New Construction Plumbing Warranty in Nocatee & Wildlight

If you're buying new in Nocatee or Wildlight, you're buying into two of Northeast Florida's fastest-growing communities, and a plumbing system that's covered by a warranty most buyers never actually read closely. Florida's warranty law also just changed. Here's what's actually covered, what isn't, and what to check before your walls get closed up.

Updated August 2026 · not legal advice, see the notes below

Florida's warranty law just changed, and most guides online don't reflect it yet

Florida House Bill 623, signed in April 2024, created a new statutory requirement, Florida Statute 553.837, that took effect July 1, 2025. It requires builders of newly constructed homes to provide at least a one-year warranty covering material and workmanship defects, plumbing included, unless the builder's own written warranty already meets or exceeds that. If you're closing on a new build in Nocatee or Wildlight now, this statute applies to your home. A lot of general warranty content still in circulation predates this law and won't mention it.

The one-year clock starts from whichever comes first: the date the title was conveyed to you as the first owner, or the date you actually moved in. Worth marking that specific date somewhere you won't lose it, since it's the deadline that governs your statutory coverage, not the closing date on paperwork you might file away and forget.

This is a floor, not a ceiling. Builders active in these communities right now, including David Weekley Homes, Pulte Homes, and Dostie Homes, commonly offer their own structured warranty on top of the statutory minimum, often built around a familiar pattern: roughly one year for workmanship, two years for major systems like plumbing and electrical, and ten years for structural defects. What your specific builder actually offers is in your contract, not in this statute, read it directly rather than assuming a standard structure applies.

What's actually covered, in plain terms

This table describes common structures, not a guarantee of what any specific builder offers. Your purchase contract and written warranty documents are the actual source of truth for your home.

What to check at the pre-drywall walkthrough

This is the one point in the build where plumbing is actually visible, before insulation and drywall permanently hide it. Most builders will schedule this walkthrough if you ask, and some do it as standard practice. On plumbing specifically:

• Pipe strapping and supportSupply and drain lines should be securely strapped, not just resting against framing. Loose pipe can rattle, wear, or shift over years of settling.
• Drain line slopeDrain lines need consistent slope toward the main line to drain properly. This is hard to verify without someone who knows what they're looking at, worth having a second set of eyes if you're not confident reading it yourself.
• Water heater TPR valve discharge routingSince nearly every home in these communities is built on a slab, the pressure relief valve needs a compliant discharge path to the exterior or an approved floor drain, not into a closed slab space. See our water heater cost guide for more on why this matters.
• Get it in writingWhatever you see or ask about at this walkthrough, get a written summary from the builder afterward. Once drywall goes up, it's your word against theirs about what was or wasn't there.

If something shows up after you move in

Florida generally gives homeowners four years from when a defect was discovered, or reasonably should have been discovered, to bring a claim, but no claim can be filed more than seven years after construction, regardless of when the defect was found. That seven-year outer limit, called the statute of repose, was shortened from ten years by a 2023 change in Florida law, worth knowing if you're counting on the older, longer timeline. Document the issue, notify your builder in writing following whatever process your contract specifies, and keep records of every communication. This is general information, not legal advice, if you're facing an actual deadline or dispute, talk to a real estate or construction attorney about your specific contract.

Common questions