THE BILL ITSELF
SB 1218
Building Requirements of Certain Structures
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1218 By Senator Rodriguez 40-00990A-26 20261218__
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to building requirements of certain
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structures; amending s. 553.73, F.S.; requiring the
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Florida Building Commission to require that the entire
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building envelope of certain structures meet the
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impact resistance requirements of the Florida Building
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Code and be constructed with wind-resistant materials
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designed and built to withstand a specified wind
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speed; providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Subsection (21) is added to section 553.73,
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Florida Statutes, to read:
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553.73 Florida Building Code.—
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(21) Beginning with the adoption of the 9th edition of the
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Florida Building Code, the commission shall require that the
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entire building envelope, including exterior walls, roof,
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outside doors, skylights, glazing, and glass block, of the
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following structures meet the impact resistance requirements of
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the Florida Building Code and be constructed with wind-resistant
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materials designed and built to withstand wind speeds of 160
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miles per hour:
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(a) R-1 and R-2 multistory residential occupancies
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containing sleeping units.
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(b) New residences constructed within 5 miles of the
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coastal mean high-water line.
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(c) New residences constructed in a high-velocity hurricane
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zone.
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(d) Buildings or structures designated or used as hurricane
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shelters.
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(e) Rebuilt buildings or structures that meet the criteria
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in paragraphs (a)-(d) which are deemed uninhabitable or
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destroyed by wind, flood, hurricane, tropical storm, or fire.
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Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.