This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives.
STORAGE NAME: h1551.LFS
DATE: 3/27/2023
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: HB 1551 Wind-borne Debris Regions
SPONSOR(S): Berfield
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS: SB 1370
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
1) Local Administration, Federal Affairs & Special
Districts Subcommittee
Burgess Darden
2) State Affairs Committee
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
The Florida Building Code (Building Code) provides a mechanism for the uniform adoption, updating,
interpretation, and enforcement of a single, unified state building code. The Building Code must be applied,
administered, and enforced uniformly and consistently from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. The initial Building Code
was authorized by the Legislature in 2000, and the first edition replaced all local codes on March 1, 2002. The
most recent edition of the Building Code is the seventh edition, known as the 2020 Florida Building Code.
To protect the public's health, safety, and welfare, the Legislature proposes that local governments have the
authority to inspect all buildings, structures, and facilities within their jurisdictions. Every local government is
responsible for enforcing the Building Code and issuing building permits.
The Florida Constitution requires that all property be assessed at its fair market value for ad valorem tax
purposes, and it specifies assessment limits, property classifications, and exemptions. Each year, unless
extended for good cause by the Department of Revenue, each property appraiser must complete an
assessment of the value of all property within the appraiser's jurisdiction and certify to the taxing authorities the
taxable value of such property. The taxable value of a residential parcel includes both the value of structures
and other improvements on the parcel and the value of the land on which those structures and improvement
sit. The property appraiser also ensures that all real property is listed on the real property assessment roll.
Wind-borne debris regions are defined in Building Code by specific wind speeds. For example, the 2010
edition of the Building Code defined wind-borne debris regions as areas:
Within one mile of the coastal mean high water line where the ultimate design wind speed is 130 mph
or greater; or
Where the ultimate design wind speed is 140 mph or greater.
The bill requires the property appraiser for each county located within a wind-borne debris region to specify on
its website the year of initial construction of each improvement on any parcel, as well as the year of publication
of the building code applicable to initial construction of those improvements.
STORAGE NAME: h1551.LFS PAGE: 2
DATE: 3/27/2023
FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Present Situation
The Florida Building Code
In 1974, Florida adopted legislation requiring all local governments to adopt and enforce a minimum
building code. In 1992, Hurricane Andrew demonstrated that Florida’s system of local codes did not
work and a study was commissioned to make recommendations. In 1998, the Legislature adopted the
recommendations for a single state building code and enhanced the oversight role of the state over
local code enforcement. The 2000 Legislature authorized implementation of the Florida Building Code
(Building Code), and that first edition replaced all local codes on March 1, 2002.
1
The current edition of
the Building Code is the seventh edition, which is referred to as the 2020 Florida Building Code.
2
Chapter 553, part IV, F.S., is known as the “Florida Building Codes Act” (Act). The Act provides a
mechanism for the uniform adoption, updating, interpretation, and enforcement of a single, unified state
building code. The Building Code must be applied, administered, and enforced uniformly and
consistently from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
3
The Florida Building Commission (Building Commission) implements the Building Code. The Building
Commission, which is housed within the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR),
reviews several International Codes published by the International Code Council, the National Electric
Code, and other nationally adopted model codes to determine if the Building Code needs to be updated
and adopts an updated Building Code every three years.
4
A local enforcement agency is an agency of local government with jurisdiction to make inspections of
buildings and to enforce the Building Code.
5
Property Taxes
The Florida Constitution reserves ad valorem taxation to local governments and prohibits the state from
levying ad valorem taxes on real and tangible personal property.
6
The ad valorem tax is an annual tax
levied by counties, cities, school districts, and some special districts based on the value of real and
tangible personal property as of January 1 of each year.
7
The Florida Constitution requires that all
property be assessed at just value for ad valorem tax purposes,
8
and provides for specified
assessment limitations, property classifications, and exemptions.
9
After the property appraiser
considers any assessment limitation or use classification affecting the just value of a property, an
assessed value is produced. The assessed value is then reduced by any exemptions to produce the
taxable value.
10
1
The Florida Building Commission Report to the 2006 Legislature, Florida Department of Community Affairs, p. 4,
https://consensus.fsu.edu/FBC/FBC_Rpt_2006_Legislature_b.pdf (last visited Mar. 23, 2023).
2
Florida Building Commission Homepage, https://floridabuilding.org/dca/dca_fbc_default.aspx (last visited Mar. 23, 2023).
3
See s. 553.72(1), F.S.
4
Ss. 553.73, and 553.74, F.S.
5
S. 553.71(5), F.S.
6
Art. VII, s. 1(a), Fla. Const.
7
S. 192.001(12), F.S., defines “real property” as land, buildings, fixtures, and all other improvements to land. The terms “land,” “real
estate,” “realty,” and “real property” may be used interchangeably. Section 192.001(11)(d), F.S., defines “tangible personal property” as
all goods, chattels, and other articles of value (but does not include the vehicular items enumerated in article VII, section 1(b) of the
Florida Constitution and elsewhere defined) capable of manual possession and whose chief value is intrinsic to the article itself.
8
Art. VII, s. 4, Fla. Const.
9
Art. VII, ss. 3, 4, and 6, Fla. Const.
10
S. 196.031, F.S. STORAGE NAME: h1551.LFS PAGE: 3
DATE: 3/27/2023
Ad Valorem Process
Each property appraiser must complete an assessment of the value of all property
11
within the
appraiser’s jurisdiction and certify to the taxing authorities the taxable value of such property no later
than July 1 of each year, unless extended for good cause by the Department of Revenue (DOR).
12
The
taxable value of a residential parcel includes both the value of structures and other improvements on
the parcel and the value of the land on which those structures and improvement sit.
13
The property
appraiser also ensures that all real property is listed on the real property assessment roll.
14
Appraisers must submit their assessment rolls to DOR by July 1 of the assessment year to determine if
the rolls meet all the appropriate requirements of law relating to form and just value.
15
Assessment rolls
include, in addition to taxable value, other information on the property located within the property
appraiser’s jurisdiction, such as just value, assessed value, and the amount of each exemption or
discount.
16
Wind-borne Debris Regions
Historically, the wind-borne debris regions (WBDR) have been linked to a specific wind speed, however
the adoption of wind speed maps as part of the Florida Building Code necessitated a need to
recalibrate WBDR triggers. In the 2010 edition of Florida Building Code defined WBDR as areas
located:
Within one mile of the coastal mean high water line where the ultimate design wind speed is 130
mph or greater; or
The ultimate design wind speed is 140 mph or greater.
17
Effect of Proposed Changes
The bill requires the property appraiser for each county located within a wind-borne debris region to
specify on their website the year of initial construction of each improvement on any parcel in the county,
as well as the year of publication of the building code applicable to initial construction of those
improvement.
B. SECTION DIRECTORY:
Section 1: Amends s. 193.085, F.S., revising requirements for property appraiser websites.
Section 2: Provides an effective date of January 1, 2024.
II. FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT:
1. Revenues:
None.
11
For purposes of clarity and administration of the tax abatement, the bill distinguishes between a “residential parcel” and “residential
improvement,” avoiding the broad term “property.” For appraisal purposes, a “residential parcel” includes the land and improvements.
For readability, this analysis will use the broader term “property” unless the context requires otherwise.
12
S. 193.023(1), F.S.
13
See The Appraisal Process and Your Taxes, Hillsborough Cnty. Prop. Appraiser, http://www.hcpafl.org/Property-Info/The-Appraisal-
Process-Your-Taxes (last visited Mar. 24, 2023) (process for calculating property tax values).
14
S. 193.085(1), F.S.
15
S. 193.1142(1)(a), F.S.
16
S. 193.114, F.S.
17
Building a Safer Florida, Inc., Changes to the Wind Speed Maps and Wind Design-2010 Florida Building Codes,
https://www.floridabuilding.org/fbc/wind_2010/flyer_wind_january2012.pdf (last visited Mar. 24, 2023). STORAGE NAME: h1551.LFS PAGE: 4
DATE: 3/27/2023
2. Expenditures:
None.
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
Counties may see an indeterminate, but likely insignificant, increase in expenditure to the extent
additional resources are required to add the required information to property appraiser’s website.
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR:
None.
D. FISCAL COMMENTS:
None.
III. COMMENTS
A. CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES:
1. Applicability of Municipality/County Mandates Provision:
The county/municipality mandates provision of Art. VII, section 18, of the Florida Constitution may
apply because this bill requires the property appraiser for each county located within a wind-borne
debris region to specify on their website the year of initial construction of each improvement on any
parcel in the county, as well as the year of publication of the building code applicable to initial
construction of those improvement; however, an exemption may apply if the bill has an insignificant
fiscal impact.
2. Other:
None.
B. RULE-MAKING AUTHORITY:
The bill neither provides authority for nor requires rulemaking by executive branch agencies.
C. DRAFTING ISSUES OR OTHER COMMENTS:
None.
IV. AMENDMENTS/COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE CHANGES