Highlands County, FL Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

205 spells out the inspection stages a permitted building must pass in unincorporated Highlands County. Subsection C requires the fire marshal, once notified by the Building Official, to make the required inspections and either release that portion of construction or notify the Building Official of violations that must be corrected to comply with the fire code. The building trade gets a single final inspection, made once the structure is complete and ready for occupancy. Electrical work also gets a final inspection, held after all required emergency lights, shut-down shunts and fire alarm systems are installed and connected.

Fire-suppression systems get two inspections: a rough-in inspection after framing, fire-blocking and bracing are in place and vent piping is complete but before wall or ceiling membranes go up, and a final inspection after the suppression fixtures are connected and tested. 5. 206, a building cannot be occupied, and no change in occupancy or use may be made, until the fire marshal has approved a certificate of occupancy, which cannot issue until every required electrical, gas, mechanical, suppression and fire-protection system has been inspected and released.

307 gives the Building Official parallel authority to inspect a building, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system before, during and after the work covered by any building permit, and to keep a record of every examination and any code violations found.