Permitting basics · Required Documents & Filing
What Is a Notice of Commencement?
By David Gizys · Founder & President
Updated July 9, 2026
A Notice of Commencement is a legal document, recorded with the county clerk, that announces the start of a construction project and identifies the owner, contractor, and lender. Florida requires it on any project with a direct contract price over $2,500 (Fla. Stat. 713.13, via the exemption in 713.02(5)) before the first inspection.
The NOC matters because it establishes the chain of who's responsible for payment — it protects subcontractors' lien rights and protects the owner from paying twice. Once recorded, it exists physically as a barcode sticker on the permit file; there's no purely digital version in most jurisdictions, which is exactly why it trips people up.
We record the NOC at the county, retrieve the instrument number, and make sure it's in the package before submission — it's one of the most common reasons an otherwise-perfect permit package stalls. It's a core part of the documentation work inside permit management.
Frequently asked questions
- When is a Notice of Commencement required?
- Whenever the direct contract price is over $2,500 (Fla. Stat. 713.13), recorded before the first inspection. We record it and retrieve the instrument number for your package.
- Do I need an NOC for a $2,000 remodel?
- No — Florida's $2,500 direct-contract-price threshold means a $2,000 job doesn't need one recorded.
“Permit-ready in a week instead of a month. David caught two tabulation errors before submission that would have bounced us. Worth every dollar.”— Custom Home Builder, Anna Maria Island
This is part of our Required Documents & Filing service. Tell us about your project and we’ll handle it end to end.