Florida’s Senate Bill 180: A Win for Faster Rebuilding

The new bill speeds approvals after hurricanes, helping homes and businesses recover sooner.

When a hurricane or major storm hits Florida, the damage is immediate — but the delays in rebuilding can be just as devastating. One of the biggest bottlenecks has always been waiting for permits. Contractors are ready to work, homeowners are desperate to get back into their homes, and yet projects sit idle in bureaucratic limbo.

That may finally be changing. On July 1, 2025, Florida’s Senate Bill 180 (SB 180) took effect, ushering in a sweeping overhaul of how the state handles post-disaster recovery.

Why This Matters

For years, property owners, adjusters, and restoration contractors have run into:

• Permit backlogs stretching for months
• Conflicting or delayed notices from municipalities
• New local restrictions or moratoriums that stalled rebuilding
• Uncertainty over fees and regulations that slowed even routine repairs

In some areas, residents were still waiting nearly a year after Hurricane Helene to get simple approvals. These kinds of bottlenecks compound losses, frustrate insurers and adjusters, and drag out claims resolution.

What SB 180 Changes

The new law tackles these pain points directly:

• No New Moratoriums
  Local governments cannot impose construction moratoria or restrictive zoning changes for one year after a hurricane within 100 miles of its track.
• Permit Fee Freeze
  For 180 days after a declared emergency, building and inspection fees can’t be increased.
• Annual Post-Storm Plans
  Counties must publish recovery “how-to” guides and designate specific channels for processing permits after disasters.
• Legal Recourse
  If local governments attempt to stall permitting unlawfully, property owners and contractors can sue and recover attorney’s fees.
• Consistency Across Jurisdictions
  State-level coordination is meant to reduce the patchwork of rules that has slowed recovery in past storms.

Why It Matters to You

• Public Adjusters & Attorneys: Faster permitting means quicker repair timelines, better documentation, and less dispute over delay-related costs.
• Insurance Carriers & Agents: Helps control loss adjustment expenses and ensures insureds return to livable conditions faster — improving customer satisfaction.
• Property Managers: Clearer processes reduce downtime for rental units and commercial properties.
• Restoration Companies: Eliminates some of the most maddening bottlenecks — letting crews get to work when it matters most.

Our Take

At All Claims Repairs, we applaud this law. Florida homeowners and businesses deserve a system that helps them get back on their feet quickly — not one that keeps them waiting in line for months.
SB 180 is a step in the right direction. By reducing red tape and preventing local governments from slowing recovery, it helps all of us — insurers, adjusters, property managers, and contractors — deliver on our shared mission: restoring lives, homes, and communities as fast as possible.

We’ll be tracking how this law is implemented during the 2025 storm season. If you’d like to discuss what it means for your business or your clients, reach out to our team anytime.