EGRET · FLORIDA CONTRACTOR INTELLIGENCE

Florida Notice of Commencement Checklist Before the First Inspection

Published November 6, 2026

For a Florida project where the direct contract exceeds $5,000, the applicant must file a copy of the Notice of Commencement with the issuing authority before the first inspection.

Pre-Inspection Workflow

1. Confirm the decision inputs

  • [ ] Identify the applicant responsible for the filing.
  • [ ] Confirm the direct contract amount from the project file.
  • [ ] Identify the issuing authority associated with the project.
  • [ ] Identify the first inspection in the project schedule.

2. Apply the contract-value decision point

Does the direct contract exceed $5,000?

  • Yes: Add filing a copy of the Notice of Commencement with the issuing authority as a required pre-inspection task.
  • No or unclear: Do not infer the project’s next compliance step from this rule alone. Route the file for project-specific review.

3. Complete the filing handoff

  • [ ] Assign an owner for submitting the copy.
  • [ ] Give the owner the project identifier, issuing authority, Notice of Commencement copy, and first-inspection reference.
  • [ ] Confirm internally that the copy was filed with the issuing authority.
  • [ ] Save the filing confirmation or other supporting record in the project file.

4. Use a first-inspection gate

Before the first inspection proceeds, verify:

  • [ ] The direct contract threshold decision is documented.
  • [ ] For a direct contract exceeding $5,000, the Notice of Commencement copy was filed with the issuing authority.
  • [ ] The filing confirmation or supporting record is attached to the project file.
  • [ ] Any uncertainty has been escalated rather than treated as complete.

Suggested CRM Task Fields

  • Project identifier
  • Applicant
  • Direct contract amount
  • Threshold result: exceeds $5,000 / does not exceed $5,000 / unclear
  • Issuing authority
  • First inspection reference
  • Filing task owner
  • Filing status: not started / in progress / confirmed / needs review
  • Confirmation record location
  • Internal reviewer
  • Notes or unresolved questions

Stop-and-Review Triggers

Pause the pre-inspection handoff and request review when:

  • The direct contract amount is missing or unclear.
  • The applicant has not been identified.
  • The issuing authority is unclear.
  • The project file lacks a copy of the Notice of Commencement.
  • Filing cannot be confirmed before the first inspection.

Source

Florida Statutes, section 713.135: https://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0713/Sections/0713.135.html