Building Code Requirements

The links below briefly present and/or discuss some of the pertinent provisions of the FBC, Existing Building and Residential and Florida statutes that may be applicable to the investigation of a problem or repair to a home or other building in Florida. We begin by defining what a building code is and follow with a brief description and history of building codes in the State of Florida. What is a building code? A building code is a set of rules that specify minimum acceptable standards of construction for buildings and other structures. The primary purpose of a building code is to protect public health, safety and general welfare as these relate to the construction and occupancy of buildings and structures. The building code becomes law of a particular jurisdiction when formally enacted by the appropriate authority. History of Building Codes in the State of Florida The first building code in Florida, reportedly the first in the United States, was enacted in Miami after the Great Miami Hurricane in 1926. This code was reportedly adopted by over 5,000 municipalities throughout the United States. The Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI) was formed in 1940. This group published the Southern Standard Building Code which, with revisions and local amendments, was widely adopted throughout the State of Florida for decades. In 1974 the Florida State Legislature passed the "Florida Building Codes Act of 1974". This act required local governments to adopt one of four "interim" building codes. These were the Southern Standard Building Code (SBCC), the South Florida Building Code (SFBC), the Congress of American Building Officials 1&2 Family Dwelling Code (CABO), or the EPCOT Building Code (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow). The expressed intent of the 1974 act was to provide minimum building codes which would "allow reasonable protection for public safety, health, and general welfare for all the people of Florida at the most reasonable cost to the consumer". The local governments were given authority to modify and amend the adopted code, and more stringent local requirements already in effect were expressly preserved. The act also created the Board of Building Codes and Standards, which was the predecessor to the Florida Building Commission. In 1974 almost all Florida counties had already adopted or enforced the SSBC and most stayed with this code. Walt Disney World enforced the EPCOT Building Code. Broward and Dade Counties continued to enforce the already adopted SFBC. The 1974 act did not consolidate or simplify building codes in the State of Florida, and code requirements continued to vary between counties and municipalities. In August 1992 Hurricane Andrew devastated southern Dade County and demonstrated that the current system of local building codes did not provide enough hurricane protection. This was particularly true because the SFBC generally set the strongest standards in Florida and was the code in effect in South Florida at the time of Hurricane Andrew. In the aftermath, almost a dozen insurance companies went bankrupt due to damage claims. Many eventually left the state to avoid the risk of a future massive storm and sudden bankruptcy. In July 1996 the Florida Building Codes Study Commission was established to look at the problem and recommend solutions. The commission found the Florida building code system to be a complex, patchwork system of regulations and codes that were amended and enforced differently by several hundred different jurisdictions and agencies. It concluded that the problem was not caused so much by weakness in the codes themselves, but by the inability to enforce and comply with such a confusing system of differing codes, amendments, and processes. The commission recommended a single, state-wide building code, and the 1998 Florida State Legislature adopted this recommendation. The 2000 Legislature authorized implementation, and the 2001 FBC took effect on March 1, 2002. The Florida Building Commission updates the FBC every three years, with amendments issued once every year. The Florida Building Code The 2001 FBC was a combination of the old Standard Building Code (SBC) and the South Florida Building Code (SFBC). SFBC provisions were retained in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) requirements which apply to Miami Dade and Broward Counties only. The 2004 FBC replaced 2001 FBC on October 1, 2005, the 2007 FBC replaced the 2004 FBC on March 1, 2009, and the 2010 FBC replaced the 2007 FBC on March 15, 2012. The 2010 FBC is currently in effect and contains the following sections: Building, Residential, Existing Building, Energy Conservation, Fuel Gas, Plumbing, Mechanical, Test Protocols, and Florida Accessibility Code. Additions (link is under construction...please check back later!) Alterations (link is under construction) Asphalt Shingle Roof Recovering or Replacement Crawlspace Ventilation Requirements FEMA Flood Elevation Requirements if repair costs exceed 50% (link is under construction) Florida Statute on Matching Replacements Florida Statute on Replacement Cost Coverage and Law & Ordinance Coverage Roof Replacement - 25% Rule Structural Repairs to Existing Buildings Window or Door Replacement & Shutters (link is under construction)