SESSION WATCH
Became law SENATE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-126

No. CS/CS/CS/SB 1614

Enforcement of the Florida Building Code
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SPONSOR
Appropriations; Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; Community Affairs; Leek
FILED BY
Thomas J. Leek — District 7, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026

Filed under Development & Land Use.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Enforcement of the Florida Building Code; Revising the manner in which a local government is required to spend excess funds, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Local governments can no longer use excess building code fees to construct agency buildings.

Local governments must now use excess building code fees for rebates, technology upgrades, or official training. The bill removes the option to use these funds for construction.

The bill deletes the requirement that construction spending be designated by the local government and limited to four consecutive years. This eliminates a specific restriction on how excess funds are spent.

Owners and builders with valid permits retain the right to sue local governments to enforce these spending rules. The bill clarifies that associations of owners or builders in the state may also bring such actions.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Prohibition on using excess fees for agency construction majors. 553.80(7)(a)

AIremoves a permitted use of funds, narrowing local government spending options

“to pay for the construction of a building or structure that houses a local government's building code enforcement agency” bill text, line 56 →
§ 2 Removal of four-year carryforward limit for construction funds moderates. 553.80(7)(a)

AIrepeals a time limit on fund designation, though the underlying use is also removed

“Excess funds used to construct such a building or structure must be designated for such purpose by the local government and may not be carried forward for more than 4 consecutive” bill text, line 60 →
§ 3 Expansion of civil action plaintiffs to include builders majors. 553.80(7)(a)

AIgrants a new right to sue local governments for fee enforcement

“An owner or a builder who has a valid building permit issued by a local government for a fee” bill text, line 63 →
§ 4 Clarification of association membership location moderates. 553.80(7)(a)

AInarrows the geographic scope of eligible associations to those located in Florida

“an association of owners or builders located in this state which has members with valid building permits”
TIMELINE
6/12/2026
Chapter No. 2026-126
6/11/2026
Approved by Governor
6/9/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/17/2026
Ordered enrolled
3/11/2026
CS passed; YEAS 112, NAYS 0
3/11/2026
Read 3rd time
3/11/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
3/11/2026
Read 2nd time
3/10/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 3)
3/10/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/11/2026)
3/10/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
3/5/2026
In Messages
3/5/2026
CS passed; YEAS 37 NAYS 0 -SJ 610
3/5/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 610
3/5/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 610
3/4/2026
Placed on Special Order Calendar, 03/05/26
3/4/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
3/3/2026
CS/CS/CS by Appropriations read 1st time
3/3/2026
Pending reference review -under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
3/2/2026
CS/CS/CS by- Appropriations; YEAS 18 NAYS 0
2/25/2026
On Committee agenda-- Appropriations, 03/02/26, 12:00 pm, 110...
2/24/2026
CS/CS by Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and...
2/23/2026
Now in Appropriations
2/20/2026
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
2/18/2026
CS/CS by Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and...
2/13/2026
On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Agriculture,...
2/10/2026
CS by Community Affairs read 1st time
2/4/2026
Now in Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and...
2/4/2026
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
2/3/2026
CS by Community Affairs; YEAS 8 NAYS 0
1/29/2026
On Committee agenda-- Community Affairs, 02/03/26, 3:30 pm, 37...
1/22/2026
Introduced
1/16/2026
Referred to Community Affairs; Appropriations Committee on...
1/9/2026
Filed
28 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 553.80
+3 / −54
STAFF ANALYSES
2 MORE →