Fla. Stat. § 553.501 et seq. § 553.503
Adoption of federal standards.
Operative Text
Subject to modifications under this part, the federal Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design, and related regulations provided in 28 C.F.R. parts 35 and 36 and 49 C.F.R. part 37, are hereby adopted and incorporated by reference as the law of this state and shall be incorporated into the Florida Accessibility Code for Building Construction and adopted by the Florida Building Commission in accordance with chapter 120.
Florida Statute § 553.503 formally adopts the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design—along with related federal regulations in 28 C.F.R. parts 35 and 36 and 49 C.F.R. part 37—as binding state law, subject to any modifications made under Florida's accessibility statutes. These standards are incorporated into the Florida Accessibility Code for Building Construction, which is administered by the Florida Building Commission under chapter 120. In practical effect, compliance with Florida's accessibility requirements means meeting both the federal ADA standards and any Florida-specific modifications that may apply.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Fla. Stat. § 553.503, property owners and managers operating in Florida are subject to the ADA Standards for Accessible Design as adopted into state law, not merely as a federal overlay. Compliant operators generally ensure that construction, renovation, and building operations conform to the Florida Accessibility Code for Building Construction, which incorporates these federal standards with any state-level modifications. Staying current with Florida Building Commission rulemaking under chapter 120 is a common practice for operators seeking to maintain compliance as standards evolve.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Fla. Stat. § 553.503 means that the ADA accessibility standards carry the force of Florida state law, giving tenants an additional state-law basis when raising accessibility concerns about a residential property. Tenants who believe a building fails to meet the Florida Accessibility Code for Building Construction—which incorporates these federal standards—may have avenues that include filing complaints with relevant state or local building authorities or raising the violation in applicable legal proceedings. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid offices familiar with Florida accessibility law can help individuals understand which enforcement paths may be available to them.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 29, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
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