Florida Energy Code, AC Sizing, and Termite Pretreatment for New Homes

Some of the most important parts of a new Florida home are the ones you’ll never see once the drywall goes up: how tightly the house is sealed, how the AC is sized, and how the ground under the slab is treated for termites. Florida’s code sets minimums for all three, and they’re tested or certified before you can move in. This guide explains what the energy code requires, how to get the AC right, what else to plan in the mechanical systems, and how termite protection works on new construction. It’s part seven of our series on building a house in Florida.

Short version: New homes must meet the Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation, currently the 8th Edition (2023). Under the prescriptive path, the house must test at no more than 7 air changes per hour on a blower door test, and the ductwork must pass a leakage test, both done by qualified testers before final approval. AC equipment must be sized from a load calculation, not a rule of thumb, because an oversized unit cools fast but leaves humidity behind. Federal minimums for new split AC systems in the Southeast are 14.3 SEER2 under 45,000 Btu/h and 13.8 SEER2 above it, and new equipment now uses next-generation refrigerants. For termites, the code requires a preventive treatment, and the licensed pest control company must issue a certificate of compliance before the home can get its certificate of occupancy. Federal tax credits for home energy improvements ended after 2025, and the builder credit for new efficient homes ended for homes bought after June 30, 2026.

Florida’s energy code

The Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation, is based on the national energy code with Florida changes. Most of Florida is in climate zone 2, with the far south in zone 1. Your builder or designer shows compliance on energy forms submitted with the permit, using one of three paths:

Prescriptive: meet a checklist of minimums for insulation, windows, equipment, and air sealing.
Performance: use approved software to show the whole house uses no more energy than a code reference home. This allows trade-offs, such as better windows in exchange for less attic insulation.
Energy Rating Index (ERI): a score similar to a HERS rating, with the house required to meet a target.

Under the performance and ERI paths, the house must meet the air leakage value used in the calculation, so a tighter target on paper means a tighter test result is required. The 9th Edition of the Florida Building Code takes effect December 31, 2026, so ask your builder which edition your permit falls under.

The two tests every new house has to pass

	Blower door test (whole house)	Duct leakage test
What it measures	How much air leaks through the house’s shell	How much air leaks out of the ductwork
Limit	No more than 7 air changes per hour at 50 pascals (ACH50) in climate zones 1 and 2 on the prescriptive path; performance and ERI homes must meet the value used in their calculation	Total leakage of 4 cfm25 or less per 100 square feet of conditioned floor area with the air handler installed (3 if tested before the air handler is installed)
When	After all penetrations of the building shell are made	At rough-in or after the system is installed
Who tests	Qualified energy raters or certain licensed contractors, using the ANSI/RESNET/ICC 380 standard	The same qualified testers and standard

From 8th Edition (2023) Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation, test forms published by Putnam County (sections R402.4.1.2 and R403.3.3). If a house tests below 3 ACH50, the building department must verify that mechanical ventilation is installed.

Seven ACH50 is a minimum, not a goal. A tighter house costs less to cool and lets the AC control humidity better, but a very tight house needs planned fresh-air ventilation, which the code checks for. Ask your builder for the actual test results. They’re a good record of build quality.

Getting the AC right

Sized by calculation: Florida’s residential code (Section M1401.3) requires heating and cooling equipment to be sized for the house’s calculated loads, using the industry’s ACCA Manual J load calculation and Manual S equipment selection. Ask to see the load calculation. “One ton per so many square feet” isn’t a calculation.
Why bigger isn’t better: an oversized AC cools the air quickly and shuts off before it removes much moisture, leaving the house cool but clammy. In Florida, humidity control matters as much as temperature. See AC and humidity.
Efficiency minimums: under federal rules for the Southeast, including Florida, new split-system central AC units must be at least 14.3 SEER2 below 45,000 Btu/h (under about 3.75 tons) and 13.8 SEER2 at or above it. Split-system heat pumps must meet 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2 nationwide. Higher-efficiency and variable-speed systems cost more up front but can run longer at low speed, which helps with humidity.
Refrigerant: new residential AC equipment has moved to next-generation, lower-global-warming refrigerants. In May 2026, EPA finalized a change removing the January 1, 2026 installation deadline for older-refrigerant equipment made or imported before January 1, 2025, so some of that inventory can still be installed. On a new build, ask which refrigerant the system uses and confirm local service companies support it.
Ducts: ducts in a hot attic lose energy. Ask whether ducts can run inside conditioned space, or whether the attic will be sealed and insulated at the roof line. Either way, the duct test above still applies.

For choosing and caring for AC systems, see the Florida AC guide and AC filters and maintenance.

Other mechanical systems to plan now

Equipment above flood levels: in a flood zone, keep the AC condenser, air handler, water heater, and electrical panel above the flood elevation. See site prep and foundations.
Outdoor equipment in high winds: ask how the condenser and any other outdoor units will be anchored for your design wind speed.
Generator readiness: a transfer switch or interlock and an outdoor inlet are easiest to install during construction. See home backup generators.
Solar readiness: panel capacity, a conduit run to the attic, and a clear roof section make adding solar simpler later. See choosing a roof and Florida electric providers and net metering.
Water heater location: heat pump water heaters pull heat from the surrounding air, so placement in a garage or utility room needs planning. Ask what’s included and where it will go.

Termite protection on new construction

Florida has heavy subterranean termite pressure, so its residential code (Section R318) requires termite protection on new homes. The protection must use registered termiticides, which include soil-applied pesticides, baiting systems, and pesticides applied to wood, or other approved methods labeled for preventive treatment of new construction. Key rules from the 8th Edition (2023) code:

Soil treatment timing: the treatment inside the foundation perimeter is done after all excavation, backfilling, and compaction are complete. Soil disturbed after the initial treatment must be retreated.
Wood treatment: if wood-applied termiticide is used, it’s applied according to the label and must be finished before final building approval.
Certificate of compliance: the licensed pest control company issues a certificate to the building department stating, “The building has received a complete treatment for the prevention of subterranean termites.” Building departments such as Tampa’s won’t issue the certificate of occupancy until it’s approved.
Water away from the walls: irrigation and sprinkler risers, AC condensate lines, and roof downspouts must discharge at least 1 foot away from the house.
Clearance at the base of the walls: exterior wall coverings must stay at least 6 inches above the final grade, and loose wood and debris must be removed from under the building and within 1 foot of it.
Foam insulation: in areas of very heavy termite probability, foam plastic insulation can’t be installed on the outside of, or under, foundation walls, and foam above grade needs at least 6 inches of clearance from exposed earth.

After you move in: the protection only works if you keep it intact. Don’t pile mulch, soil, or firewood against the walls, keep sprinklers aimed away from the house, and keep that 6-inch gap at the base of the walls. Ask the pest control company what warranty or renewal comes with the treatment, how long it lasts, and what it costs to continue. See Florida termite inspections.

Tax credits and energy ratings

Homeowner credits ended: under the 2025 federal tax law, the energy efficient home improvement credit (25C) isn’t allowed for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. The residential clean energy credit (25D), which covered solar and batteries, isn’t allowed for expenditures made after that date.
Builder credit ended: the new energy efficient home credit (45L), which builders claimed, isn’t allowed for homes acquired after June 30, 2026. If a builder’s sales pitch mentions federal energy credits, ask exactly which one and confirm it still applies.
Energy rating information: Florida Statute 553.996 requires that buyers of a building be given information about getting an energy-efficiency rating at or before signing the sale contract. A rating can also support an energy-efficient mortgage with some lenders.
Utility programs: some Florida utilities offer rebates or programs for efficient equipment. Check with your electric provider before choosing equipment.

Questions to ask your builder

Which energy code path and edition is the house permitted under?
Can I get copies of the blower door and duct leakage test results?
Can I see the Manual J load calculation, and what size and efficiency is the AC?
Where do the ducts run, and how will fresh air ventilation be handled?
Which refrigerant does the AC use?
Which termite treatment method is used, who applies it, and what warranty or renewal comes with it?
Is the house prewired for a generator or solar?

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. New homes must be tested for air leakage. On the prescriptive path the limit is 7 air changes per hour at 50 pascals in climate zones 1 and 2, and homes using the performance or ERI path must meet the value used in their energy calculation.

It depends on the house, not just the square footage. Florida’s code requires equipment sized from a load calculation (ACCA Manual J) and selected with Manual S. Oversized units remove less humidity.

For new split-system central air conditioners in the Southeast, 14.3 SEER2 below 45,000 Btu/h and 13.8 SEER2 at or above it. Split-system heat pumps must meet 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2.

Yes. The Florida Building Code requires termite protection using registered termiticides, such as soil treatment, bait systems, or wood treatment. The licensed pest control company issues a certificate of compliance to the building department.

Generally not. The homeowner credits for efficiency improvements and solar ended after December 31, 2025, and the builder credit for new energy efficient homes isn’t allowed for homes acquired after June 30, 2026.

Sources

This article is for general informational purposes only and isn’t financial, legal, insurance, or tax advice – for guidance specific to your situation, talk to a licensed professional.

Energy Code, AC, and Termite Protection for a New Florida Home