9th Edition Code Cutoff Checker
The Florida Building Code 9th Edition starts December 31, 2026, and each building department sets its own cutoff. Pick your department to see what it has published.
Submit by December 30, 2026
Hillsborough County requires 9th Edition plans for any building permit submission made on or after December 31, 2026. In practice, the last day to submit under the 8th Edition is December 30. The county's notice says "submissions" and does not define them, and an incomplete application may not count, so send a complete package and confirm with the county.
Hillsborough County permit checklistsHow the Cutoff Works
Under Florida law, the building code that applies is the one in effect on the date your permit application is filed (Fla. Stat. 553.73). The 9th Edition starts December 31, 2026. Each building department sets its own cutoff. Hillsborough County requires 9th Edition plans for anything submitted on or after December 31. The City of Tampa requires your application to be accepted, not just uploaded, by December 31. If your complete application is accepted before your department's cutoff and you keep the permit active, it is normally reviewed under the current 8th Edition. We will confirm the cutoff with your department and aim to file by mid-December. We cannot promise that any department will accept a given application in time.
What We Do
Common Questions
When does the Florida Building Code 9th Edition take effect?
The state effective date is December 31, 2026. Under Fla. Stat. 553.73, the code in effect on the date your permit application is filed governs the work for the life of the permit and any extension.
Is the cutoff the same everywhere in Tampa Bay?
No. Hillsborough County requires 9th Edition plans for submissions on or after December 31. The City of Tampa requires the application to be accepted by December 31. We found no published notice for Pinellas County, St. Petersburg or Pasco, so confirm with those departments.
What happens to my builder models after the cutoff?
Any plan filed for a permit after your department's cutoff has to be drawn to the 9th Edition. If you build the same models again and again, they will need a 9th Edition update. We can update them.
What changes on a 9th Edition plan set?
The main ones for homes: the cover sheet cites the 9th Edition (2026) and the 2023 National Electrical Code, which Hillsborough requires on permit documents. Wind design data follows ASCE 7-22 and the old Vasd wind speeds are dropped. A new section sets corrosion-resistant fasteners and connectors within 3,000 feet of saltwater. Flood-zone plans show the base flood elevation and the proposed lowest floor elevation. The energy forms and several smoke alarm, roof and deck details are updated. Your engineer confirms the wind and structural numbers.
This page summarises what each department has published, as of November 2026. It is not legal advice. Always confirm the cutoff with your building department.
Send Us the Lot and the Model
We confirm your department's cutoff and aim to file by mid-December.