Owner/Builder Affidavit
OWNER NAME:
SUBDIVISION: LOT/BLOCK:
STREET ADDRESS:
I am applying for a Building Permit pursuant to the Owner Builder exemption set forth in Florida Statute
489.103. Florida law requires that I attest to the following statements. BY SIGNING THIS STATEMENT, I
ATTEST THAT: (Initial to the left of each statement
)
I understand that state law requires construction to be done by a licensed contractor and have applied for an
owner-builder permit under an exemption from the law. The exemption specifies that I, as the owner of the
property listed, may act as my own contractor with certain restrictions even though I do not have a license.
I understand that building permits are not required to be signed by a property owner unless he or she is
responsible for the construction and is not hiring a licensed contractor to assume responsibility.
I understand that, as an owner-builder, I am the responsible party of record on a permit. I understand that I
may protect myself from potential financial risk by hiring a licensed contractor and having the permit filed in
his or her name instead of my own name. I also understand that a contractor is required by law to be licensed
in Florida and to list his or her license numbers on all permit and contracts.
I understand that I may build or improve a one-family or two-family residence or a farm outbuilding. I may
also build or improve a commercial building if the costs do not exceed $75,000. The building or residence
must be for my own use or occupancy. It may not be built or substantially improved for sale or lease. If a
building or residence that I have built or substantially improved myself is sold or leased within in 1 year after
the construction is complete, the law will presume that I built or substantially improved it for sale or lease,
which violates this exemption.
I understand that, as the owner-builder, I must provide direct, onsite supervision of the construction.
I understand that I may not hire an unlicensed individual person to act as my contractor or to supervise
persons working on my building or residence. It is my responsibility to ensure that the persons whom I employ
have the licenses required by law and by county ordinance.
I understand that it is frequent practices of unlicensed persons to have the property owner obtain an owner-
builder permit that erroneously implies that the property owner is providing his or her own labor and
materials. I, as an owner-builder, may be held liable and subjected to serious financial risk for any injuries
sustained by an unlicensed person or his or her employees while working on my property. My homeowner’s
insurance may not provide coverage for those injuries. I am willfully acting as an owner-builder and am aware
of the limits of my insurance coverage for injuries to workers on my property.
I understand that I may not delegate the responsibility for supervising work to a licensed contractor who is not
licensed to perform the work being done.
Any person working on my building who Is not licensed must work under
my direct supervision and must be employed by me, which means that I must comply with laws requiring the
withholding of federal income tax and social security contributions under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act
(FICA) and must provide workers’ compensation for the employee. I understand that my failure to follow these laws
may subject me to serious financial risk.
I agree that, as the party legally and financially responsible for this proposed construction activity, I will abide by all
applicable laws and requirements that govern owner-builders as well as employers. I also understand that the
construction must comply with all applicable laws, ordinances, building codes, and zoning regulations.
