, or Engineer to be act as a building inspector and/or plans examiner. The law labels the alternative inspector a “Private Provider."

    You must submit a form to the building department, called a “Notice to Building Officials of Use of Private Provider,” at the time of building permit application. Also, the law allows the local building department to check the plans reviewed by a private provider and do their own review of the private provider’s inspections, but sets a time limit on their oversight.

   The big advantage of using a private inspector is the time saved that would otherwise be lost waiting for a building department inspector to complete a plan review or inspection before continuing work on the construction project. Time saved is money saved, especially on a large project.

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  To learn more strategies for getting the best possible home inspection, here’s a few of our other blog posts:

• How can I make sure I don't get screwed on my home inspection? 

• Should I trust the Seller's Property Disclosure Statement?

• Can I do my own home inspection?

• How can homebuyers protect themselves against buying a house over a sinkhole? 

• What makes a house fail the home inspection?

• The seller gave me a report from a previous home inspection. Should I use it or get my own inspector? 

    To read about issues related to homes of particular type or one built in a specific decade, visit one of these blog posts:

• What are the common problems to look for when buying a 1940s house?

• What are the common problems to look for when buying a 1950s house?

• What are the common problems to look for when buying a 1960s house?

• What are the common problems to look for when buying a 1970s house?

• What are the common problems to look for when buying a 1980s house?

• What are the common problems to look for when buying a 1990s house?

• What problems should I look for when buying a country house or rural property? 

• What problems should I look for when buying a house that has been moved?

• What problems should I look for when buying a house that has been vacant or abandoned?

• What are the most common problems with older mobile homes?

    Visit our HOME INSPECTION page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.