Permitting basics · Private Provider Services
What Is a Private Provider Inspection?
Updated June 1, 2026
A private provider is a licensed engineer or architect authorized by Florida statute to perform plans review and building inspections in place of the county. The two services are separately priced and, by law, must be performed by two different engineers — the engineer of record can't also be the private provider.
Inspections are increasingly done virtually: the contractor walks the site live over video, the inspector checks each item, and the inspection passes in real time — no waiting on the county inspector's schedule. When a private provider handles inspections, Florida statute requires the county to reduce your permit fee, because it's no longer providing them.
We coordinate the whole arrangement through private provider services, including invoking that statutory fee reduction — which most permit holders don't know to ask for. The state is moving toward making private-provider inspections mandatory statewide, so this is fast becoming the default.
Frequently asked questions
- Does a private provider inspection lower my permit fee?
- Yes — Florida statute requires the county to reduce the fee because it no longer performs the inspections. We make sure that reduction is applied.
“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 Private Provider Services service. Tell us about your project and we’ll handle it end to end.