Orange County, Florida, aims to promote construction and spur the county’s economic recovery from COVID-19. The county’s Division of Building Safety has extended, automatically, all building permits for six months. It also has allotted $10 million from its reserves of fee payments to cover construction permit fees for residential and commercial buildings. An extension needed after the six-month period will incur typical permit fees.

“During times of economic hardship, unpermitted work generally increases,” the county government’s website says. “With the permit fees covered by the Division of Building Safety, the risk of a spike in unpermitted work will be reduced. With hurricane season in mind, ensuring Florida Building Code compliance for all projects is extremely important.”

Fees waived are capped at $100,000 per project, and the measure will last for six months or until the $10 million is allocated. The county will allocate the funds on a first-come, first-served basis. More information is available here.

The resolution implementing these measures, supported by BOMA Orlando and NAIOP’s Central Florida chapter, stated that the goal is to “ensure that local business owners, developers, nonprofits and residents have the best opportunity to stay in business, create new businesses or make necessary home improvements.”