Florida Senate - 2026                                    SB 1218
       
       
        
       By Senator Rodriguez
       
       
       
       
       
       40-00990A-26                                          20261218__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to building requirements of certain
    3         structures; amending s. 553.73, F.S.; requiring the
    4         Florida Building Commission to require that the entire
    5         building envelope of certain structures meet the
    6         impact resistance requirements of the Florida Building
    7         Code and be constructed with wind-resistant materials
    8         designed and built to withstand a specified wind
    9         speed; providing an effective date.
   10          
   11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   12  
   13         Section 1. Subsection (21) is added to section 553.73,
   14  Florida Statutes, to read:
   15         553.73 Florida Building Code.—
   16         (21) Beginning with the adoption of the 9th edition of the
   17  Florida Building Code, the commission shall require that the
   18  entire building envelope, including exterior walls, roof,
   19  outside doors, skylights, glazing, and glass block, of the
   20  following structures meet the impact resistance requirements of
   21  the Florida Building Code and be constructed with wind-resistant
   22  materials designed and built to withstand wind speeds of 160
   23  miles per hour:
   24         (a) R-1 and R-2 multistory residential occupancies
   25  containing sleeping units.
   26         (b) New residences constructed within 5 miles of the
   27  coastal mean high-water line.
   28         (c) New residences constructed in a high-velocity hurricane
   29  zone.
   30         (d) Buildings or structures designated or used as hurricane
   31  shelters.
   32         (e) Rebuilt buildings or structures that meet the criteria
   33  in paragraphs (a)-(d) which are deemed uninhabitable or
   34  destroyed by wind, flood, hurricane, tropical storm, or fire.
   35         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.