Which edition of the Florida Building Code is in effect?

The 8th Edition (2023), in effect since December 31, 2023. The Florida Building Commission adopts an updated code every three years (section 553.73(7), Florida Statutes), and the International Code Council lists the 9th Edition (2026) with an effective date of December 31, 2026, the date the Commission's work plan targets. The edition in effect on the day a permit application is filed governs that permit, so ask your building department which edition your job will be reviewed under.

Where can I read the Florida Building Code for free?

The International Code Council publishes every book of the Florida Building Code online, and anyone can read it free in read-only form; the Florida Building Commission links to it from floridabuilding.org. The National Electrical Code is on NFPA's site, which lets you read it free after signing in or creating a free account. The code's text is copyrighted, so this tool summarizes sections in plain English and links to them instead of copying them.

Does the Residential code or the Building code apply to my home?

Detached one- and two-family homes and townhouses of up to three stories follow the Florida Building Code, Residential (section 101.2 of the Building book and section R101.2 of the Residential book). Other buildings, such as condo and apartment buildings that aren't townhouses, follow the Building book. Repairs, alterations and additions to an existing home follow the Existing Building book, and the Residential book sends permits to Chapter 1 of the Building book (section R101.2.1).

Which electrical code does Florida use?

The 8th Edition adopts the 2020 National Electrical Code (NFPA 70). Chapter 27 of the Building book and the Residential book's electrical chapters send electrical work to it, and changes to an existing electrical system also follow the Existing Building book. The Residential book changes some NEC rules for homes, such as the one on GFCI protection (section E3408.1).

Can my city change the Florida Building Code?

Within limits. Under section 553.73(4) of the Florida Statutes, cities and counties can adopt local amendments to the code's administrative rules, and to technical rules where they show a local need. The amendments are filed with the Florida Building Commission and can be searched on floridabuilding.org. Some amend Chapter 1, the code's administrative chapter, and some building departments publish their own list of small jobs they don't require a permit for. Your building department applies the rules in force where you are, and its answer is the one that counts.

What's different in Broward and Miami-Dade?

The Florida Building Code defines Broward and Miami-Dade counties as the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ). There, roofing follows sections 1512 to 1525 of the Building book, including a permit for roofing repair and maintenance apart from what section 105 allows; structural design follows sections 1616 to 1626 and a few of Chapter 16's general sections; outside doors, windows and glazing have to pass the impact tests in section 1626 or be protected by devices that do; and the Test Protocols book holds the roofing and testing standards used there. For homes, Chapter 44 of the Residential book points to the Building book's chapters that hold these sections.

Florida Building Code lookup

Pick the job and see which book of the Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), governs it, the chapters and sections to look at in plain English, free links to read them, and whether it usually needs a permit. It runs in your browser: nothing you choose is sent anywhere.

Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023) · general information

What’s the job?

Pick the closest match, whether it’s planned, done or cited.

What kind of property is it?

It decides whether the Residential book or the Building book applies.

A house or townhouseA detached one- or two-family home, or a townhouse, of up to three storiesA condo, apartment or commercial buildingAny other building, such as a condo or apartment building that isn't townhouses, or a shop

Where is the property? (optional)

Broward and Miami-Dade are the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, which adds sections for roofs, windows, doors, shutters and structures.

Choose a job above. The books of the Florida Building Code to look at, the sections in plain English and whether it usually needs a permit appear here.

The books of the Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), and the electrical code

The Florida Building Commission links to the free online code from floridabuilding.org (opens in a new tab). The National Electrical Code is on NFPA’s free-access site (opens in a new tab), which asks you to sign in or create a free account.

Florida Building Code, Building
The main book. Its Chapter 1 holds the permit rules that the Residential, Mechanical, Plumbing and Fuel Gas books point back to, and it covers every building that isn't a house or townhouse of up to three stories.
Read it free on ICC's site, Florida Building Code, Building (opens in a new tab)
Florida Building Code, Residential
Detached one- and two-family homes and townhouses of up to three stories, and their accessory structures. It has its own chapters on mechanical, fuel gas and plumbing work, and its electrical chapters point to the National Electrical Code.
Read it free on ICC's site, Florida Building Code, Residential (opens in a new tab)
Florida Building Code, Existing Building
Repairs, alterations, additions, changes of occupancy and moves of buildings that already exist, including an existing home.
Read it free on ICC's site, Florida Building Code, Existing Building (opens in a new tab)
Florida Building Code, Mechanical
Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, ducts and refrigeration. For houses and townhouses, the Residential book's mechanical chapters (Part V) cover this ground.
Read it free on ICC's site, Florida Building Code, Mechanical (opens in a new tab)
Florida Building Code, Plumbing
Fixtures, water heaters, water supply piping and drainage. For houses and townhouses, the Residential book's plumbing chapters (Part VII) cover this ground.
Read it free on ICC's site, Florida Building Code, Plumbing (opens in a new tab)
Florida Building Code, Fuel Gas
Gas piping from the point of delivery to the appliance, and gas appliances. A house or townhouse can follow this book or the Residential book's fuel gas chapter (Chapter 24).
Read it free on ICC's site, Florida Building Code, Fuel Gas (opens in a new tab)
Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation
Energy efficiency: insulation, windows, air conditioning and ducts, water heating and lighting. It has commercial and residential provisions, each with a chapter on existing buildings.
Read it free on ICC's site, Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation (opens in a new tab)
Florida Building Code, Accessibility
Access for people with disabilities in places open to the public, commercial buildings, government buildings, private clubs and some residential buildings named in Florida law.
Read it free on ICC's site, Florida Building Code, Accessibility (opens in a new tab)
Florida Building Code, Test Protocols for High-Velocity Hurricane Zone
The roofing application standards (RAS) and testing application standards (TAS) used in Broward and Miami-Dade, such as the impact tests for windows, doors and shutters.
Read it free on ICC's site, Florida Building Code, Test Protocols for High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (opens in a new tab)
National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), 2020 edition
Electrical work. The 8th Edition adopts the 2020 National Electrical Code through the Building book's Chapter 27 and the Residential book's electrical chapters, and the Residential book changes some of its rules, such as the one on GFCI protection (Section E3408.1).
Read it on NFPA's free-access site (free account needed) (opens in a new tab)

How this works

Florida has one statewide building code, published as a set of books: Building, Residential, Existing Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas, Energy Conservation, Accessibility, and the Test Protocols used in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. Electrical work follows the 2020 National Electrical Code, which the code adopts. Which book applies depends on the property and the work: houses and townhouses of up to three stories follow the Residential book, other buildings follow the Building book, and repairs, alterations and additions to an existing building follow the Existing Building book. The permit rules are in Chapter 1 of the Building book, which the Residential, Mechanical, Plumbing and Fuel Gas books point back to.

Each section is summarized here in our own words, with a link to the International Code Council's free read-only copy, which the Florida Building Commission links to from floridabuilding.org. We don't reproduce the code's text, which is copyrighted. The permit answer comes from this site's permit checker. Cities and counties can amend the code locally, and your building department makes the call for your property. This site isn't affiliated with the Florida Building Commission, the International Code Council, NFPA or any city or county.

It runs in your browser and nothing you enter is sent anywhere. It is general information about how code enforcement usually works in Florida, not legal advice. Your notice, your city or county’s code and the code office named on the notice are what count. For legal questions, talk to a Florida attorney.

Questions people ask

Which edition of the Florida Building Code is in effect?: The 8th Edition (2023), in effect since December 31, 2023. The Florida Building Commission adopts an updated code every three years (section 553.73(7), Florida Statutes), and the International Code Council lists the 9th Edition (2026) with an effective date of December 31, 2026, the date the Commission's work plan targets. The edition in effect on the day a permit application is filed governs that permit, so ask your building department which edition your job will be reviewed under.
Where can I read the Florida Building Code for free?: The International Code Council publishes every book of the Florida Building Code online, and anyone can read it free in read-only form; the Florida Building Commission links to it from floridabuilding.org. The National Electrical Code is on NFPA's site, which lets you read it free after signing in or creating a free account. The code's text is copyrighted, so this tool summarizes sections in plain English and links to them instead of copying them.
Does the Residential code or the Building code apply to my home?: Detached one- and two-family homes and townhouses of up to three stories follow the Florida Building Code, Residential (section 101.2 of the Building book and section R101.2 of the Residential book). Other buildings, such as condo and apartment buildings that aren't townhouses, follow the Building book. Repairs, alterations and additions to an existing home follow the Existing Building book, and the Residential book sends permits to Chapter 1 of the Building book (section R101.2.1).
Which electrical code does Florida use?: The 8th Edition adopts the 2020 National Electrical Code (NFPA 70). Chapter 27 of the Building book and the Residential book's electrical chapters send electrical work to it, and changes to an existing electrical system also follow the Existing Building book. The Residential book changes some NEC rules for homes, such as the one on GFCI protection (section E3408.1).
Can my city change the Florida Building Code?: Within limits. Under section 553.73(4) of the Florida Statutes, cities and counties can adopt local amendments to the code's administrative rules, and to technical rules where they show a local need. The amendments are filed with the Florida Building Commission and can be searched on floridabuilding.org. Some amend Chapter 1, the code's administrative chapter, and some building departments publish their own list of small jobs they don't require a permit for. Your building department applies the rules in force where you are, and its answer is the one that counts.
What's different in Broward and Miami-Dade?: The Florida Building Code defines Broward and Miami-Dade counties as the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ). There, roofing follows sections 1512 to 1525 of the Building book, including a permit for roofing repair and maintenance apart from what section 105 allows; structural design follows sections 1616 to 1626 and a few of Chapter 16's general sections; outside doors, windows and glazing have to pass the impact tests in section 1626 or be protected by devices that do; and the Test Protocols book holds the roofing and testing standards used there. For homes, Chapter 44 of the Residential book points to the Building book's chapters that hold these sections.

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