Tampa, FL Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)

Chapter 5 of the City of Tampa Code is the local administrative overlay for the Florida Building Code. Section 5-101.1.2 states that the Florida Building Code, as adopted and amended by the Florida Building Commission under F.S. Ch. 553, 'is adopted and incorporated by reference' and 'will be used in the administration and enforcement of this chapter': that family of codes expressly includes the Florida Building Code, Plumbing. Section 5-105.1 then sets the local permit trigger: any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change occupancy, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace an electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system regulated by the code must first apply to the building official and obtain the required permit.

The Department of Building Safety, established under § 5-103.1 within the construction services division, receives applications, reviews plans, issues permits, inspects the work, and enforces compliance (§§ 5-103.1, 5-104.1–.2). The building official can suspend or revoke a plumbing permit issued in error, based on incorrect information, or where the plumbing work violates the code (§ 5-104.2.2–.4), and can issue a stop-work order under § 5-104.3.1 for work performed contrary to the code. A permit becomes invalid unless work commences within 180 days of issuance; the building official may grant extensions of up to 180 days each on written request showing justifiable cause (§ 5-105.4.1.6).

Property owners may also act as their own owner-builder for permitted plumbing work if they meet the disclosure and qualification requirements of F.S. §§ 489.103(7)(a) and 489.503(6)(a) (§ 5-105.18).