State Building Codes
Building code requirements for impact protection have expanded beyond Florida as states have adopted the International Building Codes. Because the International Codes serve as models for the states or local jurisdictions, there are often differences in requirements from one state to another.

Texas
The Texas legislature has adopted the 2003 IRC and 2003 IBC, but has not established a Building Code Commission to administer the code and develop updates. The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) has a strong program to enforce windborne debris protection. The area covered is essentially the same as found in the IRC and IBC, for about one half of the coastal counties. The TDI provides windstorm coverage to residential structures as long as they meet the program construction standards. TDI is currently reviewing the 2006 IRC with adoption expected in early 2007. Enforcement is at a very high level for TDI structures.

Louisiana
No form of statewide building code had existed until November, 2005, when Governor Kathleen Blanco signed Senate Bill 44 requiring common protection for 11 parishes along the coast-Calcasieu, Cameron, Vermillion, Iberia, St. Tammany, Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Terrebonne and Lafourche. The legislation adopted the 2003 IRC and IBC and created the Louisiana Unified Construction Code Council to manage the code development process. The windborne debris area would include the entire area of each parish with wind maps being the responsibility of each parish. A major focus for the involved parishes is education for inspectors and the construction industry.

Mississippi
Governor Haley Barbour has signed HB1406 to establish a unified building code for five coastal counties-Jackson, Harrison, Hancock, Stone and Pearl River. The area has adopted the 2003 IRC and IBC, which contains windborne protection requirements. The other counties are not required to follow these codes. A provision in the signed legislation was the ability for the counties to "opt-out" of requiring construction using the unified building code. Several counties have been pursuing this direction. A Building Code Council has been established to administer the code and is in the process of formation.

Alabama
State building code applies only to state buildings, schools, hotels and movie theaters and is based on the 2003 IBC and IRC. Each jurisdiction may adopt different building codes for other types of construction. Legislation to adopt a statewide code failed in the 2006 Legislative Session, but a State Building Commission has been formed to further study the issue. The City of Mobile and some jurisdictions along the coast have adopted the 2000 IRC and IBC and require windborne debris protection. Mobile is currently reviewing the 2003 version of the codes and is planning for adoption late in 2006. Enforcement in the city is only being done for commercial buildings with residential requirements to be enforced with the adoption of the 2003 IRC.

Florida
Windborne debris protection has been required for the entire coastline with the adoption of the 2001 Florida Building Code (FBC) plus legislation that allows protection for only one mile inland for the seven western Panhandle coastal counties. The 2003 IRC and IBC have been incorporated into the 2004 Florida Building Code with numerous amendments. The 2006 Supplement to the 2004 FBC is scheduled to be voted on by the FBC and should go into effect in December 2006.

Governor Jeb Bush has signed Senate Bill 1774 giving authority to the Florida Building Commission to set the windborne debris protection line in the Panhandle. A consultant had been retained by the FBC to provide technical information related to the effects of trees in the area. In a final report, the consultant recommended moving the windborne debris line to the 130 mph contour. The FBC reviewed several other options, but voted in favor of the 130 mph with additional 1,500 feet for land on a bay. This change will go into effect in March 2007.

Relative to windborne debris enforcement, the state has a high compliance, as building officials and the construction industry well understand the threat to the state. This is also backed up with damage assessments after the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons that showed structures built after the adoption of the 2001 FBC had withstood the damaging effects of the storm.

Georgia
The state has adopted the 2000 IRC and IBC including the windborne debris provisions for the 120 and 130 mph wind zones. The state is on a six-year code revision cycle and will not adopt the 2003 IRC and IBC. The 2006 version of these codes are being reviewed with expectation of adoption in January 2007. The enforcement of debris protection varies along the coastline.

South Carolina
The South Carolina Building Code Council has adopted the 2003 IRC and IBC; with an effective date of January 2005 for the IBC and July 2005 for the IRC. The 2006 version of these codes are being reviewed with adoption expected by January 2008. The windborne debris residential moratorium was completely eliminated when the 2003 IRC was enforced. The state requires windborne debris protection for the 120 and 130 mph wind zones. Coastal enforcement is very high along the coast and to a lesser degree inland.