Homeowners

This information is intended to deliver topics of interest to homeowners in Osceola County. Much of the information is hosted externally by local, state, and national providers.

Asbestos Information

Florida Building Code requires a building permit for the demolition or renovation of an existing structure containing asbestos. The building permit shall contain an asbestos notification statement which indicates the owner's or operator's responsibility to comply with the provisions of Section 469.003, Florida Statutes, and to notify the Department of Environmental Protection of his or her intentions to remove asbestos, when applicable, in accordance with state and federal laws. An owner of a residential building may qualify for a licensing exemption if comply with the provisions of Section 469.002, Florida Statutes.

Carbon Monoxide

Energy Efficiency

Farm Buildings Exemptions

Non-Residential Buildings on farms are exempt from the Florida Building Code as provided by law. Below you will find links to Florida Statutes for more information.

Homeowners Acting as a Contractor

As per Florida Statutes, Section 489.103, owners of property are exempted from the contracting license requirement when acting as their own contractor and providing direct, onsite supervision themselves of all work not performed by licensed contractors. This exemption has specific limitations.

Disclosure Statement

State law requires construction to be done by licensed contractors. You have applied for a permit under an exemption to that law. The exemption allows you, as the owner of your property, to act as your own contractor with certain restrictions even though you do not have a license. You must provide direct, onsite supervision of the construction yourself. You may build or improve a one-family or two-family residence or a farm outbuilding. You may also build or improve a commercial building, provided your costs do not exceed $75,000. The building or residence must be for your own use or occupancy. It may not be built or substantially improved for sale or lease. If you sell or lease a building you have built or substantially improved yourself within 1 year after the construction is complete, the law will presume that you built or substantially improved it for sale or lease, which is a violation of this exemption. You may not hire an unlicensed person to act as your contractor or to supervise people working on your building. It is your responsibility to make sure that people employed by you have licenses required by state law and by county or municipal licensing ordinances. You may not delegate the responsibility for supervising work to a licensed contractor who is not licensed to perform the work being done. Any person working on your building who is not licensed must work under your direct supervision and must be employed by you, which means that you must deduct F.I.C.A. and withholding tax and provide workers' compensation for that employee, all as prescribed by law. Your construction must comply with all applicable laws, ordinances, building codes, and zoning regulations.

Manufactured Housing

Manufactured Housing is the term used to describe both modular and mobile homes, since both are manufactured in a plant and transported to the site. The best way to identify one is by the type of insignia the unit bears, which represents the code or standard to which it was built. The Manufactured Buildings Program which includes modular homes is administered by the Florida Department of Consumers Affairs (DCA). An insignia from DCA indicates that the modular home was built in compliance with the Florida Building Code. The Mobile Homes Program is administered by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Mobile Homes are built in accordance with federal U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) code that supersedes state or local building codes. Both modular homes and mobile homes require a local building permit for set up on any lot.

Mold

Product Approval

Wind Speed Information

Find wind speed information, visit our Building Codes, Rules & Regulations page.

What to Do When Hiring a Contractor

Five Steps to Selecting a Contractor

Most of Florida contractors are hardworking, honest, skilled and dependable. Before you hire a contractor for new construction or home remodeling work, the Osceola County Building Office recommends the following steps:

  1. Ask to see the contractor’s license and write down the license number for future reference. All licensed contractors should present you with a business card that should contain the contractor’s license number.
  2. Get recommendations from friends and neighbors. Use a local, well established contractor. Ask the contractor to give you references. Then call the references, ask questions and take a look at the contractor’s previous work.
  3. Ask the contractor if the company is insured against claims covering worker’s compensation, property damage and general liability.
  4. Get all estimates in writing! Estimates should be very specific and should include exactly what services you’ll be getting for the estimated cost. If a bidding process is used, ensure that the estimated costs are based on the same set of specifications. Get a written contract that specifies all work to be done and make sure a completion date is included on the contract.
  5. Be sure to see the building permit before work starts. The building permit should not be in your name, but rather the name of the contractor. Never obtain the building permit yourself for work being done by a contractor. By doing so, you assume all the risks and it will be difficult to recoup money for inferior work.

Things to do Before Signing a Contract

  • Always get three 3 bids or estimates before signing a contract or giving the contractor a deposit.
  • Each contractor should have a contractor’s number listed on his contract that you can use to verify with the our Contractor Licensing Office.
  • Make sure the work to be done is in writing on the contract regardless of how minute.
  • Make sure all warranties are listed on the contract - not verbal.
  • Make sure you read all the fine print on your contract and understand it, or ask your contractor to explain before you sign the contract.
  • Include in the contract that the contractor will supply you with a Contractor’s Final Affidavit of no liens when the job is completed and at the same time you give him the final payment.

Warning Signs That a Contractor is Unlicensed

  • Unlicensed contractors may request a large down payment in cash, or a check made out to cash prior to doing any work. They may even offer to drive you to the bank to obtain these funds.
  • Unlicensed contractors will ask you to obtain the permit or advise you that you don’t need one. If you call the Osceola County Building Office, the staff will be more than happy to advise you whether or not a permit is required for your particular job.
  • Unlicensed contractors often will not provide the consumer with a written contract or guarantee.
  • Unlicensed contractors will not have a valid contractor’s number on their contracts or advertisements.
  • Unlicensed contractors often want to do the construction work on weekends.
  • Unlicensed contractors may promise you a large discount if you sign up immediately.
  • Beware of a contractor who claims to have just completed a job down the street and has materials left over from that job who offers to do the work cheap.
  • Beware if a contractor has a post office address with no street address, or gives a local motel as his address.
  • Beware of people wanting to do a free home inspection. Always verify that they are a licensed contractor prior to allowing them to do such inspections.
  • Beware of people soliciting to do a roof repair, asphalt or texture coating of driveways.
  • Unlicensed contractors usually do not carry general liability or worker’s compensation insurance.
  • Unlicensed contractors normally target the elderly, uninformed, young and inexperienced.
  • Unlicensed contractors normally use unmarked vans or trucks.
  • Often, unlicensed contractors will become abusive and threatening when you refuse to do business with them.
  • Do not give a deposit or sign a contract until you have confirmed that the contractor is licensed. Ask the contractor to leave the contract with you and come back the next day. This gives you the time to look it over without being pressured or intimidated. Also, you can contact the Building Office if you suspect possible problem.
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