The new 8th Edition Florida Building Code will be effective on December 31, 2023.

An updated edition of the Florida Building Code is adopted triennially by the Florida Building Commission. The code may also be amended between updates in order to incorporate the Florida Building Commission’s interpretations into the code, address conflicts, and update standards, among other statutorily specified reasons. Minimum requirements for permitting, plans review, and inspections are established by the code, and local jurisdictions may adopt additional administrative requirements that are more stringent. The City of Palm Bay does adopt a modified Chapter 1 of the Florida Building Code, Building, for administrative purposes.

This new edition of the Florida Building Code is effective December 31, 2023. All applications and documentation submitted for a permit as of this date must reflect this new code. Please make note of this date.

The Florida Building Code is based on national model building codes and national consensus standards, in addition to Florida-specific provisions. The code incorporates all building construction-related regulations for public and private buildings in the State of Florida other than those specifically exempted by Section 553.73, Florida Statutes. It has been harmonized with the Florida Fire Prevention Code, which is developed and maintained by the Department of Financial Services, Office of the State Fire Marshal, to establish unified and consistent standards.

The code is composed of nine main volumes: the Florida Building Code, Building, which also includes state regulations for licensed facilities; the Florida Building Code, Plumbing; the Florida Building Code, Mechanical; the Florida Building Code, Fuel Gas; the Florida Building Code, Existing Building; the Florida Building Code, Residential; the Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation; the Florida Building Code, Accessibility and the Florida Building Code, Test Protocols for High-Velocity Hurricane Zones. Chapter 27 of the Florida Building Code, Building, adopts the National Electrical Code, NFPA 70, by reference.

Please feel free to contact the City of Palm Bay Building Department at permitinfo@palmbayflorida.org if you have any questions. The 8th Edition Florida Building Code is available online at https://codes.iccsafe.org/codes/florida.