Florida Senate - 2019                                    SB 1268
       
       
        
       By Senator Book
       
       
       
       
       
       32-01322-19                                           20191268__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to tiny homes; creating s. 553.887,
    3         F.S.; requiring the Florida Building Commission to
    4         adopt certain regulations and standards; providing
    5         definitions; providing regulations and standards;
    6         providing for the incorporation of certain codes into
    7         the Florida Building Code; providing an effective
    8         date.
    9          
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. Section 553.887, Florida Statutes, is created to
   13  read:
   14         553.887 Tiny homes.—For the purposes of establishing
   15  minimum standards for tiny homes in this state, the Florida
   16  Building Commission shall incorporate into the Florida Building
   17  Code, to be adopted by rule pursuant to s. 553.73(1),
   18  regulations and standards consistent with this section.
   19         (1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
   20         (a) “Alternating tread device” has the same meaning as in
   21  s. 202 of the Florida Building Code.
   22         (b) “Dwelling unit” means a single unit providing complete
   23  independent living facilities for one or more persons, including
   24  permanent provisions for living, sleeping, cooking, eating, and
   25  sanitation.
   26         (c) “Habitable space” means a space in a building for
   27  living, sleeping, eating, or cooking. The term does not include
   28  bathrooms, toilet rooms, closets, halls, storage or utility
   29  spaces, or similar areas.
   30         (d) “Loft” means a floor level located more than 30 inches
   31  above the main floor, open to the main floor on one or more
   32  sides with a ceiling height of less than 6 feet 8 inches, and
   33  used as a living or sleeping space.
   34         (e) “Ships ladders” means a form of egress that is part
   35  stair and part ladder.
   36         (f) “Tiny home” means a dwelling unit that is 400 square
   37  feet or less in floor area, excluding lofts.
   38         (2) REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS.—The regulations and
   39  standards incorporated into the Florida Building Code must
   40  include, but need not be limited to:
   41         (a) Ceiling height.—Habitable space and hallways in a tiny
   42  home shall have a ceiling height of not less than 6 feet 8
   43  inches. Bathrooms, toilet rooms, and kitchens shall have a
   44  ceiling height of not less than 6 feet 4 inches. Obstructions,
   45  including, but not limited to, beams, girders, ducts, and
   46  lighting shall not extend below these minimum ceiling heights.
   47         (b) Lofts.—Lofts shall have a floor area of not less than
   48  35 square feet and be at least 5 feet in any horizontal
   49  dimension. The access to and primary egress from a loft may be
   50  by stairways, ladders, alternating tread devices, or ships
   51  ladders.
   52         (3) INTERNATIONAL CODES.—The commission shall review the
   53  most current updates of the international codes identified in s.
   54  553.73(7)(a), and incorporate provisions of such codes which
   55  pertain to tiny homes into the Florida Building Code.
   56         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2019.