If You Use a Private Provider, Do You Still Need Local Building Department Inspections in Florida?

This is one of the most common questions about private provider services in Florida: if you hire a private provider to perform your inspections, do you still need to have the local building department come out and inspect too?

The answer is no — when you elect a licensed private provider under Florida Statute §553.791, the private provider performs the inspections instead of the building department, not in addition to it.

How It Works Under F.S. §553.791

When a property owner or contractor elects a private provider, they file a notice of election with the local building department. From that point, the private provider — in this case, Tew & Taylor — is responsible for performing the required inspections. The building department is legally required to accept the private provider's inspection results and cannot require its own inspectors to duplicate the work.

• Private provider performs inspections instead of the building department
• Building department is legally required to accept results (F.S. §553.791)
• No duplicate inspections required
• Certificate of completion or occupancy is issued by the building department based on the private provider results

Can the Building Department Override a Private Provider Inspection?

In limited circumstances, a building department may audit private provider inspections. However, the statute is designed to prevent municipalities from imposing duplicative requirements. The practical experience of Tew & Taylor clients is that private provider inspection results are accepted without friction in virtually all Florida jurisdictions.

Why This Matters for Your Schedule

Because private provider inspections replace municipal inspections entirely, you get the full schedule benefit. Your crew does not wait for the municipal queue while also waiting for a private provider. One licensed professional — Tew & Taylor — performs all required inspections on your schedule.

Contact us at 561-366-0100 or office@tewandtaylor.com with any questions about how private provider inspections work.