The date and the cut-off
| What | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Effective date | 31 December 2026 | Miami-Dade, ICC-NTA |
| Which permits | All applications and plans submitted on or after that date | Miami-Dade |
| Miami-Dade online portal | Submissions after 4 p.m. on 30 December 2026 must comply | Miami-Dade |
| Base model code | 2024 IRC, with Florida amendments | Florida Building Commission |
| Electrical | 2023 National Electrical Code | ICC-NTA |
Miami-Dade also says applications filed before 30 December 2026 that expire can get an extension if requested in writing within 180 days of expiry, showing the application was pursued in good faith.
What changes for work on an existing home
From the Commission's analysis of changes for the Residential volume:
| Section | Change | Job it touches |
|---|---|---|
| R905.2.8.5 | Drip edge mechanically fastened at 4 inches on center throughout the state | Shingle reroof |
| R905.2.6.2 | Hip and ridge shingles: new wind test at 110 mph, or a prescriptive roof-cement method | Shingle reroof |
| R908.3 | Recover exception 2 revised to allow only the upper roof covering or system to be removed | Roof-over jobs |
| R909 | New section on roof coatings | Flat and low-slope roofs |
| R803.3 | Pipes, conduit and cables below the roof deck need 1½ inches of clearance | Reroof over attic runs |
| R609.3 | Doors relying on the overhang exception need a Limited Water (LW) rating | Door replacement |
| R609.4 | Garage door design pressures from ASCE 7 LRFD may be multiplied by 0.6 | Garage doors |
| P2801.9 | Water heaters must meet NSF 372, weighted average lead 0.25% or less | Water heater swap |
| R311.7.6 | No landing needed on exterior stairs of three or fewer risers to grade from a deck, porch or patio (if not the required exit) | Decks |
| R314.3, R314.3.1 | Smoke alarms in attached garages and rooms open to a sleeping loft; none within 10 feet of a cooking appliance (6 feet by exception) | Remodels that trigger alarms |
| R315.1.1 | Battery-only CO alarms need a nonreplaceable battery lasting at least 10 years | Remodels that trigger alarms |
What changes in the energy code
From DBPR's summary of significant energy changes:
| Section | 8th Edition (2023) | 9th Edition (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| R405.3, performance path | Maximum total e-Ratio 0.95 | 0.85 ("just over 10%" stricter) |
| R405.5.3.4, window SHGC in proposed design | 0.50 | 0.40 (overhang exception of 4 feet kept) |
| R403.3.3, duct testing | Exception for performance compliance | Exception removed; ducts tested unless entirely inside the thermal envelope |
| R407, prescriptive path | Not stated in the summary | At least 10 credits from at least two measures; 5 more for homes over 5,000 sq ft |
| R403.1.2, thermostats | Programmable | Smart thermostats added as an option |
These mostly reach new homes and additions; Cape Coral issued 3,254 new-home permits from January 2025 to September 2026.
What it means for hiring
- Quotes written in 2026 for 2027 work. A roofer's quote drawn up before the change may not include the 4-inch drip edge spacing or the hip and ridge test. Ask whether the price is to the 9th Edition.
- Submit date decides. If a job is ready before 30 December 2026, ask whether the contractor will file before then; after, it is the new code.
- Check the record. On the compare pages, Miami roofing permits reach final 97.5% of the time and Cape Coral's 98.4%.
Permits in the three Florida cities we cover
| City | Roofing permits | Usual roof job value | Usual days to final | Window and door permits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | 6,585 | $16,250 | 38 | 4,921 |
| Orlando | 9,818 | $11,015 | 27 | — |
| Cape Coral | 2,018 | $17,200 | 39 | 4,787 |
Orlando does not split out window and door permits in our data. Cape Coral's window covers January 2025 to September 2026; Miami and Orlando cover October 2023 to September 2026.
Check it yourself in five minutes
Read the Commission's Residential analysis of changes for your job type, then ask your contractor whether the quote and the permit will be to the 9th Edition.
What this page does not cover
The Commission's analysis is a summary; the code text decides. Miami-Dade's portal cut-off applies to Miami-Dade; other counties and cities set their own. Our permit data shows when permits were filed and finished, not which edition applied.
How we know this
Effective date and cut-off are quoted from Miami-Dade County's 9th Edition notice and the ICC National Training Academy's adoption note; residential and energy changes from the Florida Building Commission's Analysis of Changes (Residential) and DBPR's summary of significant energy changes, all read 26 October 2026. Permit counts are from the City of Miami, City of Orlando and City of Cape Coral open permit data over the window on each compare page.
Numbers come from City of Miami building permits (since 2014); City of Orlando building permits for one- and two-family homes; City of Cape Coral building permits (the city's open permit table starts January 2025), data through October 17, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.
See every Miami roofer by permit record →
Questions
- When does the Florida Building Code 9th Edition take effect?
31 December 2026. Miami-Dade County says all permit applications and plans submitted on or after that date must comply with the new edition, and that online submissions after 4 p.m. on 30 December 2026 must also comply.
- What is the 9th Edition based on?
The Florida Building Commission's analysis says the 9th Edition (2026) Florida Building Code, Residential is based on the 2024 International Residential Code with Florida amendments. The ICC National Training Academy lists the 2023 National Electrical Code alongside it.
- What changes for a reroof?
Drip edge must be mechanically fastened at 4 inches on center throughout the state (R905.2.8.5), hip and ridge shingles get a wind test at 110 mph (R905.2.6.2), recovering rules change in R908.3, and a new section R909 covers roof coatings.
- Do I need new smoke alarms under the 9th Edition?
For work that triggers alarms under R314, smoke alarms are now required in attached garages and rooms open to a sleeping loft, may not go within 10 feet of a permanently installed cooking appliance (6 feet by exception), and battery-only CO alarms need a sealed battery of at least 10 years.
- How many roofing permits does Miami issue?
Miami issued 6,585 roofing permits from October 2023 to September 2026, to 908 firms; the usual filed job value was $16,250.
Build your own list
Every firm with that kind of permit on record. Pick what you value. The list moves.
Related guides
- Cape Coral building permit search: EnerGov permit search and City Clerk records
- How to check a contractor's license in Florida
- Do I need a permit? 13 common home projects, checked against city rules and permit files
- Cape Coral contractor license lookup: the state license, City registration, and what the permits show
- Building a new home in Cape Coral: the permit, the reviews, who can pull it, and how long it takes
- Hiring a window installer in Miami: the license, the NOA, the permit, and what 4,900 window permits show
For one city
- Florida Building Code Ninth (2026) Edition code change notice — Miami-Dade County (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Florida Adopts New Building Codes — ICC National Training Academy (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Analysis of Changes for the 9th Edition (2026) Florida Building Code, Residential — Florida Building Commission (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Significant Provision Changes, 9th Edition (2026) Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation — Florida DBPR (accessed 2026-10-26)