Florida HVAC permit requirements

Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023). Effective December 31, 2023; the Commission's effective-dates sheet marks it 'Current Version'.

Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation, 8th Edition (2023). Effective December 31, 2023. Rule 61G20-1.001 F.A.C. adopts the FBC by reference; its latest amendment took effect 3-18-26 for statutory changes and did not start a new edition.

FBC-Energy Conservation 8th Ed. R403.7.1 Equipment sizing (Mandatory): 'Heating and cooling equipment shall be sized in accordance with ACCA Manual S based on the equipment loads calculated in accordance with ACCA Manual J or other approved heating and cooling calculation methodologies, based on building loads for the directional orientation of the building. The manufacturer and model number of the outdoor and indoor units (if split system) shall be submitted along with the sensible and total cooling capacities at the design conditions described in Section R302.1. This Code does not allow designer safety factors, provisions for future expansion or other factors that affect equipment sizing.' R403.7.1.1 limits cooling-only equipment to 'not more than 1.15 times greater than the total load' and says 'The published value for AHRI total capacity is a nominal, rating-test value and shall not be used for equipment sizing. Manufacturer's expanded performance data shall be used.' R403.7.1.2.1 applies the same 1.15x cap to heat pumps. Source of the verbatim text: the EnergyGauge 'Mandatory Requirements (2023)' report filed in Columbia County, FL permit records (https://www.columbiacountyfl.com/Permitsearch/DocumentStorage.ashx?UniqueID=ca945a9b-7341-4084-95ec-0c0e238b5a91). The Commission's own Form R402-2023 confirms the rule: its R403.7 line reads 'Sizing calculation performed & attached.' The Florida-specific text of FBC-Residential M1401.3 was NOT verified.

No Manual D reference appears in the FBC-EC 8th Ed. mandatory residential text reviewed. R403.3.2 covers duct sealing ('substantially leak free') and R403.3.3 covers duct testing. The FBC-Residential duct design section (M1601) was not verified.

Fla. Stat. 553.912: 'It is the intent of the Legislature that all replacement air-conditioning systems in residential applications be installed using energy-saving, quality installation procedures, including, but not limited to, equipment sizing analysis and duct inspection. Notwithstanding this section, existing heating and cooling equipment in residential applications need not meet the minimum equipment efficiencies, including system sizing and duct sealing.' FBC-EC R403.7.1: 'New or replacement heating and cooling equipment shall have an efficiency rating equal to or greater than the minimum required by federal law.' FBC-EC 8th Ed. R501.7.2 (DBPR brochure) 'prohibits electric resistance from being the primary space heating system type used for complete central equipment replacements in Climate Zone 2.' No statewide rule was found that explicitly requires a Manual J for a like-for-like changeout.

Prescriptive R402 uses Form R402-2023, the only residential form posted on the Commission's forms page. Performance R405 uses a software-generated Form R405; the DBPR brochure says the 8th Ed. 'now requires an e-ratio of 0.95 to pass'. ERI is R406. Form R402-2023 says a building that fails R402 'may still comply under Section R405 or R406'.

Form R402-2023 mandatory-requirements table: 'Sizing calculation performed & attached' (R403.7). Ducts must be 'tested as per Section R403.3.2' by individuals under s. 553.993(5) or (7), F.S., or licensed under s. 489.105(3)(f), (g) or (i). 'Air handling units are not allowed in attics' (prescriptive form). A programmable thermostat is required (R403.1.2). Both the preparer and the owner or agent sign. R403.7.1 requires the indoor and outdoor model numbers plus sensible and total capacities at design conditions.

9th Edition (2026) FBC: the Commission workplan lists '2026 FBC (9th edition) effective date (6 – months after publication) 12/31/2026'. The Commission's milestones document (updated 14-Apr-2026) shows the 9th Ed. draft approved for a Notice of Proposed Rule on Mar 13, 2026, with final hearing and publication dates still 'TBD'. A 61G20-1.001 Notice of Development (Jun 29, 2026) amends the forthcoming 9th Ed. for HB 1175 and HB 803 (2026). 9th Ed. residential energy changes per the Commission's Analysis of Changes: (1) R403.7.1 moves the Manual S language to R403.7.1.1 and requires the model numbers of any supplementary units; (2) R403.7.1.1 offers three sizing options: A = total capacity per Manual S within single-, two- or multi-stage maximums; B = sensible capacity no more than 1.20x the sensible load, latent capacity at least the latent load; C = a supplementary dehumidification unit with Manual J; (3) R403.3.3 drops the duct-testing exception for R405; (4) R405.3 tightens performance compliance from 95% to 85%.