Florida Senate - 2019 SB 1268 By Senator Book 32-01322-19 20191268__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to tiny homes; creating s. 553.887, 3 F.S.; requiring the Florida Building Commission to 4 adopt certain regulations and standards; providing 5 definitions; providing regulations and standards; 6 providing for the incorporation of certain codes into 7 the Florida Building Code; providing an effective 8 date. 9 10 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 11 12 Section 1. Section 553.887, Florida Statutes, is created to 13 read: 14 553.887 Tiny homes.—For the purposes of establishing 15 minimum standards for tiny homes in this state, the Florida 16 Building Commission shall incorporate into the Florida Building 17 Code, to be adopted by rule pursuant to s. 553.73(1), 18 regulations and standards consistent with this section. 19 (1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term: 20 (a) “Alternating tread device” has the same meaning as in 21 s. 202 of the Florida Building Code. 22 (b) “Dwelling unit” means a single unit providing complete 23 independent living facilities for one or more persons, including 24 permanent provisions for living, sleeping, cooking, eating, and 25 sanitation. 26 (c) “Habitable space” means a space in a building for 27 living, sleeping, eating, or cooking. The term does not include 28 bathrooms, toilet rooms, closets, halls, storage or utility 29 spaces, or similar areas. 30 (d) “Loft” means a floor level located more than 30 inches 31 above the main floor, open to the main floor on one or more 32 sides with a ceiling height of less than 6 feet 8 inches, and 33 used as a living or sleeping space. 34 (e) “Ships ladders” means a form of egress that is part 35 stair and part ladder. 36 (f) “Tiny home” means a dwelling unit that is 400 square 37 feet or less in floor area, excluding lofts. 38 (2) REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS.—The regulations and 39 standards incorporated into the Florida Building Code must 40 include, but need not be limited to: 41 (a) Ceiling height.—Habitable space and hallways in a tiny 42 home shall have a ceiling height of not less than 6 feet 8 43 inches. Bathrooms, toilet rooms, and kitchens shall have a 44 ceiling height of not less than 6 feet 4 inches. Obstructions, 45 including, but not limited to, beams, girders, ducts, and 46 lighting shall not extend below these minimum ceiling heights. 47 (b) Lofts.—Lofts shall have a floor area of not less than 48 35 square feet and be at least 5 feet in any horizontal 49 dimension. The access to and primary egress from a loft may be 50 by stairways, ladders, alternating tread devices, or ships 51 ladders. 52 (3) INTERNATIONAL CODES.—The commission shall review the 53 most current updates of the international codes identified in s. 54 553.73(7)(a), and incorporate provisions of such codes which 55 pertain to tiny homes into the Florida Building Code. 56 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2019.