Florida Construction News staff writer
Florida lawmakers have passed landmark legislation that mandates how construction cranes and other hoisting equipment must be secured ahead of hurricanes. The move, formalized in Senate Bill 180, comes after a crane collapse in St. Petersburg and a statewide investigation highlighting critical gaps in oversight.
SB 180 sets new statewide standards for crane preparedness—replacing the patchwork of local ordinances that were previously blocked by state law.
“There were really no requirements for crane operators to have a hurricane plan in place,” said Sen. Nick DiCeglie (R-Indian Rocks Beach), who co-sponsored the bill with Rep. Fiona McFarland (R-Sarasota). “This legislation addresses that gap.”
The new law is a response to the collapse of a tower crane that destroyed part of an office building during Hurricane Idalia in October 2023.
Key Provisions of SB 180:
- Securing hoisting equipment: All cranes and related lifting equipment must be secured no later than 24 hours before hurricane impacts are expected.
- Equipment-specific requirements: Hydraulic cranes: Booms must be fully retracted.
- Tower cranes: Must be placed in weathervane mode to allow rotation with wind.
- Power disconnection: Electrical power at the crane base must be disconnected.
- Preparedness plan requirement: Construction sites must maintain a hurricane preparedness plan for each crane, available for inspection.
- Enforcement and penalties: Intentional violations can lead to administrative penalties, including potential suspension of business licenses.
- Statewide uniformity: Maintains the ban on local governments setting independent crane regulations and stablishes a uniform state standard to ensure consistency across Florida.
Also, the Florida Building Commission is required to publish a report by end of 2026 detailing best practices for crane safety during hurricanes.
