About the Florida Building Code Mitigation Verification Affidavit

Changes in the Florida building code can mitigate hurricane damage.

Hurricanes in Florida can damage and destroy homes. The goal of hurricane mitigation provisions in the building code is to lessen the damage to houses hurricanes cause. A mitigation verification affidavit certifies modifications to existing homes comply with damage mitigation codes.

Mitigation Codes

Florida building codes require builders and contractors to incorporate features that mitigate hurricane damage in new construction and on retrofit projects to existing homes. For example, Florida Statute 553.844 requires contractors to provide specific waterproofing for residential roof sheathing in regions at high risk for hurricane damage. The Florida Building Commission publishes a "Manual of Hurricane Mitigation Retrofits for Existing Site-Built Single Family Structures" that specifies hurricane mitigation requirements.

Mitigation Affidavit

An affidavit is a written statement, signed under oath in front of a notary public. Under Florida law, the person or company holding the building permit for the structure involved must provide an affidavit to the building inspector verifying the permit holder has complied with all the requirements of the manual of mitigation retrofits.

Exemptions

Not all buildings in Florida are subject to hurricane mitigation requirements. A home is exempt from the requirements if the owner certifies it meets one of two conditions. First, the "just valuation" of the home, for Florida tax purposes, must be less than $300,000. Alternatively, no mitigation is required if the building already complies with the Florida Building Code or South Florida Building Code, 1994 Edition.

References

• Federal Emergency Management Administration: Florida Hurricane
• Miami-Dade County: FAQ Regarding Hurricane Mitigation Requirements
• Miami-Dade County: Roofing Affidavit Compliance