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Code Status: Florida

This page contains information about current energy codes in the state of Florida. Information for all 50 States is also available. Florida Code News.

Current State Codes

  • Residential Code: State developed code, Chapter 13 of the Florida Building Code, significantly exceeds the stringency of the 2006 IECC, mandatory statewide; can use Energy Gauge FLARES to show compliance.
  • Commercial Code: State developed code, Chapter 13 of the Florida Building Code, is mandatory statewide and the standard of performance more stringent than ASHRAE 90.1-2007; can use Energy Gauge FLACOM to show compliance.
  • Code Change Cycle: Triennial code revision process.
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Code Adoption & Change Process

Process Type: Regulatory

Code Change Process: The Florida Building Commission (FBC) is directed to adopt, revise, update, and maintain the Florida Building Code in accordance with Chapter 120 of the state statutes. The code is mandatory throughout the state and need not be adopted by a local government to be applicable at the local level.

The 1998 Florida Legislature amended Chapter 553, Florida Statutes, Building Construction Standards, to create a single state building code that is enforced by local governments. As of March 1, 2002, the Florida Building Codes supercede all local building codes. The Florida Building Codes are developed and maintained by the Florida Building Commission within the Florida Department of Community Affairs. It is updated every three years and may be amended annually to incorporate interpretations and clarifications.

State Code History: In response to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (Public Law 94-163), the 1977 Florida legislature passed two laws requiring local adoption of an energy code for certain building categories for which building permits were issued after March 15, 1979. The two laws enacted by the Florida legislature were the driving force behind the "Florida Thermal Efficiency Code" and the "Florida Lighting Efficiency Code," which were combined in 1980 as the FEECBC, developed to be climate-specific for Florida. The state energy code became effective on March 15, 1979, and was updated in 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1993, and 1997. The 2001 Florida Building Code went into effect in 2002, and the 2004 Florida Building Code went into effect in January 2005.

As of November 2006, The Florida Energy Office (FEO) was planning to develop an Automated Energy Code Compliance System, a program proposed by the University of Central Florida's Florida Solar Energy Center. This system will be a building standards database allowing designers and builders to access the most up-to-date building energy requirements and to apply for authorization. This will facilitate code compliance and the implementation of energy efficiency measures.

On June 17, 2008, Florida Governor Charlie Crist signed HB 697, which outlines the state legislature's mandates to improve the energy performance of Florida's infrastructure. To meet the state's ambitious energy efficiency goals, the Florida Building Commission shall select the most current version of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) as a foundation code.

The law also directs the Florida Building Commission to include provisions in the 2010 edition of the Florida Energy Efficiency Code for Building Construction necessary to increase the energy performance of new buildings by at least 20 percent as compared to the energy efficiency provisions of the 2007 Florida Building Code adopted October 31, 2007. Further scheduled provisions shall increase energy efficiency by 30, 40, and 50 percent compared to the 2007 Florida Building Code for the 2013, 2016, and 2019 editions of the Florida Energy Efficiency Code for Building Construction, respectively. 

As a result of a conference call held June 9, 2008, the Florida Building Commission decided to extend the 2007 Florida Building Code implementation date to December 31, 2008, rather than October 1, 2008, as previously announced. At its September 15, 2008, conference call meeting, the Florida Building Commission decided to once again postpone the effective date of the 2007 Florida Building Code from December 31, 2008 to March 1, 2009.

According to a report by the Florida Solar Energy Center, Florida's current energy code will likely result in new homes that are about 17% more efficient than homes built to the standards of the 2006 IECC and about 3% less than the 2009 IECC.

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Energy Consumption Estimates

The consumption estimates below are derived from the total end use of residential and commercial energy consumption in the United States in 2006, and are not limited to energy consumption based on building code-related factors. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.

  • Residential Sector: 1,333.7 Trillion BTU
  • Commercial Sector: 1,066.8 Trillion BTU
  • Total Energy Consumption: 2,400.5 Trillion BTU
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Construction Activity

Residential:

  • Population (2000 US Census)1: 15,982,378
  • Total Housing Units2: 7,624,378
  • 2004 New Housing Units Authorized by Permit (Privately Owned)3:
    • total units: 251,613
    • 1 unit: 185,072
    • 2 units: 3,246
    • 3 and 4 units: 3,984
    • 5+ units: 59,311
    • structures of 5+ units: 3,090

References:

  1. http://www.census.gov/population/cen2000/phc-t2/tab01.xls
  2. http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/housing/sthuhh1.txt
  3. http://www.census.gov/const/C40/Table2/20k_t2yu200412.txt

Green Building Initiatives

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Code Funding Opportunities

There are two funding opportunities under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA): Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants and State Energy Program. Please reference the U.S. Department of Energy for Florida's allocated amount and updated information. 

  

Web Links

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State Energy Code Contacts

Mr. Alexander Mack
Administrator, State Energy Program
Department of Environmental Protection
600 South Calhoun Street, Suite 251
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300

Tel: (850) 245-8002

Email: alexander.mack@eog.myflorida.com

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