According to HousingWire, Florida's new state law allowing private inspectors to conduct building inspections went into effect on July 1st, but inspectors say Collier County is pushing back by adding extra inspections, documentation requirements, and fees that go against the state's intent to streamline the process. The law was designed to speed up permitting and reduce delays, but private inspection companies report that at least one county official is blocking the use of third-party inspectors and requiring duplicative work that wasn't supposed to happen under the new rules.
The tension in Collier County highlights a broader effort by Florida lawmakers to address housing affordability and supply issues. The state has been working to remove barriers to faster construction, including allowing private providers to handle certain inspections that were previously only done by local government. However, local officials argue they still have responsibilities to ensure public safety and code compliance, which is creating friction with how the law is being interpreted on the ground.
A July opinion from the Florida Attorney General's Office came down clearly on the side of the private inspectors and builders. The opinion states that local agencies cannot require additional inspections that duplicate what a private provider has already done, and they cannot impose stricter standards than what state law allows. The attorney general also made clear that any fees counties charge must be reduced to reflect the cost savings from not performing those inspections themselves, and fees beyond what the law permits must be refunded.
The stakes matter significantly for the real estate and construction industries. When projects get delayed waiting for approvals, carrying costs add up, and closings and construction draws get postponed. Collier County itself has seen building permit activity fluctuate sharply, with permits declining from a 2021 peak before rebounding this year, mostly through multifamily projects. The dispute shows that even with clear state direction, local permitting offices can create friction that works against the goal of faster, more affordable housing development.
What I am seeing locally here in the Bay Area is similar tension between state efficiency goals and local control of the permitting process. While our situation is different from Florida's, we face comparable challenges where streamlining doesn't always happen smoothly at the local level. When counties and municipalities add layers of requirements beyond what's mandated, it ultimately makes housing more expensive and development slower. The message from Florida's attorney general is pretty clear: if you're going to use private inspectors as the law allows, you can't then turn around and require the same work twice or charge fees that aren't justified by actual costs.
