2023 Florida Statutes › Title XL - Real and Personal Property › Chapter 713 - Liens, Generally › Part I - Construction Liens (Ss. 713.001-713.37) › 713.135 - Notice of commencement and applicability of lien.

713.135 Notice of commencement and applicability of lien.—
(1) When a person applies for a building permit, the authority issuing such permit shall:
(a) Print on the face of each permit card in no less than 14-point, capitalized, boldfaced type: “WARNING TO OWNER: YOUR FAILURE TO RECORD A NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT MAY RESULT IN YOUR PAYING TWICE FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO YOUR PROPERTY. A NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT MUST BE RECORDED AND POSTED ON THE SITE OF THE IMPROVEMENT BEFORE THE FIRST INSPECTION. IF YOU INTEND TO OBTAIN FINANCING, CONSULT WITH YOUR LENDER OR AN ATTORNEY BEFORE RECORDING YOUR NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT.”
(b) Provide the applicant and the owner of the real property upon which improvements are to be constructed with a printed statement stating that the right, title, and interest of the person who has contracted for the improvement may be subject to attachment under the Construction Lien Law. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation shall furnish, for distribution, the statement described in this paragraph, and the statement must be a summary of the Construction Lien Law and must include an explanation of the provisions of the Construction Lien Law relating to the recording, and the posting of copies, of notices of commencement and a statement encouraging the owner to record a notice of commencement and post a copy of the notice of commencement in accordance with s. 713.13. The statement must also contain an explanation of the owner’s rights if a lienor fails to furnish the owner with a notice as provided in s. 713.06(2) and an explanation of the owner’s rights as provided in s. 713.22. The authority that issues the building permit must obtain from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation the statement required by this paragraph and must mail, deliver by electronic mail or other electronic format or facsimile, or personally deliver that statement to the owner or, in a case in which the owner is required to personally appear to obtain the permit, provide that statement to any owner making improvements to real property consisting of a single or multiple family dwelling up to and including four units. However, the failure by the authorities to provide the summary does not subject the issuing authority to liability.
(c) In addition to providing the owner with the statement as required by paragraph (b), inform each applicant who is not the person whose right, title, and interest is subject to attachment that, as a condition to the issuance of a building permit, the applicant must promise in good faith that the statement will be delivered to the person whose property is subject to attachment.
(d) Furnish to the applicant two or more copies of a form of notice of commencement conforming with s. 713.13.
(e) Require the applicant to file with the issuing authority before the first inspection a copy of the notice of commencement if the direct contract is greater than $5,000. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “copy of the notice of commencement” means a certified copy of the recorded notice of commencement, a notarized statement that the notice of commencement has been filed for recording along with a copy thereof, or the clerk’s office’s official records identifying information that includes the instrument number for the notice of commencement or the number and page of book where the notice of commencement is recorded, as identified by the clerk.
1. In the absence of the filing of a copy of the notice of commencement, the issuing authority or a private provider performing inspection services may not perform or approve subsequent inspections until the applicant files by mail, facsimile, hand delivery, or any other means such copy with the issuing authority.
2. The copy of the notice of commencement must contain the name and address of the owner, the name and address of the contractor, and the location or address of the property being improved. The issuing authority shall verify that the name and address of the owner, the name of the contractor, and the location or address of the property being improved which is contained in the copy of the notice of commencement is consistent with the information in the building permit application.
3. The issuing authority shall provide the recording information on the copy of the notice of commencement to any person upon request.
4. This paragraph does not require the recording of a notice of commencement before the issuance of a building permit. If a local government requires a separate permit or inspection for installation of temporary electrical service or other temporary utility service, land clearing, or other preliminary site work, such permits may be issued and such inspections may be conducted without providing the issuing authority with a copy of the notice of commencement.
(f) Not require that a notice of commencement be recorded as a condition of the application for, or processing or issuance of, a building permit. However, this paragraph does not modify or waive the inspection requirements set forth in this subsection.
This subsection does not apply to a direct contract to repair or replace an existing heating or air-conditioning system in an amount less than $15,000.
(2) An issuing authority under subsection (1) is not liable in any civil action for the failure of the person whose property is subject to attachment to receive or to be delivered a printed statement stating that the right, title, and interest of the person who has contracted for the improvement may be subject to attachment under the Construction Lien Law.
(3) An issuing authority under subsection (1) is not liable in any civil action for the failure to verify that a certified copy of the recorded notice of commencement, a notarized statement that the notice of commencement has been filed for recording along with a copy thereof, or the clerk’s office’s official records identifying information that includes the instrument number for the notice of commencement or the number and page of book where the notice of commencement is recorded, as identified by the clerk, has been filed in accordance with this section.
(4) The several boards of county commissioners, municipal councils, or other similar bodies may by ordinance or resolution establish reasonable fees for furnishing copies of the forms and the printed statement provided in paragraphs (1)(b) and (d) in an amount not to exceed $5 to be paid by the applicant for each permit in addition to all other costs of the permit; however, no forms or statement need be furnished, mailed, or otherwise provided to, nor may such additional fee be obtained from, applicants for permits in those cases in which the owner of a legal or equitable interest (including that of ownership of stock of a corporate landowner) of the real property to be improved is engaged in the business of construction of buildings for sale to others and intends to make the improvements authorized by the permit on the property and upon completion will offer the improved real property for sale.
(5) In addition to any other information required by the authority issuing the permit, each building permit application must contain:
(a) The name and address of the owner of the real property;
(b) The name and address of the contractor;
(c) A description sufficient to identify the real property to be improved; and
(d) The number or identifying symbol assigned to the building permit by the issuing authority, which number or symbol must be affixed to the application by the issuing authority.
(6) An authority that issues building permits may not require an applicant to provide a direct contract or a contract between a contractor and any other lienor as a condition of the application for, or processing or issuance of, a building permit for the construction of improvements or for the alteration or repair of improvements on or to commercial property. This subsection does not apply to the construction of improvements or the alteration or repair of improvements owned or leased by the federal government, the state or any county, city, or political subdivision thereof, or other public authority.
(7)(a) In addition to any other information required by the authority issuing the permit, the building permit application must be in substantially the following form:
Tax Folio No.
BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION
Owner’s Name
Owner’s Address
Fee Simple Titleholder’s Name (If other than owner)
Fee Simple Titleholder’s Address (If other than owner)
City
State    Zip
Contractor’s Name
Contractor’s Address
City
State    Zip
Job Name
Job Address
City         County
Legal Description
Bonding Company
Bonding Company Address
City     State
Architect/Engineer’s Name
Architect/Engineer’s Address
Mortgage Lender’s Name
Mortgage Lender’s Address
Application is hereby made to obtain a permit to do the work and installations as indicated. I certify that no work or installation has commenced prior to the issuance of a permit and that all work will be performed to meet the standards of all laws regulating construction in this jurisdiction. I understand that a separate permit must be secured for ELECTRICAL WORK, PLUMBING, SIGNS, WELLS, POOLS, FURNACES, BOILERS, HEATERS, TANKS, and AIR CONDITIONERS, etc.
OWNER’S AFFIDAVIT: I certify that all the foregoing information is accurate and that all work will be done in compliance with all applicable laws regulating construction and zoning.
WARNING TO OWNER: YOUR FAILURE TO RECORD A NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT MAY RESULT IN YOUR PAYING TWICE FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO YOUR PROPERTY. A NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT MUST BE RECORDED AND POSTED ON THE JOB SITE BEFORE THE FIRST INSPECTION.
IF YOU INTEND TO OBTAIN FINANCING, CONSULT WITH YOUR LENDER OR AN ATTORNEY BEFORE COMMENCING WORK OR RECORDING YOUR NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT.
(Signature of Owner or Agent)
(including contractor)
STATE OF FLORIDA
COUNTY OF
Sworn to (or affirmed) and subscribed before me this   day of  ,   (year)  , by   (name of person making statement)  .
(Signature of Notary Public - State of Florida)
(Print, Type, or Stamp Commissioned Name of Notary Public)
Personally Known   OR Produced Identification
Type of Identification Produced
(Signature of Contractor)
STATE OF FLORIDA
COUNTY OF
Sworn to (or affirmed) and subscribed before me this   day of  ,   (year)  , by   (name of person making statement)  .
(Signature of Notary Public - State of Florida)
(Print, Type, or Stamp Commissioned Name of Notary Public)
Personally Known   OR Produced Identification
Type of Identification Produced
(Certificate of Competency Holder)
Contractor’s State Certification or Registration No.
Contractor’s Certificate of Competency No.
APPLICATION APPROVED BY
Permit Officer
(b)1. Consistent with the requirements of paragraph (a), an authority responsible for issuing building permits under this section may accept a building permit application in an electronic format, as prescribed by the authority. Building permit applications submitted to the authority electronically must contain the following additional statement in lieu of the requirement in paragraph (a) that a signed, sworn, and notarized signature of the owner or agent and the contractor be part of the owner’s affidavit:
OWNER’S ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION STATEMENT: Under penalty of perjury, I declare that all the information contained in this building permit application is true and correct.
2. For purposes of implementing a “United States Department of Energy SunShot Initiative: Rooftop Solar Challenge” grant and the participation of county and municipal governments, including local permitting agencies under the jurisdiction of such county and municipal governments, an owner or contractor shall not be required to personally appear and provide a notarized signature when filing a building permit application, if such building permit application will be electronically submitted to the permitting authority, the application relates to a solar project, and the owner or contractor certifies the application, consistent with this paragraph, using the permitting authority’s electronic confirmation system. For purposes of this subsection, a “solar project” means installing, uninstalling, or replacing solar panels on single-family residential property, multifamily residential property, or commercial property.
(c) An authority responsible for issuing building permit applications which accepts building permit applications in an electronic format shall provide public Internet access to the electronic building permit applications in a searchable format.
(d) An authority responsible for issuing building permits which accepts building permit applications in an electronic format for solar projects, as defined in subparagraph (b)2., is not liable in any civil action for any inaccurate information submitted by an owner or contractor using the authority’s electronic confirmation system.
(8) This section applies to every municipality and county in the state which now has or hereafter may have a system of issuing building permits for the construction of improvements or for the alteration or repair of improvements on or to real property located within the geographic limits of the issuing authority.
History.—ss. 1, 2, 3, ch. 67-185; s. 2, ch. 78-397; s. 1, ch. 84-26; s. 1, ch. 86-247; s. 4, ch. 87-74; s. 8, ch. 90-109; s. 3, ch. 91-102; s. 2, ch. 93-99; s. 230, ch. 94-218; s. 5, ch. 96-383; s. 4, ch. 97-219; s. 15, ch. 98-246; s. 71, ch. 99-5; s. 5, ch. 99-386; s. 5, ch. 2003-177; s. 2, ch. 2006-187; s. 9, ch. 2007-221; s. 18, ch. 2012-13; s. 7, ch. 2021-224; s. 1, ch. 2022-120; s. 8, ch. 2023-226.