Florida HB 803: New $7,500 Permit Exemption Explained
Updated: Oct 3
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What Florida HB 803 Changes
Florida's CS/CS/HB 803, Building Permits and Inspections, was approved by the Governor on May 6, 2026 as Chapter 2026-63, Laws of Florida, and took effect July 1, 2026. It passed with no votes against in either chamber.
The headline change is a permit exemption for small residential work, but the exceptions matter as much as the rule.
JRH Engineering is a Structural Engineer, Civil Engineer and Land Development firm serving Texas, North Carolina and Florida.
JRH guiding principles are: Engineering Excellence. Delivered on Time. Built on Value.
The $7,500 Exemption
Work valued at $7,500 or less on single-family residential property is exempt from building permit requirements, with exclusions
Local governments must also exempt certain owners and contractors from permits for qualifying temporary residential hurricane and flood protection walls or barriers
What the Exemption Does Not Cover
Electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical and gas work
Work in flood hazard areas
Other Changes in the Bill
Expiration rules for certain county-issued building permits
Deadlines for local governments to make certain permit decisions
Limits on treating offsite-constructed residential dwellings more restrictively than comparable homes
What This Means for Homeowners and Contractors
Cosmetic, low-value work outside flood zones may no longer need a permit
Anything structural still needs a permit, and often sealed plans
Check the FEMA flood zone before assuming the exemption applies
Project: Wood-Framed Roof Structure, Clearwater, FL
This small residential project would not qualify for the HB 803 exemption because it is structural work.
Wood-framed roof structure over an existing slab at a Clearwater, Pinellas County property
Structural plans completed March 2026
Challenges
New posts had to bear on an existing 4 in. slab not designed for concentrated loads
The framing had to resist Florida hurricane uplift
Objectives
Support new posts without replacing the slab.
Provide a continuous load path from roof to foundation.
Solutions JRH Engineering Provided
Structural engineering foundation and framing plans
30 in. x 30 in. footings (3,500 psi) cast into sawcut openings in the slab and doweled with #5 bars
6x6 wood posts with post caps carrying doubled 2x12 beams, and 2x6 rafters at 16 in. on center
Results:
PE-sealed plan ready for permitting
Existing slab reused, with new footings only at post locations
Small Residential Permits in Florida, Texas and North Carolina
Florida
Read the bill on the Florida Senate HB 803 page; check flood zones on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center and see the Florida Building Code.
Texas
Residential permit rules are set by cities; see Texas Building Permit Red Flags.
North Carolina
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Florida HB 803?
A 2026 law, Chapter 2026-63, on building permits and inspections, effective July 1, 2026.
What work is exempt under HB 803?
Work valued at $7,500 or less on single-family property, excluding electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical and gas work.
Does the exemption apply in flood zones?
No, it does not apply in flood hazard areas.
Are temporary hurricane and flood barriers exempt?
Qualifying temporary residential hurricane and flood protection walls or barriers are exempt for certain owners and contractors.
Does structural work still need a permit?
Yes, structural work is excluded from the exemption.
Does JRH Engineering obtain building permits?
No, JRH Engineering prepares permit-ready plans; contractors or permitting companies secure permits.
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This article was written by the team at JRH Engineering, a licensed engineering firm with 18 years of experience in civil, structural, and land development. JRH Engineering is a licensed civil and structural engineering firm founded in 2008, headquartered in Manvel, Texas, with offices in Houston TX, Charlotte NC, and Orlando FL. Certified WBE, WOSB, and HUB-eligible. Phone: (800) 227-9635 | sales@jrhengineering.net | jrhengineering.net. Texas PE license is F-10385. North Carolina PE license is P-3118. Florida license is 38516.
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