Legislative Update: New Condo Inspection Requirements in Florida Florida Legislature passed new inspection requirements after the devastating building collapse in Surfside FL 2021 to ensure condominiums are safe for the people occupying the building going forward.
The Champlain Towers Condominium in Surfside, FL partially collapsed in June of 2021 killing 98 people. This collapse was solely related to the 40 years of building maintence and inspection short cuts and poor construction efforts. If building flaws would have been corrected post building inspections according to published reports this collapse could have been prevented.
What to expect with the new policy Senate Bill 4-D (“Surfside Bill”) The new bill requires condominium associations and developers to set aside substantial reserve funds to cover major repairs when necessary. This will ensure that no shortcuts are taken due to inadequate budgeting or funding. These reserves must be re-examined every ten years and are intended to cover large building maintenance costs.
The bill in more detailed as outlined in both chapter 718, 719 and statutes 553.899: Requires condominium and cooperative association buildings that are three stories or more in height to have a “milestone inspection” of the buildings’ structural integrity by a licensed architect or engineer in the state of Florida when a building reaches:
30 years of age and every 10 years thereafter, or
25 years of age and every 10 years thereafter if the building is located within three miles of a coastline.
When should you schedule a milestone inspection:
If the building’s certificate of occupancy was issued on or before July 1, 1992, the building’s initial milestone inspection must be performed before December 31, 2024.
A phase one milestone inspection must commence within 180 days after an association receives a written notice from the local enforcement agency.
A phase two milestone inspection must be performed if there is evidence of “substantial structural deterioration” as determined by the licensed architect or engineer in a phase one inspection.
A Milestone inspection consists of 2 phases:
Phase One- a licensed architect or engineer authorized to practice in this state shall perform a visual examination of habitable and non-habitable areas of a building, including the major structural components of a building, and provide a qualitive assessment of the structural conditions of the building.
Phase Two- must be completed if any substantial structural deterioration is identified in phase one. A phase two inspection may involve destructive or non-destructive testing at the inspector's direction. The inspection may be as extensive or as limited as necessary to fully assess areas of substantial structural distress in order to confirm that the building is structurally sound and safe.
What to expect post inspection:
Inspection report results must be provided to local building officials and the associations. The inspector is required to prepare a summary outlining areas of deficiency or repair in which needs to be provided to unit owners by mail or by email to unit owners who have consented to receive notices by email.
Associations are required to submit proof that repairs for substantial deterioration have been scheduled or begun within at least 365 days after the local enforcement agency receives a phase two inspection report.
Requires the Florida Building Commission to make recommendations to the Governor and Legislature regarding the inspection requirements in the bill and inspection for other types of buildings and structures that are three stories or more by Dec. 31st, 2022.
Gives unit owners the right to inspect and copy, as official records, the milestone inspection report and all other inspection reports relating to structural or life safety, and gives renters the right to inspect the milestone inspection reports.
Requires the developer’s turnover inspection report to comply with the milestone inspection requirements.
Requires associations to report to the Florida Division of Condominiums, Timeshare, and Mobile Homes (division) the number of buildings that are three stories or higher in height and the total number of units in such buildings on or before January 1, 2023, and requires the division to publish that information on its website.
Structural Integrity Reserve Study
Condominium associations and cooperative associations are required to complete a structural integrity reserve study every 10 years by a licensed architect or engineer in the state of Florida for each building in an association that is three stories or greater in height.
Associations existing on or before July 1, 2022, in which, are controlled by non-developer unit owners are required to have a structural integrity reserve study completed by December 31, 2024
Requires the structural integrity reserve study to include a visual inspection, state the estimated remaining useful life, and the estimated replacement cost of the:
Roof
load bearing walls or other primary structural members
floor
foundation
fireproofing and fire protection systems
electrical systems
waterproofing and painting
windows
plumbing
any item with a deferred maintenance or replacement cost that exceeds $10,000 that will negatively affect any of the foregoing items
Associations required to have a Structural Integrity Reserve Study performed may not waive, reduce, or use the reserves for any other purpose other than that stipulated in the Structural Integrity Reserve Study.
Requires a developer to have a structural integrity reserve study completed for each building in the association that is three stories or greater in height before turning over control of an association to the non-developer unit owners.
Provides that it is a breach of a board member or officer’s fiduciary duty if an association fails to complete a structural integrity reserve study.
Sources:
Florida Statute 553.844 – Florida Building Code. Applicable to All Buildings.
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