Florida Senate - 2025                                     SB 610
       
       
        
       By Senator Gruters
       
       
       
       
       
       22-00836A-25                                           2025610__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to mental health support residences;
    3         amending s. 553.80, F.S.; providing that the use of
    4         certain dwellings as, or the conversion of such
    5         dwellings into, certain residences is not a change in
    6         occupancy as defined in the Florida Building Code;
    7         amending s. 633.208, F.S.; providing that the use of
    8         certain dwellings as, or the conversion of such
    9         dwellings into, certain residences does not require
   10         the reclassification of such dwellings for purposes of
   11         enforcing the Florida Fire Prevention Code; providing
   12         an effective date.
   13          
   14  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   15  
   16         Section 1. Subsection (10) of section 553.80, Florida
   17  Statutes, is amended to read:
   18         553.80 Enforcement.—
   19         (10) A single-family or two-family dwelling does not have a
   20  change of occupancy as defined in the Florida Building Code
   21  solely due to such dwelling’s use as or conversion that is
   22  converted into:
   23         (a) A certified recovery residence, as defined in s.
   24  397.311, or a recovery residence, as defined in s. 397.311, that
   25  has a charter from an entity recognized or sanctioned by
   26  Congress; or
   27         (b) A residence owned by a tax-exempt charitable
   28  organization under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
   29  whose stated corporate purpose relates to the support of people
   30  who suffer from mental health issues but are able to live
   31  independently, which has no fewer than two and no more than four
   32  bedrooms, is occupied by a group or family of no more than six
   33  ambulatory adults suffering from mental health issues, and has
   34  no more than two adults assigned to any bedroom does not have a
   35  change of occupancy as defined in the Florida Building Code
   36  solely due to such conversion.
   37         Section 2. Subsection (11) of section 633.208, Florida
   38  Statutes, is amended to read:
   39         633.208 Minimum firesafety standards.—
   40         (11) Notwithstanding subsection (8), a single-family or
   41  two-family dwelling may not be reclassified for purposes of
   42  enforcing the Florida Fire Prevention Code solely due to such
   43  dwelling’s use as or conversion into:
   44         (a) that is A certified recovery residence, as defined in
   45  s. 397.311, or that is a recovery residence, as defined in s.
   46  397.311, that has a charter from an entity recognized or
   47  sanctioned by Congress; or
   48         (b) A residence owned by a tax-exempt charitable
   49  organization under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
   50  whose stated corporate purpose relates to the support of people
   51  who suffer from mental health issues but are able to live
   52  independently, which has no fewer than two and no more than four
   53  bedrooms, is occupied by a group or family of no more than six
   54  ambulatory adults suffering from mental health issues, and has
   55  no more than two adults assigned to any bedroom may not be
   56  reclassified for purposes of enforcing the Florida Fire
   57  Prevention Code solely due to such use.
   58         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.