SESSION WATCH
Died SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. SB 1218

Building Requirements of Certain Structures
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SPONSOR
Rodriguez
FILED BY
Ana Maria Rodriguez — District 40, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Community Affairs

Filed under Development & Land Use.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Building Requirements of Certain Structures; Requiring the Florida Building Commission to require that the entire building envelope of certain structures meet the impact resistance requirements of the Florida Building Code and be constructed with wind-resistant materials designed and built to withstand a specified wind speed, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Requires 160-mph wind-resistant construction for new coastal and shelter buildings.

Starting with the next Florida Building Code edition, new multistory apartments and hotels with sleeping units must have entire building envelopes -- walls, roof, doors, skylights, glazing -- built to resist impact and withstand 160 mph winds.

The same standard reaches any new home built within five miles of the coast anywhere in Florida, not just the traditional high-velocity hurricane zone, plus any new home built inside that zone.

Hurricane shelters must meet the standard too, and so must any of these buildings when rebuilt after being made uninhabitable or destroyed by wind, flood, hurricane, tropical storm, or fire.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Sets a 160 mph wind-resistance standard for building envelopes majors. 553.73(21)

AIBeginning with the 9th edition of the Florida Building Code, the Building Commission must require the covered structures' entire building envelope to be constructed with wind-resistant materials built to withstand 160 mph winds.

“be constructed with wind-resistant materials designed and built to withstand wind speeds of 160 miles per hour” bill text, line 7 →
§ 2 Reaches new homes anywhere within 5 miles of the coast majors. 553.73(21)(b)

AIThe standard applies to new residences built within five miles of the coastal mean high-water line statewide, extending hurricane-grade construction well beyond the high-velocity hurricane zone that has historically carried the strictest rules.

“New residences constructed within 5 miles of the coastal mean high-water line.” bill text, line 26 →
§ 3 Also requires impact-resistant construction, not just wind resistance moderates. 553.73(21)

AIThe same covered structures must also meet the Florida Building Code's impact resistance requirements, covering exterior walls, roof, outside doors, skylights, glazing, and glass block -- a separate standard from the wind-speed rating.

“meet the impact resistance requirements of the Florida Building Code” bill text, line 5 →
§ 4 Covers multistory apartments and hotels with sleeping units moderates. 553.73(21)(a)

AIR-1 and R-2 occupancies -- multistory hotels, motels, apartment buildings, and similar residential buildings with sleeping units -- must meet the same impact- and wind-resistance standard as the coastal and hurricane-zone categories.

“R-1 and R-2 multistory residential occupancies containing sleeping units.” bill text, line 24 →
§ 5 Extends the standard to qualifying storm- or fire-damaged rebuilds technicals. 553.73(21)(e)

AIA building that would otherwise fall into one of the covered categories, and that is being rebuilt after being deemed uninhabitable or destroyed by wind, flood, hurricane, tropical storm, or fire, must also meet the standard.

“Rebuilt buildings or structures that meet the criteria in paragraphs (a)-(d) which are deemed uninhabitable or destroyed by wind, flood, hurricane, tropical storm, or fire.” bill text, line 32 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Community Affairs
1/13/2026
Introduced
1/12/2026
Referred to Community Affairs; Regulated Industries; Rules
1/6/2026
Filed
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 553.73
+134 / −0