The Florida Building Commission has published a proposed rule to formally adopt the Florida Building Code, 9th Edition (2026). This is the final step in the code update process, and it will set the design and construction standards that apply statewide going forward.

Under section 553.73, Florida Statutes, the Commission updates the Building Code every three years. The current 8th Edition (2023) has been in effect since December 31, 2023, and the 9th Edition is scheduled to take effect December 31, 2026. The new edition is built on a newer cycle of the national model codes, along with the Florida specific amendments the Commission approved over the past year through its technical advisory committees. The update covers all of the code volumes, including building, residential, existing building, mechanical, plumbing, fuel gas, energy conservation, and accessibility.

The most important thing for your business is timing. In general, the code in effect when a permit application is submitted is the code that applies to that project. That means projects permitted before December 31 will generally fall under the 8th Edition, while anything submitted after that date will need to meet the 9th Edition. If you have projects in design now that will be permitted around the end of the year, it's worth talking with your design team and building officials about which edition will apply and whether any changes will affect plans, products, or costs.

Since this is the formal adoption rule, most of the substantive code changes have already worked their way through the Commission's process. However, anyone affected still has the opportunity to comment on the proposed rule or request a public hearing within the notice period. If there is a specific provision that concerns you, please let me know as soon as possible so we can raise it before the rule is finalized.

Please reach out if you have any questions or would like me to look into how specific code changes might affect your projects.

September 25, 2026