Florida's 2026 building code overhaul takes effect this summer, and three regional building officials say the wind-load and inspection changes will reshape how general contractors sequence work ahead of hurricane season. The headline shifts tighten uplift requirements on roof assemblies and add a mandatory mid-construction inspection for coastal high-velocity zones.

Officials urged GCs to rebuild their submittal checklists now rather than at permit time, warning that the first cycle under the new rules will run slower as plan reviewers calibrate. Firms that pre-stage product approvals and engineering letters should see the smallest schedule hit.