Construction Law.

CS/HB 697--Building Standards

This bill addresses a wide range of building construction issues including Florida Building Code standards, the Florida Building Commission, and energy efficiency standards relating to planning and construction. Major changes related to the Florida Building Code include: allowing licensed roofing contractors to perform additional functions of replacing and removing wood roof sheathing and fascia during re-roofing work; clarifying the definition of "manufactured building" to include the terms "modular" and "factory built" buildings; clarifying that "temporary" buildings are buildings other than those designated permanent in an approved development order; providing language to ensure the preservation of flexibility to achieve a secondary water barrier by allowing more than a single accepted method; repealing s. 627.351(6)(a), F.S., re the date on which code-plus applies as a condition of coverage by Citizens Insurance, and repealing s. 553.731, F.S., re a specified standard for wind resistant construction to be enforced by building officials--which does not affect ss. 553.73(6)-(8), F.S., which permanently prohibited the commission from adopting amendments to the code that diminish the standards pertaining to wind resistance and water intrusion. Also, the bill makes several changes to the structure and process of the Florida Building Commission, the more significant of which allow the commission to render declaratory statements and require at least one opportunity for public comment on proposed action of the commission before a final vote is taken. Additionally, the bill implements certain recommendations of the Florida Energy Commission contained in its "2007 Report to the Legislature," to include: revised requirements relating to the installation of energy devices based on renewable resources on buildings; requirements that the Florida Building Code facilitate and promote the use of cost-effective energy conserving, energy demand-management, and renewable energy technologies in buildings; and integrating energy efficiency issues into several components of the local government comprehensive plan, which will be due at the next evaluation and appraisal update of each local government's comprehensive plan. Further, the bill: allows the Florida Building Commission to select the most current version of the International Energy Conservation Code as a foundation code; creates s. 553.9061, F.S., which establishes a progressive schedule--relative to the 2004 Florida Building Code, as amended May 22, 2007--of required increases in the energy efficiency performance of buildings subject to the Florida Energy Efficiency Code, from 2010 through 2019; adds declarations to the list of deed restrictions, covenants, or other binding agreements which may not prohibit the installation of energy devices based on renewable resources; and specifies that condominium units are residential dwellings for purposes of installation of solar collectors or other energy devices, and removes the three-story height restriction for installation of solar collectors or other energy devices on such residential dwellings. Subject to the Governor's veto powers, the effective date of this bill is July 1, 2008.