THE BILL ITSELF
HB 911
Florida Building Code Construction Requirements
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to Florida Building Code construction
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requirements; amending s. 553.73, F.S.; requiring the
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Florida Building Commission to require, beginning with
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the next edition of the Florida Building Code, that
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certain buildings or structures be constructed with
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specified materials and meet certain impact resistant
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requirements; defining the term "natural emergency";
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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)(a) Beginning with the adoption of the 9th edition of
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the Florida Building Code, the commission shall require that the
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entire building envelope of all new construction, including
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exterior walls and doors, roofs, skylights, glazing, and glass
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blocks, of the following buildings or structures meet the impact
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resistant requirements of the Florida Building Code and be
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constructed with wind-resistant materials designed and built to
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withstand wind speeds of at least 160 miles per hour:
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1. R1 and R2 multistory residential occupancies containing
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dwelling units or sleeping units.
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2. New residential construction located within 5 miles of
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the mean high-water line of any tidal water of this state.
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3. New residential construction located in a high-velocity
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hurricane zone under the Florida Building Code.
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4. Buildings or structures designated or used as an
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emergency shelter during a natural emergency.
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5. The rebuilding of buildings or structures that meet the
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criteria in subparagraphs 1.-4. which are uninhabitable or
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destroyed by a natural emergency.
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(b) As used in this subsection, the term "natural
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emergency" has the same meaning as in s. 252.34.
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Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.