HB 803 starts in Cape Coral: $7,500 minor-permit exemption & SFHA limits

Cape Coral residents planning small home renovations now have a new option to consider. Starting July 1, 2026, Florida HB 803 creates a narrow permit-exemption pathway for certain minor residential projects valued at under $7,500—but Cape Coral says it is not automatic, and it won’t apply to many homes in local FEMA flood-hazard areas.

Quick context: what HB 803 changes in Cape Coral

The City of Cape Coral says HB 803 takes effect statewide on July 1, 2026, and changes permit requirements for certain small residential projects. But the city’s guidance emphasizes that the exemption is limited—especially because so much of Cape Coral falls inside FEMA-mapped special flood hazard areas.

The $7,500 exemption isn’t a blanket “no permit” rule

Florida Senate bill summary language describes HB 803 as a local permitting change that requires an exemption review process rather than self-certification. Cape Coral’s materials similarly frame it as an exemption from building-permit requirements only for qualifying work—with eligibility based on more than the project’s total price.

Cape Coral also stresses that requesting the exemption is still part of the process before work proceeds. In other words: an exemption request isn’t the same thing as permission to build.

Eligibility basics you have to check first

Under Cape Coral’s HB 803 explainer, the permit exemption applies only if all of these conditions are met:

• The project is on a single-family home.
• The property is entirely outside the SFHA.
• The total contract value is under $7,500.
• The work does not involve electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas, or structural components.
• The project is not artificially “split” into multiple contracts/phases to stay under $7,500.

Flood-hazard warning: SFHA properties are not eligible

Cape Coral says more than 60% of the city is in a FEMA-mapped Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). The city also says HB 803’s exemption does not apply to projects located in those flood-hazard areas. If any portion of a property lies within the SFHA, Cape Coral says normal permitting rules continue to apply.

To check, the city directs residents and licensed contractors to use Forerunner to look up the address and determine whether it’s inside a FEMA-mapped SFHA.

How Cape Coral says the process works day-to-day

Cape Coral frames HB 803 as a workflow—request first, review second, then proceed only if approved.

• Submit an exemption request: applicants must submit through the city’s online permitting system using the application type that matches the proposed scope of work, and select the appropriate HB 803 exemption option so staff can evaluate the request against the criteria.
• Provide supporting documentation: Cape Coral’s Notice to Industry clarification says the owner (or the owner’s licensed contractor) must submit a written request through the CSS portal for the relevant permit type, along with documentation such as a copy of the contract or other proof of the nature and value of the work.
• Wait for approval: Cape Coral says submission of an exemption request does not authorize construction. Work may not begin until the exemption request has been reviewed and approved by the city.
• If it doesn’t qualify: if the proposed work doesn’t meet HB 803 exemption criteria, Cape Coral says the application continues through the standard permit review process for the selected application type.

Practical checklist for residents and contractors

• Check flood status first: use Forerunner to see whether any portion of your property is in the SFHA.
• Match the work scope: confirm your project does not involve electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas, or structural components.
• Plan for paperwork before starting: Cape Coral says HB 803 requires a written exemption request with documentation before work begins, even when a permit isn’t required.
• Don’t “phase” to evade: the city says the project can’t be artificially split into multiple contracts/phases just to remain under the threshold.
• Confirm with the Building Division: Cape Coral says eligibility depends on both location and type of work, and encourages residents and contractors to contact the Building Division before starting any project.

Bottom line

Starting July 1, 2026, some Cape Coral homeowners may be able to move certain minor projects through HB 803’s under-$7,500 exemption pathway—but only if eligibility rules are met. For many homes, especially those inside FEMA-mapped SFHAs, Cape Coral says the exemption won’t apply, and residents should plan on the standard building permit and inspection route.

Key sources

• City of Cape Coral — HB 803 Permit Rules Effective July 1 (resident-facing notice)
• Florida Senate — CS/CS/HB 803 bill summary (statewide permit exemption structure)

Look for updates to this story

Related News

• Cape Coral says HB 803 covers only a narrow set of home projects
• Cape Coral permitting changes July 1: EnerGov intake and HB 803 exemptions
• Margate’s July 1 building-permit exemptions (HB 803): small projects—what’s exempt
• Winter Park adds a limited permit exemption for some small single-family home projects