Nassau County, FL Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Building code § 110.3, Required inspections
- Foundation inspection
- After excavation, rebar and forms placed
- Roofing inspection
- At least two inspections required
- Final inspection
- Building must be ready for occupancy
- Independent inspectors
- Must hold F.S. ch. 468/471/481 credential
Summary
Nassau County's Building Department, acting under the adopted Florida Building Code, requires a fixed sequence of inspections on every permitted job in the unincorporated area, from foundation through framing, sheathing, roofing and final. The building official sets the timing and sequencing, and work must stay exposed and accessible for inspection until it is approved.
110.1 General. Construction or work for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by the building official and such construction or work shall remain exposed and provided with access for inspection purposes until approved. ... 110.3 Required inspections. The building official upon notification from the permit holder or his or her agent shall make the following inspections, or any other such inspection as deemed necessary and shall either release that portion of the construction or shall notify the permit holder or his or her agent of any violations which must be corrected in order to comply with the technical codes. The building official shall determine the timing and sequencing of when inspections occur and what elements are inspected at each inspection. ... 6.Final inspection. To be made after the building is completed and ready for occupancy.
Full Breakdown
3 lists the required inspections by trade. " Parallel inspection schedules apply to electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas trades, each running from underground/rough-in through final. Swimming pool construction gets its own ten-step sequence from steel reinforcement and underground piping through a required safety inspection (bonding, drain covers and barriers in place) before the pool may be filled. In flood hazard areas, elevation certification of the lowest floor must be submitted before further vertical construction and again at final inspection. ch. 468 or licensed under chs.
471 or 481. Neither the building official nor the county is liable for the cost of removing or replacing material installed in a way that blocks a required inspection.
Violations & Fines
Failing to keep work exposed for inspection, covering work before it is approved, or proceeding past a required inspection stage without sign-off is a code violation the building official can act on directly by withholding approval and ordering correction before the next stage proceeds. An inspection approval never authorizes a violation of the code or other county ordinances, so passing one stage does not excuse noncompliance discovered later; enforcement of the underlying Unsafe Building Abatement Code and permit requirements can still follow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who schedules and performs building inspections in unincorporated Nassau County?
Can work be covered before an inspection?
Does a passed inspection guarantee the work is fully code-compliant?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nassau County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Nassau County to another location·View the Florida building safety overview
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