Change-of-contractor affidavits are local permitting forms. Many Florida building departments require notarized signatures, but procedures vary—and notarization does not transfer the permit or replace Florida's separate Notice of Commencement recording requirement when the contractor changes.
Published and reviewed by iRemoteNotary
Last reviewed August 16, 2026
Many local building departments require notarized signatures on their change-of-contractor forms, but procedures vary by jurisdiction and permit type.
Notarization does not approve the new contractor, transfer the permit, or verify licensing or insurance.
In Florida, §713.13 states that changing contractors requires a new Notice of Commencement or Notice of Recommencement to be executed and recorded—a separate lien-law step from most local permit forms.
A local change-of-contractor affidavit does not automatically replace that statutory requirement.
Confirm the complete procedure with the building department and recorder before notarizing or submitting documents.
When a property owner replaces the primary contractor on an active building permit, the building department usually requires paperwork beyond a verbal request. That package may be called a change-of-contractor affidavit, change of primary contractor form, contractor substitution application, or similar title.
Notarization is common on these forms—but not universal, and not sufficient by itself. This guide explains local change-of-contractor documents, who may sign them, and how they relate to permit administration and Florida Notice of Commencement requirements. It does not provide legal advice.
A change-of-contractor affidavit or application is a local permitting document used to document that:
Florida counties and cities publish different forms. Polk County's Change of Primary Contractor form, Lake County's version, the City of Orlando's Change of Contractor Application, and Indian River County's change-of-contractor packet illustrate that titles, signers, and notarization blocks differ.
The form controls the execution requirements—not generic assumptions about construction projects statewide.
Sometimes. Many Florida building departments include notarial certificates for the owner, former contractor, new contractor, or combinations thereof. Other steps may require signatures before permit staff in person instead of—or in addition to—independent notarization.
Read the current form posted by the issuing authority. A notarial certificate on the form means a notarial act is required when that block is presented for notarization. If the agency requires execution only before its employees, remote notarization may not substitute unless the agency explicitly allows it.
| Document or step | General purpose | Possible signer | Separate approval or filing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Change-of-contractor affidavit or application | Documents contractor substitution on an active permit | Owner; former contractor; new contractor—per local form | Building department approval; updated insurance and license verification |
| Owner authorization | Authorizes a person or contractor to act on owner's behalf in the permit process | Owner or authorized agent | May be separate from contractor-change form; may require notarization |
| Former-contractor notice | Confirms release, withdrawal, or consent to substitution | Former contractor or authorized representative | Agency may require even if not notarized |
| New-contractor acceptance | Confirms assumption of permit responsibilities | New contractor or qualifying agent | License and insurance review by building department |
| Permit revision | Updates permit records for scope, address, or administrative corrections | Owner or contractor depending on revision type | Agency workflow separate from lien-law recording |
| New NOC or Notice of Recommencement | Updates recorded commencement notice when contractor changes under Florida lien law | Owner under §713.13 | Record in clerk's office; post and submit proof as with original NOC |
| Recorded or certified-copy submission | Provides evidence of recorded NOC to building department | Owner or authorized agent | Clerk recording fees and format requirements |
Local permit change paperwork and Florida lien-law notice requirements operate on parallel tracks. Satisfying one does not automatically satisfy the other.
Under Florida Statutes §713.13(5)(a) (Florida-specific), a notice of commencement that is recorded within its effective period may be amended to extend the period, correct errors, or add omitted information—but changing contractors requires a new notice of commencement or notice of recommencement to be executed and recorded.
That requirement is separate from a county's change-of-primary-contractor PDF. A locally notarized contractor-change affidavit does not automatically replace recording a new Notice of Commencement or Notice of Recommencement.
Confirm recording steps with the clerk and document preparer. Notarization alone does not update the recorded commencement notice.
Review the Notice of Commencement lifecycle notarization guide.
Review amended Notice of Commencement services—not the same as contractor replacement.
Explore original Notice of Commencement online notarization.
Beyond notarization, agencies commonly require:
Indian River County publishes combined change-of-contractor forms and instructions showing how local packages may layer multiple signatures and submissions.
Procedures change. Verify the agency's current checklist before scheduling notarization.
Local forms differ on who must sign:
When the owner is an LLC or corporation, the signer must use proper representative capacity. The notary does not decide whether a manager, officer, or agent may sign for the entity.
Building departments verify contractor licensing and insurance through their own administrative processes—often using state database checks and attached certificates.
Florida DBPR oversees construction industry licensing at the state level. That verification happens in the permitting office; it is not part of the notary's role.
Notarization does not verify that the incoming contractor is licensed, insured, bonded, or qualified for the permit.
If a new Notice of Commencement or Notice of Recommencement is required under Florida §713.13, the document must be recorded in the clerk's official records. The building department may then require a certified copy, notarized filing statement, or clerk reference before inspections continue under §713.135.
Recording fees, format, e-recording availability, and proof submission are separate from notarizing the local change-of-contractor affidavit.
A change-of-contractor affidavit may be eligible for remote online notarization when:
Not every jurisdiction accepts remote notarization for every permit affidavit. Some agencies require in-person execution before staff regardless of general online-notary availability. Confirm the agency's remote-notarization policy before booking.
Confirm the required signers, certificate, permit information, supporting documents, and building department's remote-notarization policy before scheduling.
Request Change-of-Contractor NotarizationWhen notarization is required, the notary may:
The notary does not:
Change-of-contractor affidavits are local permit instruments. Notarization may be required on the form, but it does not transfer the permit, approve the new contractor, or satisfy Florida's separate requirement to execute and record a new Notice of Commencement or Notice of Recommencement when the contractor changes.
Confirm the full local and statutory procedure with the building department and recorder before submitting documents.
No. Many Florida agencies require notarization on their current forms, but procedures vary. Some require in-person signing before permit staff instead of or in addition to independent notarization. Read the issuing authority's current instructions.
No. Under Florida §713.13(5)(a), changing contractors requires a new Notice of Commencement or Notice of Recommencement to be executed and recorded. A locally notarized contractor-change affidavit does not automatically replace that step.
It depends on the form. Most packages require the owner and new contractor; many also require the former contractor. Entity-owned projects require a signer with representative capacity accepted by the agency.
It may be eligible when law, the certificate, identification, the platform, and the building department allow remote online notarization. Confirm the agency's policy first—not all permit offices accept remotely notarized local forms.
No. Licensing and insurance verification are building-department and DBPR administrative functions. The notary performs the notarial act only.
No. Owner authorization forms authorize permit actions or representatives. A change-of-contractor affidavit specifically documents contractor substitution. An agency may require one, both, or additional documents.
The final unsigned form, permit information, acceptable identification for each appearing signer, entity authority materials if applicable, and confirmation of the agency's notarization and remote-notarization rules—plus any separate Notice of Commencement recording steps required under Florida law.
The following primary sources support the legal and procedural information in this guide. Requirements can change, so confirm current rules with the receiving organization before relying on a notarized document.
Florida Statutes §713.13 — Notice of commencement
Florida Legislature
Accessed August 16, 2026
Polk County — Change of Primary Contractor
Polk County, Florida
Accessed August 16, 2026
Lake County — Change of Primary Contractor
Lake County, Florida
Accessed August 16, 2026
City of Orlando — Change of Contractor Application
City of Orlando, Florida
Accessed August 16, 2026
Indian River County — Change of Contractor Forms and Instructions
Indian River County, Florida
Accessed August 16, 2026
Florida DBPR — Construction Industry
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Accessed August 16, 2026
Prepare the final unsigned form, acceptable identification, permit information, and any owner, former-contractor, new-contractor, or authority documents required locally.