Building Code Violation Amnesty Program:

Amnesty shall be provided to those property owners, or designees of property owners, who voluntary apply for amnesty. The Building Code Violation Amnesty Program encompasses all work done as part of Single Family Residence, Multi-Family, Mixed Use, or Commercial construction projects. The program is valid for one year and it was extended until April 30, 2026.  For ordinance details, see: DIVISION 4. - 2017-2026 BUILDING PERMIT REPRIEVE PROGRAM

Fees

Only those fees associated with new permits or the re-issuance of permits will be assessed. Fees associated with work done without permits or proper inspections will not be assessed under the Building Code Violation Amnesty Program. A property owner who has applied for amnesty pursuant to ordinance 2017-2026 will be assessed only those fees (in effect at the time of the permit application) associated with new permits or the reissuance of permits. Fees associated with work performed without permits, or without inspections, as delineated in the current Fee Schedule, will not be assessed to the amnesty applicant.

Expired Permits

In order to re-issue a permit to call for required inspections, the applicant must:

1. Complete a new application.  Visit our Forms page to download the application.
2. Bring the job set of as-built plans of the building or structure.
3. The following life-safety requirements of the current building code must be complied with at all times:
   a. Means of egress or escape
   b. Requirement of shutters
   c. Residential single station smoke detectors installed in accordance with NFPA
   d. Hard-wired smoke detectors shall be installed as required.
   e. Ground fault interrupter (GFI)
   f. Full size pressure and temperature relief valved lines shall be installed on all water heaters
   g. Handicapped access requirements
   h. All gas piping systems shall be bonded to ground
   i. Handrails shall be inspected and replaced, if necessary, in full compliance with Building Code requirements
   j. Zoning requirements
   k. Requirements of federal or state laws or other preemptive laws, codes or standards
4. Obtain an As-Built Certificate from a State of Florida duly licensed engineer or architect, attesting that to the best of his or her knowledge, belief and professional judgment and based on his or her inspection of the structure, the structure:
   a. is structurally sound, and
   b. satisfies the requirements of the applicable code in effect at the time the work was commenced, indicating the date the work on the structure was commenced from the best available records, and the requirements of the applicable code in effect on that date, and
   c. complies with all requirements of the current edition of the applicable code,
   d. complies with the current edition of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Florida Fire Prevention Code, and
   e. complies with the permit application and plans approved by the Building Department.
5. Additionally, the As-Built Certificate shall contain a narrative description of the methodology utilized to make the determination set forth in the As-Built Certificate. If the work was performed at any time during which this code accepted certification by masters in their respective trades as a condition of issuance of a Certificate of Completion, then a master shall be authorized to issue the As-Built Certificate in accordance with work involving his or her trade which otherwise complies with all requirements of this subsection.

Work performed without a permit

In order to issue a permit to call for required inspections, the applicant must:

1. Complete a new application.  Visit our Forms page to download the application.
2. Two (2) copies of as-built set of plans. At a minimum, the plans should include the following: site plan, floor plan, sufficient detail, where applicable, of structural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and roofing components.
3. Submit evidence of when the construction was performed so that the appropriate code requirements can be enforced. This documentation could include aerial photographs, tax records, and/or surveys.
4. Obtain approvals from the Building Official as well as the Fire Department and Planning Department when applicable. The application and plans will be processed as per the applicable building code requirements at the time of permit's issuance. However, the life-safety requirements of the current building code must be complied with all items enumerated in item #3 under the Expired Permits above.
5. Obtain an As-Built Certificate from a State of Florida duly licensed engineer or architect, attesting that to the best of his or her knowledge, belief and professional judgment and based on his or her inspection of the structure, it complies with all items listed in item 4 under the Expired Permits above.
6. Additionally, the As-Built Certificate shall contain a narrative description of the methodology utilized to make the determination set forth in the As-Built Certificate. If the work was performed at any time during which this code accepted certification by masters in their respective trades as a condition of issuance of a Certificate of Completion, then a master shall be authorized to issue the As-Built Certificate in accordance with work involving his or her trade which otherwise complies with all requirements of this subsection.