🏛️ New Florida Law Speeds Up Permits: What HB 683 & HB 1035 Mean for Engineer Letters and Wind Calculations (Effective July 1, 2025)

Florida contractors, engineers, and homeowners just got a major permitting win. As of July 1, 2025, two new laws—HB 683 and HB 1035—are officially in effect, transforming how building permits are reviewed, processed, and enforced statewide.

Whether you’re pulling permits for a container home, a residential addition, or submitting a signed engineer letter for wind calculations, this guide explains what’s changed and how it affects you.

✅ Summary of New Florida Permitting Law Changes

1. Contracts No Longer Required with Permit Applications

Local jurisdictions cannot require pricing, contracts, or contingency terms to be included in a permit application. This is critical for:

Protecting proprietary contractor and owner agreements Reducing administrative burden on engineer-submitted packages

Tip: When submitting an engineer letter or wind load analysis, make sure your documents are code-compliant—but leave out private contract details unless specifically required by statute.

2. Mandatory Permit Review Timelines

Florida now has fixed deadlines based on project size:

Use Case: If you’re submitting engineered wind calcs for a rooftop solar install or HVHZ compliance letters, the reviewing agency must now respond faster—or risk triggering automatic approvals or legal obligations.

3. Engineer Letters and Wind Calculations Get Fast-Tracked

For low-risk, single-trade scopes like:

Solar panel installation Residential windows and doors Alarm systems or plumbing

You may now use private providers, third-party inspectors, or virtual inspections to satisfy permitting and compliance faster—particularly helpful when paired with:

Wind calculation letters Structural load analysis HVHZ engineer compliance documentation

✍️ How This Impacts Engineer Letters

If you’re an engineer or contractor submitting:

Structural letters for code compliance Wind calculation packages HVHZ or ASCE 7 design documentation

These laws directly improve turnaround times, reduce government red tape, and protect your deliverables from being delayed over unrelated paperwork.

⚠️ Change Orders Are Now Enforceable

Local agencies must respond to change order pricing within 30 days. If they don’t—and fail to justify a denial in writing—they may be held financially responsible for:

Material and labor costs Overhead and schedule impact

This gives engineers and GCs stronger leverage when conditions change mid-project and new documentation (such as revised plans or letters) must be submitted.

📌 Final Thoughts

The July 1, 2025 changes to Florida’s permitting laws are a major win for professionals who rely on:

Accurate engineer letters for code compliance Timely wind calculations and structural load designs Faster permit approvals for residential and light commercial construction

Need an Engineer Letter or Wind Calculation for Florida Permits?

At Oasis Engineering, we provide:

Stamped engineer letters for permitting across all Florida counties ASCE 7-16 compliant wind load calculations for roofs, walls, and fenestration Fast turnarounds and HVHZ-ready reports

Visit https://oasisengineering.com/engineer-letters or https://windcalculations.com to get started.