Legislative News

Since 1994 Florida has had an interior design practice act. Florida has fought continuously to keep these professional regulations. On February 4, 2010 in the Locke v. Shore court case, the US District Court for the

Northern District of Florida ruled to maintain the Florida law requiring licensure of the practice of non-residential interior design.

 

Additionally, the court found the restriction on the use of the title “interior designer” unconstitutional. Without the restrictions on the title “interior designer,” the interior design law does not take anything away from nonlicensees in terms of how they can identify themselves and their work. The 1994 legislation opened up practice that had previously been reserved for the practice of architecture only.

 

to prepare documents for all project use types within the scope of the practice of interior design defined by the Florida statutes, and to submit signed and sealed documents as needed for review by building officials for

permits.

 

Interior designers licensed by the State of Florida should utilize for all correspondence, websites, advertising, and all other applications where your licensee’s name appears, the designation “Florida Registered Interior Designer” followed by the license number. As an example, registered interior designers should use Florida (or FL) Registered Interior Designer #0000000. This designation can only be used by persons currently

licensed by the state for the practice of interior design, as defined by the Florida Statutes.

 

The Interior Design Association Foundation (IDAF) brings together Florida interiors designers from all organizations and those unaffiliated to create a strong unified voice in the face of legislative issues. The coalition works to inform and educate state legislators, monitor current legislation and regulations and inform its members and the public about the profession of interior design, and to maintain their rights provided by the Florida statutes in the Florida Building Code.

 

Since interior design is a legally recognized profession by the state of Florida, IDAF has dedicated their efforts to the constant task of protecting what has already been accomplished.

 

IDAF also serves to protect the best interest of interior designers with the state regulatory Board of Architecture and Interior Design (BOAID). The BOAID is the body that establishes the rules and regulations. IDAF consistently provides feedback and input to the Board on such topics as legislation, continuing education and any other issue that directly affects interior design professionals.