Tarpon Springs explains new Florida permit exemptions effective July 1

Tarpon Springs is applying new Florida permit rules that may allow qualifying homeowners and contractors to proceed without a standard building permit for some single-family residential projects and temporary flood-barrier installations.

House Bill 803 was signed into law on May 7, 2026, and took effect July 1, according to the City of Tarpon Springs. The law creates limited exemptions rather than eliminating permits for home construction generally.

Approval is still required

Even when work qualifies for an exemption, property owners and contractors must receive approval from the Tarpon Springs Building Official before beginning the project. The approval requirement applies before exempt work starts, so an exemption does not mean that residents can begin construction or install a temporary flood barrier without city review.

The city’s guidance covers two main areas: certain construction projects at single-family residences and temporary flood barriers. The exemptions have specific requirements, and the city directs property owners and contractors to use its local permitting resources before proceeding.

Forms and bill information

Tarpon Springs provides a 2026 permit-exemption form through its Building Development resources. The city also provides the full text of House Bill 803 through its Building Development page, along with local information explaining how the changes affect permitting.

The city’s Document Library includes the 2026 Building Development Guide and the 2026 permit-exemption form. Those materials give residents and contractors a starting point for determining how to seek approval for work that may qualify under the new law.

For homeowners, the practical change is that some qualifying work may be eligible for an exemption from the usual permit requirement. The practical limit is that the work still cannot begin until the Building Official approves it. Contractors working on single-family residential projects or temporary flood-barrier installations face the same pre-work approval requirement.

Digital permitting continues to expand

Tarpon Springs also continues expanding digital and online building-permit submission. That effort gives applicants an additional way to handle local permitting and exemption-related paperwork as the city implements the new state law.

Residents considering potentially exempt work should review the city’s 2026 form and Building Development information and obtain Building Official approval before starting. The law became effective July 1, 2026; the city’s approval requirement remains the key step for projects seeking to use the exemptions.