The Codes and Standards Committee achieved a significant milestone with the endorsement by the Code Administration Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the Florida Building Commission of AIBD-sponsored modifications to the Florida Building Code.

These modifications focus on updating section 107.1 of the FBC-Building code, introducing provisions to support digital plan submissions, removing the mandatory requirement for registered design professionals to prepare all construction documents, and adding two newly defined terms: special condition and additional construction document.

The definitions for these terms will be incorporated into section 202 of the code. If the Florida Building Commission approves the TAC recommendations, these changes will be reflected in the December 31, 2026, edition of the code.

The momentum continued later in the month when the ICC’s IRC-Building Committee, meeting in Cleveland, Ohio, endorsed similar modifications. These were previously approved by the ICC’s ADMIN Committee and are set to be included in the 2027 editions of the IBC and IEBC. The committee extends its gratitude to Steve Mickley for his effective advocacy of these proposals.

These changes are designed to prevent local governments from amending the code to declare all projects within their jurisdiction as having a "special condition" and from requiring construction documents prepared exclusively by registered design professionals, even when state law grants exemptions from such requirements.

Unfortunately, the month also brought a procedural setback for the committee chair. My appeal to the Florida Building Commission—seeking reconsideration of their rejection of a challenge against the Broward County Board of Rules & Appeals (BORA)—was denied. The challenge had contested BORA’s local code amendment adoption process.

At this stage, the only remaining legal recourse would be to file with the Broward County Circuit Court to pursue either a writ of mandamus compelling BORA to hold a hearing or a declaratory judgment finding that the local amendment process violates state law.

Progress was achieved earlier when BORA repealed the most problematic local amendments in July 2025. These amendments had required all construction documents for residential projects to be prepared by a registered design professional, a move likely influenced by the AIBD’s persistent opposition.

A decision on whether to pursue court action or wait for the 2026 Florida Building Code, which is set to remove the local option for such requirements, is expected by year-end. Given the lengthy legal process in this circuit, the new edition of the code will likely take effect before any court ruling is issued.
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Jack Butler, Chairman
Codes & Standards Committee

PS - Please keep BuildingCodes@AIBD.org on hand. This address is for reporting any concerns related to your local building department or building codes.