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Local Specialty Contractor Licenses Were Phased Out July 1, 2025A major shift in how Florida regulates contractor licens...
05/29/2026

Local Specialty Contractor Licenses Were Phased Out July 1, 2025

A major shift in how Florida regulates contractor licensing took effect on July 1, 2025. Under SB 1142, local governments may no longer issue specialty contractor licenses unless those license types substantially correspond to the categories recognized by the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board, or CILB, as governed by Florida Statutes Section 489.117. Contractors who previously relied on a locally registered license to pull permits now face potential permitting delays or outright rejections. Upgrading to a state-certified credential is no longer optional for most trades. If you are unsure whether your current license qualifies under the new state standards, acting now protects your ability to bid and work without interruption. Give us a call at ZinnLaw (239) 418-1529 or visit our website at https://www.zinn.law.

What Construction Law Challenge Are You Facing?If you are a contractor, subcontractor, or homeowner in Southwest Florida...
05/28/2026

What Construction Law Challenge Are You Facing?

If you are a contractor, subcontractor, or homeowner in Southwest Florida, the legal landscape around construction has changed significantly just in the past year. From lien waiver form requirements to government change order deadlines, keeping up with Florida's evolving statutes is a real challenge for anyone running a project or a business. We want to hear from you: what is the single biggest legal obstacle you have encountered on a construction project in Florida? Whether it involves getting paid, permitting delays, or licensing questions, your situation matters and deserves a real answer. Drop your experience in the comments, and let our team help point you in the right direction. Give us a call at ZinnLaw (239) 418-1529 or visit our website at https://www.zinn.law.

Florida's construction industry entered new legal territory on July 1, 2025, with the passage of HB 683. Under the updat...
05/22/2026

Florida's construction industry entered new legal territory on July 1, 2025, with the passage of HB 683. Under the updated Florida Statutes Section 218.755, local governmental entities are now required to approve or deny change orders submitted by contractors within 35 days of receipt. Prior to this change, contractors frequently waited indefinitely for a response, often pausing jobs or absorbing costs while awaiting government action. For contractors working on public projects throughout Lee, Collier, and Charlotte counties, this new deadline creates a clear legal avenue for relief if a government entity drags its feet. Understanding how to formally trigger that 35-day clock can be the difference between a stalled project and one that moves forward. Give us a call at ZinnLaw (239) 418-1529 or visit our website at https://www.zinn.law.

If you are a contractor in Southwest Florida, the way you handle lien waivers has fundamentally changed. As of July 1, 2...
05/21/2026

If you are a contractor in Southwest Florida, the way you handle lien waivers has fundamentally changed. As of July 1, 2025, Florida law under SB 658 now requires that all progress and final payment lien waivers be identical to the statutory forms found in Florida Statutes Section 713.20(4) and (5). The previous standard that allowed forms to be "substantially similar" is gone. Even a minor deviation in wording can now invalidate your waiver, leaving your payment rights exposed. If your current contract templates have not been reviewed and updated, you may be operating with documents that no longer hold up in court. Give us a call at ZinnLaw (239) 418-1529 or visit our website at https://www.zinn.law.

If you are a contractor, developer, or homeowner planning a modest project, Florida’s permitting reforms go beyond the $...
05/15/2026

If you are a contractor, developer, or homeowner planning a modest project, Florida’s permitting reforms go beyond the $7,500 exemption. The Senate bill summary for HB 803 says local governments must respond within five days to permit applications for work valued under $15,000, and it also says associations cannot require a building permit as a prerequisite for parcel review. Official House analysis further explains that local inspection fees may not exceed the actual cost incurred to perform and approve the inspection required for a permit. For Southwest Florida clients, that matters because delay, inconsistency, and unnecessary cost often drive disputes. Getting legal advice early can help you document compliance, preserve timelines, and avoid expensive conflict. Give us a call at ZinnLaw (239) 418-1529 or visit our website at www.zinn.law.

If you are trying to protect your property before the next storm season, Florida’s new law is worth close attention. CS/...
05/14/2026

If you are trying to protect your property before the next storm season, Florida’s new law is worth close attention. CS/CS/HB 803 requires local governments to exempt certain temporary residential hurricane and flood protection walls or barriers from permit requirements when they are non-habitable, non-load bearing, installed on qualifying residential property, built to block storm surge or floodwaters, installed by a properly licensed contractor, and compliant with local zoning, drainage, easement, and setback rules. That exemption still does not apply in flood hazard areas. The practical lesson for Southwest Florida homeowners is simple: storm preparation can move faster, but only when the installation meets the statute’s conditions and the paperwork is handled correctly. Give us a call at ZinnLaw (239) 418-1529 or visit our website at https://www.zinn.law.

If you own a single-family home in Southwest Florida, we want you to know Florida recently changed the permit rules for ...
05/13/2026

If you own a single-family home in Southwest Florida, we want you to know Florida recently changed the permit rules for certain small projects. Under CS/CS/HB 803, local governments must exempt work valued under $7,500 from building permit requirements for single-family property, but that exemption does not apply in flood hazard areas or to electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical, or gas work. The law also says you cannot break one larger project into smaller pieces to slip under the limit. To use the exemption, the owner or contractor must submit a written request with documentation showing the nature and value of the work. Before you start, make sure your contract, scope of work, and documentation are clear. Give us a call at ZinnLaw (239) 418-1529 or visit our website at https://www.zinn.law.

Blended families and long‑distance relatives can make summers both exciting and complicated. Florida courts recognize di...
05/07/2026

Blended families and long‑distance relatives can make summers both exciting and complicated. Florida courts recognize different types of parenting plans, including long‑distance schedules that may shift more time to school breaks like summer to maintain meaningful relationships. That can mean a child spends longer blocks with one parent when school is out, while still maintaining structure and clear expectations. If your family lives across counties or even states, what kind of summer schedule would feel fair and realistic—longer visits with one parent, or more frequent but shorter trips? Share what balance you are trying to strike this year. Give us a call at ZinnLaw (239) 418-1529 or visit our website at https://www.zinn.law

Sometimes, the hardest decisions involve safety. Under Florida law, the court can move away from shared parental respons...
05/01/2026

Sometimes, the hardest decisions involve safety. Under Florida law, the court can move away from shared parental responsibility if there is credible evidence that shared decision‑making would be harmful, such as serious domestic violence or abuse. That can affect summer in very practical ways, including where exchanges occur and whether time-sharing needs supervision or specific safeguards. If you are worried that your current plan does not fully address safety for summer visits or travel, it is important to raise those concerns before a crisis arises. There are legal tools designed to protect children while still following the law. Give us a call at ZinnLaw (239) 418-1529 or visit our website at https://www.zinn.law

If you or your co‑parent work in a seasonal industry common in Southwest Florida, your summer schedule might be the oppo...
04/30/2026

If you or your co‑parent work in a seasonal industry common in Southwest Florida, your summer schedule might be the opposite of “time off.” Florida parenting plans can be written to reflect those realities by giving one parent more time when the other is working extended hours, while still preserving a meaningful schedule during the rest of the year. Courts look at each parent’s ability to meet the child’s needs and keep a stable routine when approving these kinds of arrangements. Building that pattern into your plan can make your busy season smoother and ensure your child has consistent care, not last‑minute scrambling. Give us a call at ZinnLaw (239) 418-1529 or visit our website at https://www.zinn.law

Summer often exposes where a parenting plan is working and where it is not. Maybe exchanges always run late, or maybe ac...
04/24/2026

Summer often exposes where a parenting plan is working and where it is not. Maybe exchanges always run late, or maybe activities constantly overlap the other parent’s time. Florida’s “best interests” standard encourages schedules that reduce conflict and support a healthy relationship with both parents, but every family’s reality looks different. Where does your existing plan feel most stressful when school is out: vacation weeks, day‑to‑day exchanges, or paying for camps and childcare? Tell us which part of summer co‑parenting feels hardest for you right now. Give us a call at ZinnLaw (239) 418-1529 or visit our website at https://www.zinn.law

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