Freedom Code Compliance
Commercial

Commercial Aluminum w/ New Footing

Screen enclosure, pool cage, carport, or aluminum pergola at commercial, apartment, or condo property with new footings.

Last updated: Sep 29, 2026

Section 1

Required Documents

Submit these with your initial project package.

Always required

  • Construction Plans
    Construction plans showing aluminum structure layout and framing, including footing and foundation engineering details. Plans prepared by a Florida-registered architect or engineer carry that professional's seal. Plans prepared by a contractor or owner are accepted without a seal unless Florida law or the building department requires professional plans.
  • Site Plan / Survey
    Site plan or survey showing property boundaries, setbacks, and structure footprint.

Courtesy screen

Courtesy screen on every plan review

Every plan FCC reviews receives a limited courtesy screen for the items below when they are reasonably visible in the submitted documents. If we see an apparent issue that could cause the plans to fail review by another agency, we will identify it as a Courtesy Comment. Courtesy Comments alone do not cause FCC to fail or return the plan set unless the same condition also creates a building-code compliance issue within FCC's review scope. The responsible agency makes the final determination—for example, Planning and Zoning for setbacks, lot coverage, use, and other lot-compliance matters. The absence of a Courtesy Comment is not approval of those separate requirements.

  1. #01Plan and document coordination

    Obvious clerical, title-block, sheet-index, permit-description, or cross-sheet inconsistencies visible in the submitted documents. A Courtesy Comment on these items does not cause FCC to fail or return the plan set unless the same condition also creates a building-code compliance issue within FCC's review scope.

    FBC-B 107.2.1
  2. #02Zoning and site coordination

    Apparent setback, lot-coverage, use, or site-dimension conflicts visible in the submitted plans that could cause the plans to fail Planning and Zoning review. Planning and Zoning makes the zoning and lot-compliance determination. The absence of a Courtesy Comment is not approval of those separate requirements.

  3. #03Floodplain coordination

    Apparent inconsistencies or missing coordination in flood-zone, design-flood-elevation, finished-floor, or flood-opening information shown on the plans that could cause the plans to fail floodplain review. The floodplain administrator makes the determination. The absence of a Courtesy Comment is not approval of those separate requirements.

  4. #04Fire-authority coordination

    Apparent separately reviewed fire alarm, sprinkler, hood-suppression, smoke-control, or similar coordination issues visible on the plans that could cause the plans to fail fire review. The fire marshal makes the determination. The absence of a Courtesy Comment is not approval of those separate requirements.

Section 2

Approval criteria for this project type

These are the building-code criteria FCC uses to determine the plan-review result. An unresolved item may be issued as a Required Correction and cause the plan set to be returned for correction.

BuildingRequired

  1. #01Design wind speed & exposureLife Safety

    Structural drawings must declare the design wind speed (Vult) and exposure category required for the commercial project location.

    FBC-B 1609FBC-B 2002ASCE 7-22
  2. #02Footing / foundation designLife Safety

    The new footing or foundation design must show dimensions, reinforcement, depth, and connection to the aluminum structure above.

    FBC-B 1809
  3. #03Attachment to existing structureLife Safety

    Connection details between the aluminum structure and any existing construction must show the primary fastener type, spacing, embedment, and load path.

    FBC-B 2002.4FBC-B 1604.8
  4. #04Florida product approvalsCode

    Florida product approval (statewide FL#, Miami-Dade NOA, or local approval under F.S. 553.8425) information must be listed for each product subject to Florida product approval (F.S. 553.842 and 553.8425; Rule 61G20-3 F.A.C.).

    F.S. 553.842F.S. 553.8425Rule 61G20-3 F.A.C.
  5. #05Engineer of record seal, when engineeredDocumentation

    When a Florida engineer prepared the structural drawings and calculations, the documents carry that engineer's current seal and signature.

    Florida Statutes Chapter 471FBC-B 107.3.5

Section 3

Inspection Walkthrough

Inspections are listed in their typical phase order. Your own inspection list comes from your approved plans. Inspections marked “If in scope” apply only when your plans include that work. Call (772) 222-6679 with questions.

Building

Phase #1

Footing / Grade Beam

  1. Footing dimensionsCritical

    Verify footing depth and width match approved plans

  2. Rebar size and placementCritical

    Verify rebar size, spacing, and placement per approved plans

  3. Footing layout and alignment

    Verify footing layout matches approved site plan dimensions

    FBC-B 110.3
  4. Clean and debris-free excavation

    Confirm excavation is free of standing water, loose soil, and debris before pour

Phase #2

Building Final

Typical Final
  1. Base rail attachment and tapcon spacingCritical

    Verify base rail is secured with tapcons at correct spacing per plans

  2. Post to base connectionCritical

    Verify structural connection of posts to base rail

  3. Post to roof beam connectionCritical

    Verify structural connection of posts to roof beams

  4. Gusset connectionsCritical

    Verify gusset plates are installed at structural joints per plans

  5. Beam to gutter connectionCritical

    Verify beams are properly connected to gutter system

  6. Gutter clips

    Verify gutter clips are installed at proper intervals

  7. Overall structureCritical

    Verify overall shape and construction matches approved plans

    FBC-B 2002.4
  8. Screen door opening mechanism heightCritical

    If this enclosure is the approved public-pool barrier, check gate direction, self-closing and latching, and the applicable latch or operator height.

    FBC-B 454.1.3.1.9
  9. Pool equipment bondingCritical

    If pool equipment is present, verify bonding wire at pool equipment and at structure

    NEC 680.26
  10. Elite roof panel sealing

    If elite (solid) roof panels are present, verify sealing is complete