How to Become a Building Inspector in Florida

What to Know About Florida Building Codes

Around the country, various building codes set standards that construction projects must adhere to. These regulations are designed to create structural stability, with the ultimate goal of protecting public health and safety. Learn about the specifics of Florida's building codes to better understand how the state maintains certain standards.

Hurricane History

Many of Florida's building code provisions stem from the desire to help homes and the people in them stay safe during the state's seasonal natural disasters. In 1992, Hurricane Andrew hit, damaging or destroying almost 170,000 homes in the process, notes ABC News. This unprecedented event highlighted the need for a new building code. About 10 years after Andrew made landfall, Florida officially adopted a revised set of codes designed in particular to address wind resistance and roof construction, according to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Currently, the code is reassessed and revised every three years.

What Follows the Code?

Florida's building code contains provisions that almost all public and private buildings must follow. This means that, depending on their type, structures like homes, schools, stores and office buildings need to adhere to either commercial or residential building codes that the state enforces. However, certain structures are exempt from the requirements, according to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. These include the following:

Railroad buildings
Film and TV sets
Mausolea
Farm buildings that aren't for residential use

Who Creates the Code?

The Florida Building Commission is the entity responsible for developing, maintaining and interpreting the state's building code. This organization is made up of 25 members, many of whom are appointed by the governor, notes the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR). Typically, people from a wide range of professional backgrounds are members of the commission, and this allows them to draw on their expertise in creating code provisions that are relevant to the state. Members often have experience in one of the following industries or areas, according to the DBPR:

Engineering
Architecture
Firefighting or fire safety
General building contracting
Insurance
Public education
Business ownership
Local government

Product Safety

When it comes to building materials, the way in which they're put together to create a structure is an important element of following Florida's building code. However, the materials themselves also need to follow certain regulations in the state. Florida maintains its own Product Approval System to review building products and subsequently ensure they're safely and durably constructed. Over 40,000 products have been approved for use in residential and commercial buildings as of early 2019, notes the DBPR.

Building in Florida

Although Florida's building code is applicable statewide, local municipalities are responsible for enforcing it. If you're thinking of building a home or commercial structure in the state, you'll want to contact the relevant city or county planning or building department in your area. They'll help you learn what types of permits and other documentation you'll need to begin preparing for construction or for conducting building inspections throughout the construction process.

Conrad Kess1948