Florida · Chapter 553
Building Construction Standards — Plain-English Summary
Every section of this body of law translated into plain English for Florida board members and homeowners.
Accessibility
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§553.501
Names Part II the 'Florida Americans With Disabilities Accessibility Implementation Act.'
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§553.502
Legislative intent to implement federal accessibility standards.
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§553.503
Adopts the federal Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines as the state standard.
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§553.504
Lists exceptions to the federal accessibility standards.
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§553.5041
Required number, size, signage, striping, and access-aisle dimensions for accessible parking spaces.
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§553.505
Identifies specific exceptions where the federal ADA does not apply.
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§553.508
Requires removal of architectural barriers in existing buildings where readily achievable.
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§553.509
Covered buildings must serve all levels by elevator, ramp, or other vertical accessibility.
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§553.511
Minimum height clearance for van-accessible parking spaces.
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§553.512
Modifications or waivers based on hardship, reviewed by an advisory council.
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§553.514
Incorporates the federal ADA Standards for Accessible Design.
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§553.5141
Process for certifying conformity with accessibility standards.
Florida Building Code
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§553.70
Names Part IV the 'Florida Building Codes Act.'
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§553.71
Defines key terms used in the Florida Building Code Act.
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§553.72
Legislative intent for a statewide uniform building code.
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§553.721
Surcharge on building permits funding the Florida Building Commission.
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§553.73
Adopts the Florida Building Code as the statewide standard. Sets process for triennial updates.
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§553.74
Creates the Florida Building Commission and gives it rulemaking authority.
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§553.75
Internal organization, meeting cadence, staffing, and budget rules.
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§553.76
General powers of the Florida Building Commission.
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§553.77
Specific commission powers such as statewide product approvals.
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§553.79
Requires building permits before most construction. Sets application, issuance, inspection, and fee procedures.
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§553.791
Allows licensed private providers to perform plans review and inspections in lieu of local building department.
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§553.792
Statutory time limits for local governments to act on permit applications.
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§553.793
Standardizes low-voltage alarm system permitting and caps fees.
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§553.794
Allows phased permitting where foundation work may begin before the full permit issues.
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§553.80
Requires local governments to enforce the Florida Building Code.
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§553.83
Limits personal liability of building officials and inspectors.
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§553.84
Creates a private cause of action against a party that violates the Florida Building Code.
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§553.841
Creates the online Building Code Information System.
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§553.842
Statewide process for evaluating and approving building products.
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§553.8425
Evaluation and approval process for impact-resistant windows, doors, and shutters.
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§553.844
Windstorm loss mitigation standards for roofs and opening protections, especially in the HVHZ covering Miami-Dade and Broward.
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§553.85
Requires phase inspections and a final inspection before a certificate of occupancy.
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§553.86
Inspection requirements for state-owned buildings.
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§553.865
Designation and use of single-occupant or family restrooms in covered buildings.
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§553.883
Requires CO alarms in new construction with fossil-fuel appliances or attached garages.
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§553.886
Standards and remediation for residential buildings with defective drywall.
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§553.895
Fire protection standards for high-rise buildings and condominiums.
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§553.899
Post-Surfside mandatory milestone structural inspections for condos and coops 3+ stories. First inspection at 25 or 30 years, every 10 years after, with phas…
Energy Conservation Standards
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§553.951
Legislative intent to promote energy conservation through building standards.
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§553.975
Powers and duties of the department to set energy conservation rules.
Building Energy-Efficiency Rating System
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§553.990
Names the 'Florida Building Energy-Efficiency Rating Act.'
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§553.998
Establishes the statewide voluntary energy-efficiency rating system.
Frequently asked about Chapter 553
- What is Florida Chapter 553?
- Florida Chapter 553 — the Building Construction Standards — is the body of law that governs how every Florida building is structured, operated, and held accountable. It covers governance, voting, records, assessments, fining, and most of the day-to-day legal questions a board will face.
- How many sections are in Chapter 553?
- Chapter 553 contains 44 sections in this reference. Each is summarized in plain English on its own page, with links to the official text at flsenate.gov.
- Is the summary on this site legal advice?
- No. These pages are plain-English summaries prepared by SoShiny for board members and managers. For binding legal advice or interpretation of how a section applies to your specific situation, consult a Florida-licensed attorney.
- How often does Florida Chapter 553 change?
- The Florida Legislature can amend any chapter in any session. We update these summaries when we re-import the official text — see the 'Last updated' date on each section page.
- Does SoShiny enforce Chapter 553 for me?
- No software 'enforces' a statute — but SoShiny is built around it. Voting, meeting minutes, records access, fining workflow, and audit trails are designed to meet this body of law's requirements out of the box, so the board can demonstrate good-faith compliance if challenged.
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