Why Florida’s Bill 447 Relates to You

On July 1 of this year, House Bill 447 came into effect, which modified Section 125.56 of the Florida Statutes. But what does this mean with relations to you, my current and potential future clients? Bill 447’s passing means that local governments are now able to close an open or expired permit six years after its issuance, as long as there are no safety hazards. Say goodbye to old Hurricane Andrew-era permits!

This will allow buyers and sellers to resolve open and expired permit issues much faster, and minimize delays to closing. Local governments can also now, under this bill, provide written notice to an owner as well as the contractor listed on their permit when a building permit is about to expire. Far too often, we see instances where the contractor or property owner has simply forgotten to schedule an inspection, or file the necessary paperwork to get a permit closed out. Or even more frustrating, we’ve seen occasions where a seller bought the property with the expired permit, and did not realize it. Another amazing pro to this bill is the fact that property owners can no longer be penalized for neglecting an open or expired permit.

Ideally, all of the facets of this measure are intended to incentivize property owners to clean up any permit issues without fear of fines or penalties for the delays. This thereby benefits all sellers that may have inherited an open or expired permit at the time of closing.

If you are looking to buy or sell a home anywhere in Miami, please call me at 305-798-8685, or visit my website at: Luxury Miami Real Estate