Virtual Private Provider
Inspections In Florida
Licensed building inspections under Florida Statute 553.791, conducted virtually and scheduled around your crew instead of the county's calendar.
What This Service Is
Private provider inspections mean a Florida-licensed inspector performs the building inspections your project requires, in place of the local building department's inspector.
The authority comes from Florida Statute 553.791, the same law that governs private provider plan review, in continuous operation since 2002. Guardian conducts these inspections virtually, and every Florida county is required by statute to accept properly performed private provider inspections.
Who This Is For
- New Home Builders
custom, production, spec-infill
- Solar Contractors
residential and commercial PV
- General Contractors
residential, commercial, single-trade
Timeline and Speed
Guardian Inspections
Inspected when you're ready
You request the inspection the moment a phase of work is complete, and it is conducted virtually.
Municipal Inspections
Inspected when they're available
The moment your team is ready , photos and videos are submitted. No waiting on an inspector.
A single build has many inspection gates, from foundation to final. Every one the county schedules is a chance for the crew to stand idle. Every one Guardian handles happens when the work is ready.
1
Requesting an inspection
The moment a phase of work is complete, foundation, framing, rough-in, or any other gate, you or your superintendent submit the inspection to Guardian directly through our app. There is no county scheduling queue and no waiting for the next available date. Because Guardian inspects virtually, the inspection is set around your crew rather than a county calendar.
2
The inspection and the record
A Florida-licensed inspector reviews the completed work against the Florida Building Code, covering whichever of the building, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades applies to that phase. If it passes, you keep building. If something needs attention, Guardian provides a specific, code-cited correction list and re-inspects once it is done. After each inspection, Guardian files the official record with the building department within two business days, and this cycle repeats for every inspection your build requires, from foundation to final.
3
Final inspections and the certificate of compliance
When the last required inspection passes, Guardian issues a certificate of compliance confirming the finished work meets code. You submit that to the building department. On residential projects, they then have two business days to issue the certificate of occupancy, the document that clears the building for use, or return a specific list of reasons it cannot.
If Guardian inspects my project, what does the building department do?
A private provider does not replace the building department. Fire, zoning, and public works inspections are still conducted by the AHJ. The building official still issues the actual certificate of occupancy. All building departments also maintain the ability to audit a private provider's work up to four times a year.
Pricing
Inspections are part of your project price.
Guardian prices each project as a whole: per square foot for new home construction, flat-rate for single-trade work, and custom quoting for commercial. Plan review and inspections are covered under that one price.
Get Started
Built For Builders Who Can't Afford To Wait
Guardian Engineering was created for one type of client: the contractor who loses time, money, and reputation every time an inspection is missed or a permit sits untouched.
Got Questions? We've Got Answers
What is a private provider inspection?
A private provider inspection is a building code inspection done by a licensed private firm instead of the county building department, under Florida Statute 553.791. It carries the same legal weight as a county inspection, and the county is required to accept it.
Are virtual private provider inspections legal?
Yes! A private provider inspection is a building code inspection done by a licensed private firm instead of the county building department, under Florida Statute 553.791. It carries the same legal weight as a county inspection, can legally be performed virtually, and the building department is required to accept it.
How do virtual inspections work?
Your crew documents each stage with photos and recorded video and submits it through our app. A licensed inspector reviews the work against the code and records the result. No inspector has to come to the job site.
Are virtual inspections allowed in Florida?
Yes. Under Florida Statute 553.791, a licensed private provider can perform your building inspections in place of the building department, and every Florida county is required to accept that work.
Is a virtual inspection a live video call?
Not always. You do not have to set up for a live video call on most inspections. Your crew sends photos and recorded video when the stage is ready, and the inspector reviews it. Your team is never standing by to walk an inspector through the work unless it is a final inspection.
How fast do I get inspection results?
If submitted before 1pm, our licensed inspectors aim to return your result the same day you submit it. You are not blocking off a morning or waiting on a window for someone who may not show up.
What happens if an inspection does not pass?
The inspector notes exactly what needs correcting and why. You make the fix, document it again, and resubmit. From the time you submit your inspection to us, a 48 hour window opens up to either make the corrections required and/or submit aditional photos. So a correction does not cost you days of the project being red tagged and waiting on an inspector to show back up to conduct a reinspection visit.
Does the building department still issue my permit and certificate?
Yes. The county still issues the permit and the certificate, and it keeps the right to audit the work. What changes is that your inspections run on your schedule instead of waiting on the county inspector.