New Statute Prohibits Local Governments From Requiring Copies of Contracts to Receive a Building Permit
HB 683 (2025) was signed recently by Governor DeSantis and became effective July 1, 2025. While the bill modified multiple statutes affecting the construction industry, the modifications to 553.79, Florida Statutes, prohibit local governments from obtaining copies of contracts as part of the permitting process.
The text of the updated statute is as follows:
553.79 Permits; applications; issuance; inspections.—
(1)
(f) A local government may not require a contract between a builder and an owner, any copies of such contract, or any associated document, including, but not limited to, letters of intent, material costs lists, labor costs, or overhead or profit statements, for the issuance of a building permit or as a requirement for the submission of a building permit application.
About the Author
Jason Lambert is a Florida Board Certified Construction Attorney and Partner in the Construction Industry Practice Group at Hill Ward Henderson, in Tampa, Florida. He is also the founder and chief contributor to the Hammer & Gavel construction law blog. Jason focuses his practice on representing contractors, subcontractors, and materials suppliers throughout the state of Florida. Before law school, Jason spent a decade working in the construction industry, primarily as a project manager and operations director for both new construction and remodeling. He can be reached at jason.lambert@hwhlaw.com or 813-227-8495.
