What Is a Private Provider in Florida? How F.S. §553.791 Works

If you’ve heard the term “private provider” and aren’t sure what it means, you’re not alone. It’s one of Florida’s most useful — and most misunderstood — construction tools. This page explains exactly what a private provider is, how the law works, and when using one makes sense for your project.

The Short Answer

A private provider is a licensed professional or firm that performs building inspections and plan reviews in place of your local building department. Results are submitted to and legally accepted by every Florida municipality. This is not a workaround — it is a codified, regulated framework created by the Florida legislature specifically to reduce construction delays.

The Florida Statute: F.S. §553.791

Florida Statute §553.791 was enacted on October 1, 2002 and revised on July 1, 2006. The statute gives property owners and builders the legal right to elect a licensed private provider for inspections, plan review, or both. Key provisions:

• Municipalities must accept results: All Florida building departments are legally required to accept private provider submissions. Acceptance is not at the department’s discretion.
• Permit fee reductions are mandatory: When a private provider is used, the municipality must reduce permit fees. This reduction frequently offsets the private provider’s cost entirely.
• Qualifications are regulated: Private providers must hold the same or greater licensure as the municipal inspectors and plans examiners they replace.
• Results carry legal weight: A private provider inspection has identical legal standing to a government inspection.

How a Private Provider Engagement Works

The process is straightforward:

• The property owner or builder notifies the local building department of their intent to use a private provider.
• The municipality issues a building permit in the normal manner.
• The private provider performs all inspections and plan reviews on the contractor’s schedule.
• Results are submitted to the local building department electronically or in person.
• The municipality issues the certificate of completion or certificate of occupancy after accepting private provider results.

Why Builders and Architects Choose a Private Provider

The primary reason is schedule control. Florida’s fastest-growing counties — Palm Beach, Hillsborough, Orange, St. Johns — have building departments handling far more construction volume than their inspection staff can process quickly. Municipal inspection queues of one to three weeks are common during peak periods. For a builder managing multiple active lots, that queue compresses onto every trade behind the inspector.

Private providers like Tew & Taylor offer same-day and next-day inspections in all service areas. Plan reviews are returned within 2 days on average. The net result: projects move faster, with less uncertainty, at comparable or lower total cost when fee reductions are factored in.

Who Can Use a Private Provider in Florida?

Any property owner, homebuilder, general contractor, architect, or developer working on a project that requires a Florida building permit can elect to use a licensed private provider. This applies to residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects of any scale.

Is There a Cost?

Private providers charge a fee for their services. However, Florida law mandates that municipalities reduce permit fees when a private provider is used — and this reduction frequently offsets the private provider fee. When schedule savings are factored in (6–7 weeks on average for Tew & Taylor clients), the net economic case for using a private provider is typically strongly positive.