The Florida Senate

¹553.80  Enforcement.--

(1)  It shall be the responsibility of each local government, each legally constituted enforcement district, and each state agency with statutory authority to regulate building construction to enforce the building code adopted by such body in accordance with s. 553.73, unless such responsibility has been delegated to another unit of government pursuant to s. 553.79(9). The governing bodies of local governments may provide a schedule of fees for the enforcement of the provisions of this part. Such fees shall be used solely for carrying out the local government's responsibilities in enforcing the code. The authority of state enforcing agencies to set fees for enforcement shall be derived from authority existing on the effective date of this act. However, nothing contained in this subsection shall operate to limit such agencies from adjusting their fee schedule in conformance with existing authority.

(2)  Any two or more counties or municipalities, or any combination thereof, may, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 163, governing interlocal agreements, form an enforcement district for the purpose of adopting, enforcing, and administering the provisions of the State Minimum Building Codes. Each district so formed shall be registered with the department on forms to be provided for that purpose. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to supersede provisions of county charters which preempt municipal authorities respective to building codes.

(3)  Each enforcement district shall be governed by a board, the composition of which shall be determined by the affected localities. At its own option each enforcement district or local enforcement agency may promulgate rules granting to the owner of a single-family residence one or more exemptions from the State Minimum Building Codes relating to:

(a)  Addition, alteration, or repairs performed by the property owner upon his or her own property, provided any addition or alteration shall not exceed 1,000 square feet or the square footage of the primary structure, whichever is less.

(b)  Addition, alteration, or repairs by a nonowner within a specific cost limitation set by rule, provided the total cost shall not exceed $5,000 within any 12-month period.

(c)  Building and inspection fees.

Each code exemption, as defined in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c), shall be certified to the local board 10 days prior to implementation and shall only be effective in the territorial jurisdiction of the enforcement district or local enforcement agency implementing it.

(4)  When an enforcement district has been formed as provided herein, upon its registration with the department, it shall have the same authority with respect to building codes as provided by this part for local governing bodies.

History.--s. 11, ch. 74-167; s. 3, ch. 75-111; s. 5, ch. 77-365; s. 3, ch. 85-97; s. 805, ch. 97-103; ss. 50, 51, ch. 98-287; ss. 85, 86, ch. 2000-141.

¹Note.--Section 51, ch. 98-287, as amended by s. 85, ch. 2000-141, amended s. 553.80, and s. 86, ch. 2000-141, amended subsection (1) and paragraph (6)(a), as amended by s. 51, ch. 98-287, and added paragraph (6)(d), effective July 1, 2001, to read:

553.80  Enforcement.--

(1)  Except as provided in paragraphs (a)-(e), each local government and each legally constituted enforcement district with statutory authority shall regulate building construction and, where authorized in the state agency's enabling legislation, each state agency shall enforce the Florida Building Code required by this part on all public or private buildings, structures, and facilities, unless such responsibility has been delegated to another unit of government pursuant to s. 553.79(9).

(a)  Construction regulations relating to correctional facilities under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections and the Department of Juvenile Justice are to be enforced exclusively by those departments.

(b)  Construction regulations relating to elevator equipment under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Elevators of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation shall be enforced exclusively by that department.

(c)  In addition to the requirements of s. 553.79 and this section, facilities subject to the provisions of chapter 395 and part II of chapter 400 shall have facility plans reviewed and construction surveyed by the state agency authorized to do so under the requirements of chapter 395 and part II of chapter 400 and the certification requirements of the Federal Government.

(d)  Building plans approved pursuant to s. 553.77(6) and state-approved manufactured buildings, including buildings manufactured and assembled offsite and not intended for habitation, such as lawn storage buildings and storage sheds, are exempt from local code enforcing agency plan reviews except for provisions of the code relating to erection, assembly, or construction at the site. Erection, assembly, and construction at the site are subject to local permitting and inspections.

(e)  Construction regulations governing public schools, state universities, and community colleges shall be enforced as provided in subsection (6).


The governing bodies of local governments may provide a schedule of fees, as authorized by s. 125.56(2) or s. 166.222 and this section, for the enforcement of the provisions of this part. Such fees shall be used solely for carrying out the local government's responsibilities in enforcing the Florida Building Code. The authority of state enforcing agencies to set fees for enforcement shall be derived from authority existing on July 1, 1998. However, nothing contained in this subsection shall operate to limit such agencies from adjusting their fee schedule in conformance with existing authority.

(2)(a)  Any two or more counties or municipalities, or any combination thereof, may, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 163, governing interlocal agreements, form an enforcement district for the purpose of enforcing and administering the provisions of the Florida Building Code. Each district so formed shall be registered with the department on forms to be provided for that purpose. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to supersede provisions of county charters which preempt municipal authorities respective to building codes.

(b)  With respect to evaluation of design professionals' documents, if a local government finds it necessary, in order to enforce compliance with the Florida Building Code and issue a permit, to reject design documents required by the code three or more times for failure to correct a code violation specifically and continuously noted in each rejection, including, but not limited to, egress, fire protection, structural stability, energy, accessibility, lighting, ventilation, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and gas systems, or other requirements identified by rule of the Florida Building Commission adopted pursuant to chapter 120, the local government shall impose, each time after the third such review the plans are rejected for that code violation, a fee of four times the amount of the proportion of the permit fee attributed to plans review.

(c)  With respect to inspections, if a local government finds it necessary, in order to enforce compliance with the Florida Building Code, to conduct any inspection after an initial inspection and one subsequent reinspection of any project or activity for the same code violation specifically and continuously noted in each rejection, including, but not limited to, egress, fire protection, structural stability, energy, accessibility, lighting, ventilation, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and gas systems, or other requirements identified by rule of the Florida Building Commission adopted pursuant to chapter 120, the local government shall impose a fee of four times the amount of the fee imposed for the initial inspection or first reinspection, whichever is greater, for each such subsequent reinspection.

(3)  Each enforcement district shall be governed by a board, the composition of which shall be determined by the affected localities. At its own option each enforcement district or local enforcement agency may promulgate rules granting to the owner of a single-family residence one or more exemptions from the Florida Building Code relating to:

(a)  Addition, alteration, or repairs performed by the property owner upon his or her own property, provided any addition or alteration shall not exceed 1,000 square feet or the square footage of the primary structure, whichever is less.

(b)  Addition, alteration, or repairs by a nonowner within a specific cost limitation set by rule, provided the total cost shall not exceed $5,000 within any 12-month period.

(c)  Building and inspection fees.


Each code exemption, as defined in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c), shall be certified to the local board 10 days prior to implementation and shall only be effective in the territorial jurisdiction of the enforcement district or local enforcement agency implementing it.

(4)  When an enforcement district has been formed as provided herein, upon its registration with the department, it shall have the same authority and responsibility with respect to building codes as provided by this part for local governing bodies.

(5)  State and regional agencies with special expertise in building code standards and licensing of contractors and design professionals shall provide support to local governments upon request.

(6)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, state universities, community colleges, and public school districts shall be subject to enforcement of the Florida Building Code pursuant to this part.

(a)  State universities, state community colleges, or public school districts shall conduct plan review and construction inspections to enforce building code compliance for their building projects that are subject to the Florida Building Code. Such entities shall use personnel or contract providers appropriately certified under part XII of chapter 468 to perform the plan reviews and inspections required by the code. Under such arrangements, such entities shall not be subject to local government permitting requirements, plans review, and inspection fees. State universities, state community colleges, and public school districts shall be liable and responsible for all of their buildings, structures, and facilities. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit the authority of the county, municipality, or code enforcement district to ensure that buildings, structures, and facilities owned by such entities comply with the Florida Building Code or to limit the authority and responsibility of the fire official to conduct firesafety inspections pursuant to chapter 633.

(b)  If a state university, state community college, or public school district elects to use a local government's code enforcement offices:

1.  Fees charged by counties and municipalities for enforcement of the Florida Building Code on buildings, structures, and facilities of state universities, state colleges, and public school districts shall not be more than the actual labor and administrative costs incurred for plans review and inspections to ensure compliance with the code.

2.  Counties and municipalities shall expedite building construction permitting, building plans review, and inspections of projects of state universities, state community colleges, and public school districts which are subject to the Florida Building Code according to guidelines established by the Florida Building Commission.

(c)  The Florida Building Commission and code enforcement jurisdictions shall consider balancing code criteria and enforcement to unique functions, where they occur, of research institutions by application of performance criteria in lieu of prescriptive criteria.

(d)  School boards, community college boards, and state universities may use annual facility maintenance permits to facilitate routine maintenance, emergency repairs, building refurbishment, and minor renovations of systems or equipment. The amount expended for maintenance projects may not exceed $200,000 per project. A facility maintenance permit is valid for 1 year. A detailed log of alterations and inspections must be maintained and annually submitted to the building official. The building official retains the right to make inspections at the facility site as he or she considers necessary. Code compliance must be provided upon notification by the building official. If a pattern of code violations is found, the building official may withhold the issuance of future annual facility maintenance permits.


Nothing in this part shall be construed to authorize counties, municipalities, or code enforcement districts to conduct any permitting, plans review, or inspections not covered by the Florida Building Code. Any actions by counties or municipalities not in compliance with this part may be appealed to the Florida Building Commission. The commission, upon a determination that actions not in compliance with this part have delayed permitting or construction, may suspend the authority of a county, municipality, or code enforcement district to enforce the Florida Building Code on the buildings, structures, or facilities of a state university, state community college, or public school district and provide for code enforcement at the expense of the state university, state community college, or public school district.