SB 964 - Construction Liens and Bonds Summary

• Contractors must record payment and performance bonds in official records within the county where improvement occurs; bond number must appear on the bond's front page.

• Building permit inspection cannot proceed until the issuer receives a copy of the recorded bond, a notarized exemption statement, or the signed general statement of owner's rights and responsibilities (for residential projects).

• Contractors must serve a notice of contest of claim against payment bonds on claimants; public authorities cannot withhold payments to contractors who have provided a recorded bond.

• Contractors must provide owners with a detailed general statement of owner's rights and responsibilities under Florida's Construction Lien Law, which must be signed and filed with the building permit application.

• Notice of nonpayment must now be a sworn statement and include specific information about labor, services, materials furnished, amounts paid/due, and retainage; payment bond requirements waived for state contracts of $100,000 or less.