Private Provider Programs by State
Florida has one of the most detailed private provider laws in the country, and other states allow third-party plan review and inspections in their own ways. Find your state below.
States with programs
Florida
FeaturedStatewide owner's right
Florida Statute 553.791, in place since 2002, lets property owners or their contractors hire private providers for plan review and inspections. Our full guide library covers it in depth.
Explore the Florida guides →Georgia
Statewide owner's right
Georgia's private professional provider law lets permit applicants hire a Georgia-licensed engineer or architect, or a state-qualified inspector working within their certification, to perform plan reviews and building inspections.
Read the Georgia guide →Texas
Deadline-triggered right
Since September 1, 2023, if a Texas city or county is more than 15 days past a deadline set in the Local Government Code for acting on a development document or conducting an inspection, a qualified third party may perform that review or inspection.
Read the Texas guide →Tennessee
State law, local scope
Since October 2024, Tennessee law lets permit applicants in locally enforced ("exempt") jurisdictions use third-party plans examiners and inspectors registered with the State Fire Marshal's Office instead of local reviewers. State buildings, educational occupancies and occupancies that need a State Fire Marshal inspection for licensing are excluded.
Read the Tennessee guide →Pennsylvania
Certified third-party system
Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code is enforced by municipalities, often through state-certified third-party agencies. In the minority of municipalities that opted out of local enforcement, owners hire a certified agency for residential work, and the state handles commercial work.
Read the Pennsylvania guide →South Carolina
Local option
South Carolina has no statewide private provider law. Local building officials may accept inspection reports from approved agencies, and some jurisdictions, such as the City of Charleston, run formal third-party inspection programs.
Read the South Carolina guide →Don't see your state?
Several other states and cities allow third-party involvement in narrower forms. For example, Phoenix, Arizona runs a well-known professional self-certification program, and New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs authorizes private on-site inspection agencies that municipalities may contract with for code enforcement. We research and add states continually as legislation evolves.
Program details change as legislatures act. These guides are educational summaries, not legal advice; always verify against the current statute and your local jurisdiction's procedures.
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