At a glance
- Who
- Homeowners planning a remodel, addition or repair that needs a building permit.
- What
- The City of Sarasota says the 8th Edition (2023) code applies now, and the 9th Edition (2026) applies to applications from December 31, 2026.
- When
- December 31, 2026 is the date the City of Sarasota gives. Other offices may differ.
- Where
- Your local building department decides which edition your permit application falls under.
- Why
- The code edition sets what your plans and the finished work must meet.
What a code edition is
The Florida Building Code is the set of construction rules your plans and your finished work are inspected against. It comes out in numbered editions. The edition that applies to your job is the one your local building department is using when it reviews your permit application.
For a homeowner, the edition matters in one practical way. Your contractor draws plans to a specific edition, and the inspector checks the work against it. If the edition changes while you are planning, the plans may need to change with it.
The date one city gives
The City of Sarasota's Building Permits page says the 8th Edition (2023) Florida Building Code and the 2020 National Electrical Code have applied since December 31, 2023. It also says that from December 31, 2026, applications will be subject to the 9th Edition (2026) Florida Building Code.
The city's own wording is about applications. That points to the date you apply, not the date you start building. Ask your building department to confirm that for your project, because we are reading the sentence, not a written rule.
The December 31, 2026 date comes from the City of Sarasota. We did not confirm the same date for other cities or counties, including Manatee County. Ask your own building department.
Planning a project near the code change?
Leave your name and number. We call back by the next business day to set up a free in-home visit and check which permits your job needs.
Prefer to talk now? Call or text (941) 284-2218.
What we could not confirm
We are not listing what changed in the 9th Edition. We looked for the adopted text and could not read it. The code publisher's website blocked our request, and the state's PDF files were not readable as text. We also did not find the statewide effective date for the 2026 edition. So any list of changes you see that does not link to the official text should be checked against it.
One related item we did read: a June 2025 report to the Florida Building Commission says some stakeholders want to change how the wind-borne debris region is defined. The report does not say whether that happened. We cover that region in our window and door permit guide.
What to do if your project is near the change
Projects that apply for a permit close to December 31, 2026 are the ones most likely to be affected. A few steps help.
- Ask your building department which edition your application will be reviewed under. Get the answer in writing or note who told you.
- Ask your contractor which edition the plans are drawn to.
- Do not rush a rough set of plans to beat a date. Ask the office what happens if an application is sent back for missing information.
- Keep your written estimate and contract aligned with the plans. If plans change, the price does not change without your written approval.
Our City of Sarasota permits guide lists the City's portal and phone numbers if your home is inside the city.
Questions to ask your contractor and your building department
You do not need to read the code to protect yourself. You need clear answers to a few plain questions, and you need them before you sign.
For your contractor:
- Which code edition are my plans drawn to?
- When will you submit the permit application?
- If the edition changes before approval, who pays to revise the plans? Get the answer in your written contract.
For your building department:
- Does the date I apply decide the edition, or the date I start work?
- Is the December 31, 2026 date the same for my address?
- If my permit is issued under one edition, does it stay under that edition until it closes?
The last question ties to permit timing. Our guide to permit expiration in Manatee County covers what the county says about how long a permit stays active.
How Hildebrand handles code changes
Hildebrand Construction & Remodeling is a family-owned Florida Certified Building Contractor (license CBC1257253), licensed since 2009. On every job we pull the required permits and meet the Florida Building Code inspections that apply to your address. We do not guess at a code edition. We ask the building department that will review your job.
Plumbing and electrical are done by licensed trade partners that we manage and coordinate, so one licensed contractor runs the whole job. You can see each step on our process page and plan a project through our whole-home renovation service. We give a free in-home consultation and a written estimate with no trip fee. Call or text (941) 284-2218, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Calls and forms outside those hours are answered the next business day.
Questions homeowners ask
When does the 2026 Florida Building Code take effect?
The City of Sarasota says applications from December 31, 2026 will be subject to the 9th Edition 2026 code. We did not confirm the statewide date, so ask your building department.
Which Florida Building Code edition applies to my remodel today?
The City of Sarasota says the 8th Edition (2023) code applies now. Other offices may differ, so ask yours.
Does the new code apply to work I already started?
We could not find a rule that answers this. The City of Sarasota's wording is about applications, so ask your building department how it treats permits already issued.
What changed in the 9th Edition?
We could not read the adopted text, so we do not list changes. Check the official code or ask your contractor and building department.
Plan your remodel with a licensed contractor
Hildebrand is a Florida licensed contractor serving Manatee County, Sarasota County and south Hillsborough. Book a free in-home consultation and written estimate.