Zephyrhills, FL Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)

F.S. 553.791 Alternative plans review and inspection. (2)(a) Notwithstanding any other law or local government ordinance or local policy, the fee owner of a building or structure, or the fee owner's contractor upon written authorization from the fee owner, may choose to use a private provider to provide building code inspection services with regard to such building or structure and may make payment directly to the private provider for the provision of such services. All such services shall be the subject of a written contract between the private provider, or the private provider's firm, and the fee owner or the fee owner's contractor, upon written authorization of the fee owner. The fee owner may elect to use a private provider to provide plans review or required building inspections, or both. (b) If an owner or contractor retains a private provider for purposes of plans review or building inspection services, the local jurisdiction must reduce the permit fee by the amount of cost savings realized by the local enforcement agency for not having to perform such services. Such reduction may be calculated on a flat fee or percentage basis, or any other reasonable means by which a local enforcement agency assesses the cost for its plans review or inspection services. The local jurisdiction may not charge fees for building inspections if the fee owner or contractor hires a private provider to perform such services; however, the local jurisdiction may charge a reasonable administrative fee. (7)(a) No more than 20 business days, or if the permit application is related to a single-trade plans review for a single-family or two-family dwelling, no more than 5 business days, after receipt of a permit application and the affidavit from the private provider required pursuant to subsection (6), the local building official shall issue the requested permit or provide a written notice to the permit applicant identifying the specific plan features that do not comply with the applicable codes, as well as the specific code chapters and sections. If the local building official does not provide a written notice of the plan deficiencies within the prescribed time period, the permit application must be deemed approved as a matter of law, and the permit must be issued by the local building official on the next business day.