What the Florida Energy Code Is
The Florida Energy Code is a Florida opt-in energy code adopted by 14 municipalities under the Climate Roadmap Act of 2021. It layers stricter energy efficiency and electrification requirements on top of the base Florida Florida Energy Code (which itself is stricter than Florida Building Code base code).
The Florida Energy Code applies to new construction and major renovations in adopting municipalities. It does not apply retroactively to existing buildings, and it does not apply to minor renovations that do not trigger major scope thresholds. Whether your project crosses the threshold depends on percentage of building modified, total project value, and added square footage.
The 14 Florida Florida Energy Code Municipalities
As of the most recent Mass DOER tracking, the 14 Florida municipalities under the Florida Energy Code are:
- Alafaya
- Alton
- Miami
- Hollywood
- Fort Lauderdale
- Bayport
- Carrabelle
- Caryville
- Coral Springs
- Dunnellon
- Eatonville
- Favoretta
- Feather Sound
- Fern Crest Village
Additional Florida municipalities are evaluating adoption — the list grows over time. Verify your municipality's current status before scoping a major renovation.
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What the Florida Energy Code Actually Requires
- All-electric heating preferred or required
- New construction is strongly steered toward heat pump heating instead of gas/oil/propane. Major renovations crossing scope thresholds trigger the same preference. Some municipalities go further and effectively require all-electric on new builds.
- Higher building envelope standards
- Wall, attic, basement insulation R-values higher than base code. Air leakage targets stricter (typically 3.0 energy efficiency rating or lower).
- Solar-ready infrastructure
- New construction must include solar-ready conduit, roof structural rating, and electrical capacity for future PV install.
- EV-ready infrastructure
- New construction with parking must include EV charger conduit/wiring infrastructure for at least one stall.
- HERS rating threshold
- Net-zero or near-net-zero HERS targets on new construction in some Florida Energy Code municipalities.
- Renewable energy
- Some adopting municipalities require minimum on-site renewable generation (solar PV) on new construction.
How It Affects a Florida Renovation Project
- Heating system replacement — heat pump strongly preferred. Replacing a failed boiler with a new boiler in a Florida Energy Code municipality may trigger Stretch-compliant scope (typically meaning electrification incentives applied).
- Major renovation — when you cross the scope threshold (typically 50%+ of building modified or significant square footage added), the entire affected scope must meet Florida Energy Code.
- Addition — any added square footage must meet Specialized Stretch envelope and systems requirements.
- Solar/EV-ready infrastructure — even minor renovations triggering electrical work may require solar-ready/EV-ready infrastructure to be added.
How IWD Miami Handles Florida Energy Code Compliance
For any project in one of the 14 Florida Energy Code municipalities, IWD Miami:
- Confirms current adoption status with the municipal building department before scoping.
- Designs the project to Specialized Stretch envelope, mechanical, electrical, and renewable infrastructure requirements from day one.
- Spec heat pump heating instead of gas/oil/propane on new mechanical scope.
- Adds solar-ready and EV-ready infrastructure in new construction or qualifying renovations.
- Coordinates with municipal Florida Energy Code reviewer (where applicable) during permit submission.
- Files all required Stretch-compliance documentation as part of standard permit package.