What You Must Know About the New Florida Building Code

Florida’s building landscape is about to evolve — and staying ahead of code changes isn’t optional for builders, developers, and designers. As your trusted code experts, TSG is breaking down what the new Florida Building Code means, when it takes effect, and how our coordinated industry advocacy made a difference.

When the New Code Takes Effect

Florida updates its statewide building code every three years as part of its triennial adoption cycle. The current 8th Edition (2023) became effective on December 31, 2023 and governs construction statewide.

The next edition — the 9th Edition (2026) — is in development and will be adopted following rulemaking and publication events. Per state statute, a new Florida Building Code cannot take effect sooner than six months after publication. While the exact official effective date will be set after adoption, the code is anticipated to be fully enforced by late 2026 once published and the six-month effective period concludes.

This means companies and project teams should begin preparing now for compliance with the 2026 code cycle.

Why This Matters to Florida Builders

In late 2025, the Florida Building Commission considered a proposed modification to the code aimed at expanding wind-borne debris region requirements, potentially widening the area where elevated hurricane protection standards are required.

Had this been adopted, homes in the expanded zone would have faced new structural requirements:

Full opening protection (impact-resistant components), or
Engineering as partially enclosed structures

Both options would have introduced significant added construction costs — further stressing housing affordability across the state.

How TSG Stepped Up for the Industry

During the fourth quarter of 2025, TSG took a front-seat role in evaluating and responding to the proposed code change — alongside the Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA) Codes Committee, GOBA, and other partner organizations.

Here’s how we contributed:

Technical calculations & code evaluations
Cost-impact analysis with real builder data
Coordination of findings with FHBA leadership
Presentation to the Florida Building Commission

This work was instrumental in clearly communicating the financial and practical implications of the proposal to regulators — ensuring our industry’s voice was heard with clarity and credibility.

The Outcome: A Win for Housing Affordability

At the December 9, 2025 Florida Building Commission hearing, the proposed wind-borne debris modification was withdrawn from consideration.

This positive outcome:

✔️ Preserves regulatory balance between safety and cost,
✔️ Supports attainable housing goals across Florida, and
✔️ Highlights the power of industry engagement done right.

Thank You to Our Builder Partners

TSG extends sincere thanks to the builders and industry partners who:

Provided real-world pricing and constructability data
Attended the Commission hearing
Demonstrated a unified, professional voice on behalf of the residential construction industry

It’s your participation that moves the needle — and we’re proud to advocate alongside you.

Need Help Navigating Code Changes?

TSG continues to monitor Florida Building Code activity and advocate for practical, data-driven solutions that protect both safety and affordability.

Whether you’re concerned about:

Wind-borne debris requirements
Other code provisions impacting your projects
Compliance strategies under the new code cycle

📩 Contact us — we’re your code experts ready to help.

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