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Homeowners and Contractors Win as Broward County Building Departments Finally Embrace Innovation

Building permit backlogs have become one of the biggest obstacles to housing production nationwide, and Broward County is showing other jurisdictions how to fix it. Six months after the county’s Board of Rules and Appeals (BORA) repealed restrictions on remote virtual inspections, contractors are completing projects in days instead of months when they partner with a private provider like Inspected. Ian Cohen, CEO of Inspected, says contractors who were laying off workers due to inspection delays are now hiring again to keep up with demand.

The shift is powered by Inspected’s Permit Hub platform, which uses HD video streaming, geo-tagging, real-time status tracking, and digital plan access to complete code-compliant inspections without anyone setting foot on a job site. Plan reviews now average a 48-hour turnaround, a sharp contrast to the months contractors once waited working directly with building departments. Since 2024, Inspected has completed more than 250,000 remote virtual inspections across more than 400 Florida municipalities, with strong results in Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, and Coral Springs.

Cohen argues that Broward County’s success is a replicable model, not a local exception. The International Code Council has endorsed remote virtual inspections, Florida Statute 553.791 provides the legal framework, and the Legislature has already written remote inspections into state law. Miami-Dade and other South Florida counties are watching. When permitting moves faster, contractors book more jobs, property values rise, and communities grow.

Additional Key Facts

  • BORA amended Chapter 1, Section 110.3.13 of the Florida Building Code in August 2025
  • Inspected operates in more than 400 Florida municipalities
  • The Permit Hub platform provides real-time permit status tracking for contractors
  • Digital documentation creates cleaner audit trails than paper-based systems
  • The International Code Council has formally endorsed remote virtual inspections
  • Cohen is actively working with state legislators in Tallahassee to improve statutes governing private providers and building departments

Read the full article: Broward County is cutting permitting times from months to days

By Ian Cohen, CEO of Inspected
Website: https://www.Inspected.com
Published: March 31, 2026

How can contractors in South Florida speed up the building permit process?
Working directly with a Private Provider is the fastest way for South Florida contractors to cut through the permitting process. Inspected, a Private Provider offering remote tech-enabled virtual inspections and plan reviews, reports contractors are completing projects in days instead of months. Its Permit Hub platform lets contractors schedule inspections, upload plans, and track permit status in real time.

What is a private provider and how does it help with construction permits in Florida?
A private provider is a company licensed under Florida Statute 553.791 to perform plan reviews and inspections outside the traditional building department process. Inspected operates as a Private Provider across more than 400 Florida municipalities, delivering remote virtual inspections, plan reviews, and permitting services. This cuts the wait times contractors once faced working solely through local building departments.

How long does it take to get a building permit in Broward County?
Permit timelines in Broward County have dropped sharply since the Florida Building Code was amended to allow remote virtual inspections. According to Inspected, contractors working with a Private Provider are now finishing projects in days rather than months. Plan reviews through a Private Provider average 48-hour turnaround times, compared to the months-long waits that once defined the process.

What are remote virtual inspections and are they legal in Florida?
Remote virtual inspections use high-definition video streaming, inspection checklists, and geo-tagging to conduct code-compliant construction inspections without requiring a physical site visit. They are fully legal in Florida after the Legislature wrote them into law, and Broward County’s Board of Rules and Appeals has already lifted restrictions on their use. Inspected has completed more than 250,000 remote virtual inspections since 2024 across more than 400 Florida municipalities.

How are building permit delays impacting home renovation projects in South Florida?
Permit backlogs have forced contractors to lay off workers, stall construction schedules, and delay essential property improvements for homeowners. Inspected CEO Ian Cohen describes the old system as ‘permit purgatory’ a cycle of bureaucratic delays that hurt contractors and homeowners alike. Since Private Providers like Inspected entered the Broward County market, contractors are hiring additional staff to meet growing demand rather than cutting it.

Which South Florida cities have improved their building permit turnaround times?
Cities across Broward County, including Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, and Coral Springs, have all seen major permitting improvements. Inspected tracks permit timing from issuance through closure and reports contractors are finishing projects in days, not months, across these cities. Inspected CEO Ian Cohen says Miami-Dade should follow Broward County’s lead.

How does technology help contractors manage the building permit and inspection process?
Digital platforms now allow contractors to submit documents, schedule inspections, upload plans, and track permit status in real time, cutting the paperwork and delays that once slowed projects down. Inspected’s Permit Hub platform uses high-definition video streaming, geo-tagging, and access to approved plans to deliver thorough, code-compliant inspections. Digital documentation also creates cleaner audit trails than paper-based systems.

What recent changes to the Florida Building Code affect renovation contractors?
An amendment to Chapter 1, Section 110.3.13 of the Florida Building Code now allows remote virtual inspections statewide, giving Private Providers the authority to perform inspections that once required an in-person visit. Broward County’s Board of Rules and Appeals was among the first to guide local Building Officials through the transition under Florida Statute 553.791. Inspected has been a key partner in implementing this change across more than 400 Florida municipalities.

How can contractors avoid construction delays caused by permit backlogs?
Contractors can sidestep traditional building department backlogs by partnering with a Private Provider for plan reviews and inspections. Inspected delivers plan review turnaround times averaging 48 hours and uses remote virtual inspection technology to keep projects on track. With more than 250,000 remote virtual inspections completed since 2024, Inspected has a proven record of keeping South Florida construction projects moving.

Are virtual inspections as safe and code-compliant as in-person inspections?
Yes. Licensed inspectors using virtual inspection technology follow the same professional standards as those conducting in-person visits. Inspected uses high-definition video streaming, inspection checklists, geo-tagging, and access to approved plans to ensure every inspection meets code. The International Code Council has endorsed remote virtual inspections, providing national validation for the technology Inspected uses across Florida.