For contractors and homeowners in Broward County, the days of waiting months for building inspections are finally over. After years of frustration and backlogs, the county has embraced virtual inspections, a move that brings it in line with every other county in Florida and promises to slash wait times from four months to just one week.
The Broward County Board of Rules and Appeals (BORA) recently amended the Florida Building Code to allow private companies to conduct these tech-driven inspections. The change delivers immediate benefits by allowing certified inspectors to review projects remotely through secure video streaming. Contractors can use smartphones or tablets to walk inspectors through a job, while geo-tagging, digital checklists, and access to approved plans ensure every step meets code. The result is quicker scheduling, real-time feedback, and far fewer wasted trips.
For single-trade permits, building departments must now issue permits within five days when private provider Inspected performs the plan review. Multi-trade permits have a 10-day turnaround. These strict timelines represent a dramatic shift for a region grappling with housing demand and construction bottlenecks.
The company at the center of this transformation is Plantation-based Inspected, which has already completed more than 100,000 inspections statewide since January 2024. Its Permit Hub platform uses high-definition video and cloud technology to deliver thorough, compliant inspections from anywhere. “As a Broward County-based company, we’re proud to work with BORA to bring the full benefits of remote virtual inspections to our local community,” said Ian Cohen, President and COO of Inspected. “This decision will revolutionize the construction industry and attract new business, just as it has across the rest of Florida, by increasing efficiency and reducing costs while maintaining rigorous safety standards.”
Cohen first presented the idea at a BORA meeting in May 2025. After months of review and refinements, the board voted unanimously to repeal its restrictions. For founder Anthony Perera, Broward’s approval fulfills a vision years in the making. “Our goal was to make sure Broward County benefited from this technology, and today that vision becomes reality. We’re ready to help contractors apply for permits with Inspected attached as their private provider and start inspecting projects as early as next week.”
Contractors across South Florida are already praising the move. Renewal by Andersen reports that projects once requiring three separate appointments can now be installed, inspected, and finalized in a single day. Jacuzzi Bath Remodel of Miami highlighted the convenience of completing rough and final inspections on the same day, while PES Solar pointed out that the faster process helps keep production schedules intact. Ace Pro Roofing noted that secure digital records and flexible scheduling have streamlined their operations. Collectively, these improvements translate into lower costs, fewer delays, and happier customers.
The economic impact could be far-reaching. Shorter wait times and faster approvals will allow developers to move more quickly on projects ranging from multifamily housing to commercial builds. At a time when affordability is one of the region’s most pressing challenges, removing bureaucratic bottlenecks could stabilize costs and accelerate construction timelines. “The ability to accelerate affordable housing projects and keep costs down is one of the most important outcomes of this decision,” Cohen emphasized.
Broward’s adoption of virtual inspections is more than just a modernization of procedure; it represents a cultural shift in an industry long weighed down by red tape. For Inspected, it’s proof that digital compliance is the future. “We’re not just speeding up the process,” Cohen said. “We’re making construction smarter, safer, and more efficient.”
With this decision, Broward has turned a long-standing weakness into a competitive advantage, aligning itself with statewide practices and reshaping the pace of construction for years to come.
