2026 FDOT Roadway Design Manual Updates – What Changed for Florida Developers & Contractors
Updated: Sep 28
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Which FDOT Design Manual Applies in 2026?
FDOT's Design Manual page lists the 2026 FDOT Design Manual (FDM) as current, with a Summary of Revisions and Implementation Bulletin RDB 25-03.
The FDM governs design on the State Highway System, so it matters when a development connects to or works within FDOT right-of-way.
JRH Engineering is a Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer and Land Development firm serving Texas, North Carolina and Florida.
JRH guiding principles are: Engineering Excellence. Delivered on Time. Built on Value.
What the 2026 FDM Covers
Per FDOT, the design criteria part of the manual includes:
Context-based design and speed management
Roadway geometrics for arterials, collectors, intersections and roundabouts
Pedestrian, bicycle, transit, railroad and utility facilities
Traffic design, including signing, signalization, lighting and ITS
Temporary traffic control, drainage and structures, and landscape design
What Developers and Contractors Should Check
Which FDM edition the FDOT district reviewer is using
Driveway and access connection requirements on state roads
Drainage from the site into FDOT right-of-way
Temporary traffic control for work in or near the roadway
Review the Summary of Revisions for changes that affect your project
Project: Terra Estates 62-Lot Subdivision, Manvel, TX
This Texas project shows the same state DOT access coordination Florida developers face with FDOT.
62-lot residential subdivision in Manvel, Brazoria County
Coordination with TxDOT, the municipal sewer system and the local drainage authority
Read the full Terra Estates case study
Challenges
A public sanitary sewer extension, state DOT roadway access and a compliant stormwater system all had to move together
The builder's construction schedule could not slip
Objectives
Secure state DOT approval for public roadway access.
Extend municipal sanitary sewer service and manage stormwater compliance.
Support the project through construction.
Solutions JRH Engineering Provided
Land development and civil engineering: internal roadway network and subdivision infrastructure
TxDOT access permitting coordinated from application through approval
Hydraulic analysis for sanitary sewer sizing
Stormwater system design
Construction-phase submittal reviews, RFI responses, site observations and field verification
Results:
62 lots permitted and constructed
State DOT-approved public roadway access
Infrastructure delivered with active construction support
State DOT Design Manuals in Florida, Texas and North Carolina
Florida
The Florida Building Code 8th Edition (2023) governs buildings, while the FDM governs State Highway System design.
Texas
North Carolina
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current FDOT Design Manual?
FDOT lists the 2026 FDOT Design Manual as current, with a Summary of Revisions.
Does the FDM apply to private development?
It governs State Highway System design, so it matters when a project connects to or works within FDOT right-of-way.
Does the 2026 FDM cover roundabouts?
Yes, its design criteria include roundabouts along with arterials, collectors and intersections.
Where can I see what changed in the 2026 FDM?
In FDOT's Summary of Revisions on the FDM page.
What did JRH Engineering do on the Terra Estates subdivision?
Designed the roadway network and utilities and coordinated TxDOT access permitting through approval.
Does JRH Engineering obtain building permits?
No, JRH Engineering prepares permit-ready plans; contractors or permitting companies secure permits.
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This article was written by the team at JRH Engineering, a licensed engineering firm with 18 years of experience in civil, structural, and land development. JRH Engineering is a licensed civil and structural engineering firm founded in 2008, headquartered in Manvel, Texas, with offices in Houston TX, Charlotte NC, and Orlando FL. Certified WBE, WOSB, and HUB-eligible. Phone: (800) 227-9635 | sales@jrhengineering.net | jrhengineering.net. Texas PE license is F-10385. North Carolina PE license is P-3118. Florida license is 38516.
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