Florida's design wind speeds start with the ASCE 7-22 basic wind speed map, then Florida Building Code R301.2(7) lets counties adopt a higher value. Miami-Dade, Broward, and Collier have done so. Everywhere else, the ASCE map value governs.
Design wind speed (Vult) is the basic wind speed used to size structures for the strongest expected gusts. ASCE 7-22 maps it for Risk Category II across the country; Florida adds code-enforced overrides on top.
Florida sits among the highest-wind regions in the country. Coastal South Florida and the Keys carry the steepest values; inland and Panhandle counties step down from there.
The headline values on this page are Risk Category II (typical homes and buildings). Each county page lists the full Risk Cat I / II / III / IV breakdown.
Hospitals and essential facilities (Risk Cat III/IV) design to a higher number than ordinary buildings at the same address. Always confirm the category before you size anything.
Need the pressure, not just the speed? The full calculator turns a wind speed into zone-by-zone pressures and a permit-ready Engineering Report.
Risk Category II shown. Gold-marked rows have a verified FBC R301.2(7) override; the others use the ASCE 7-22 map value pending FBC verification.
| County | Risk Cat II | HVHZ | Reference | Detail page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade | 175 mph | Yes | FBC R301.2(7) | Miami-Dade → |
| Broward | 170 mph | Yes | FBC R301.2(7) | Broward → |
| Collier | 170 mph | No | FBC R301.2(7) | Collier → |
| Monroe (Keys) | ~180 mph | No | ASCE 7-22 Fig 26.5-1B FBC override pending | Monroe → |
| Lee | map | No | ASCE 7-22 Fig 26.5-1B FBC override pending | Lee → |
Each county page carries the full Risk Cat I/II/III/IV breakdown, a live ZIP lookup, the hurricane history behind the local code, and county-specific FAQs.
HVHZ is a Florida Building Code designation, not just a high wind speed. It triggers a separate product-approval pathway that catches projects off guard.
HVHZ-zoned projects need Notice of Acceptance (NOA) documentation from the Miami-Dade Building Code Compliance Office, plus missile-impact testing for every opening-protection product.
Only Miami-Dade and Broward are HVHZ. Despite higher wind speeds in the Keys and the post-Andrew origin of the rule, no other Florida county is currently HVHZ-zoned.
This is a common misconception worth correcting on every project that imports HVHZ assumptions into a non-HVHZ jurisdiction like Collier, Monroe, or Lee.
ASCE 7-22 is a consensus engineering standard. The Florida Building Code is law. Where they diverge, the code wins for permit submission.
The 8th Edition of the Florida Building Code (2023) adopts ASCE 7-22 by reference, then layers Florida amendments on top.
Section R301.2(7) is where counties get the authority to set a wind speed that exceeds the ASCE 7-22 Figure 26.5-1B map contour.
Where the authority is used — Miami-Dade, Broward, and Collier as of the 2023 FBC — the FBC value is the legally enforceable design wind speed. Designing to the raw ASCE map value alone will fail plan review.
Where it is not used (most counties), the ASCE 7-22 map value governs at the project site. The free lookup applies the right one automatically.
A design wind speed is the start, not the answer. Run any Florida ZIP through the calculator to get zone-by-zone pressures, every coefficient cited to its ASCE 7-22 section, and a permit-ready Engineering Report.
Three Florida counties have hardcoded Florida Building Code R301.2(7) jurisdictional wind speed overrides in our engine: Miami-Dade (165/175/186/195 mph for Risk Cat I/II/III/IV), Broward (156/170/180/185 mph), and Collier (151/170/180/190 mph).
Other counties default to the ASCE 7-22 Figure 26.5-1 map value at the ZIP centroid.
Additional counties are pending verification.
HVHZ stands for High Velocity Hurricane Zone, a Florida Building Code designation requiring Notice of Acceptance (NOA) product approval and missile impact testing (TAS 201, 202, 203).
Only Miami-Dade and Broward counties are HVHZ. Monroe County is NOT HVHZ despite its high wind speeds in the Keys.
Florida Building Code R301.2(7) gives Miami-Dade County the authority to adopt a wind speed that exceeds the ASCE 7-22 Figure 26.5-1 contour value.
The FBC value (175 mph Risk Cat II) is the legally enforceable value for permit submission.
Designing to the ASCE map value alone will not pass plan review in Miami-Dade.
Florida Building Code 8th Edition (2023) adopts ASCE 7-22 by reference with Florida-specific amendments.
The ASCE 7-22 standard is the baseline; FBC R301.2(7) county overrides supersede it where adopted. For most Florida counties (those without an override), ASCE 7-22 governs.