Florida

Florida Condominium & HOA News

Condo Director Term Limits Questioned (FL) October 14, 2024
Q: Our condominium association hasn’t held elections for many years due to a lack of more applicants than available board seats. We are considering amending how we handle board terms and adding term limits at the next annual meeting. Should we implement staggered terms for continuity and fair rotation, or should board members be allowed to serve terms longer than 8 years? Read the Q&A………………………………..
Finding sensible solutions to Florida’s condo safety challenges October 14, 2024
Florida’s condominium and homeowner associations have long been cherished for the sense of community, security and amenities they offer to millions of residents. But that is quickly changing. As a recent Tyson Group poll confirmed, the rising costs of living in these communities, driven in part by new safety regulations born after the Surfside condo collapse, are placing a growing burden on homeowners, many of whom are also now grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and soon, Hurricane Milton. ...
Polk County Needs Forms from HOAs in Gated Communities to Pick Up Hurricane Debris (FL) October 14, 2024
Hurricane Milton debris collection will begin in Polk County on Monday, Oct. 14, and residents are encouraged to clean up storm damage and move debris to the curb for collection. However, it’s important to note that an extra step is required for Polk County residents who live on private roads or in gated communities. Polk County cannot legally collect debris from residents on private roads and gated communities until designated Homeowner’s Association officers or road owners sign and return a ...
Determination to rebuild follows Florida’s hurricanes with acceptance that storms will come again October 13, 2024
No sooner had residents of the Bahia Vista Gulf condominium complex dug out and from Hurricane Helene than they were faced with the same daunting cleanup from new damage inflicted by Hurricane Milton. Read the article…………………………….
All-clear given for condo residents after evacuating early Saturday (FL) October 13, 2024
The all-clear has been given for the Venice condo building that underwent safety inspections after taking damage from Hurricane Milton. Read the article…………………………….
Fire guts condo but association balks at paying its share to repair damages. Now what? (FL) October 13, 2024
Question: Our condominium unit caught fire earlier this year. It was electrical, with extensive smoke damage. We hired a contractor to do the restoration, and the contractor presented the HOA with an invoice to do the electrical, plumbing, and drywall, which is their responsibility. Read the Q&A………………………………..
Condo residents evacuate early Saturday (FL) October 12, 2024
Venice residents who had already survived Hurricane Milton woke up to yet another evacuation order. Emergency crews working to repair damage from the hurricane found cracks inside a high-rise in the heart of Venice early Saturday. Most residents had evacuated the building before Milton’s landfall, but after the team’s discovery, anybody who stayed behind had to leave out of fear that the 10-story building would come down. Video news report……………………..
Insurance: Which Article is Correct? (FL) October 12, 2024
Experts say Florida insurance market can handle another hurricane this year — and stay healthy Back-to-back Florida hurricanes signal trouble for home insurance prices nationwide
How condo reform laws sent monthly assessments for condo owners through the roof (FL) October 11, 2024
Tim Johnson has owned his condo in Miami Beach for nine years. It’s about 900 square feet and has a balcony facing west. “I have beautiful sunsets and I have a view of the Miami skyline,” he said. The building has 225 units. It was built in 1968. Johnson owns his unit outright. He does not have a mortgage. But he spends $1,200 a month on assessments. And that’s before his own insurance and property taxes. Read the article…………………………….
Old Walden Lake Golf Course Still Falling Apart (FL) October 10, 2024
The Walden Lake development began with two privately-owned, thriving golf courses in the midst of 2200 houses. However, the golf courses’ 320 acres became run down, lost business, and eventually, the owner filed for bankruptcy. The course has been closed for 12 years. As the clubhouse, pool, tennis courts, and other structures continued to degrade, several notices of code violations were sent from Plant City government to the property owners including grass, weed, and undergrowth that had grown over 10 ...
Crane collapses from top of St. Petersburg building during Hurricane Milton (FL) October 10, 2024
A crane on top of a building (condo) in St. Petersburg collapsed during Hurricane Milton, the City of St. Petersburg said. Late Wednesday night, St. Petersburg Fire Rescue received reports of a crane collapse at the 400 Central building construction site. Read the article…………………………….
Unlicensed Work Does Not Void Contract With Condos, Florida Appeals Court Says October 9, 2024
Being unlicensed as a contractor in Florida does not necessarily void a storm-remediation contract, a Florida appeals court said in a decision that could affect insurance defense strategy in hurricane claims. “This shows that it’s really important to know the scope of work being performed,” said Josh Beck, an insurance defense attorney in Boca Raton. Read the article…………………………….

Florida Condominium & Homeowner Association News Archives

Florida Condominium & Homeowner Association Articles

Security Camera Videos as Official Records of a Condominium or Homeowners’ Association (FL)
Condominium and homeowners’ associations frequently install security cameras at various locations throughout the association property. In some instances, the cameras are monitored live, and images are recorded, and in other instances the images are simply recorded and available for retrieval in the event circumstances warrant their review. In most cases, the videos are automatically overwritten at certain intervals. Read the article…………………………….
Hurricane Damage and the FEMA 50% Rule: How to Approach Home Repairs in Flood Zones
In the wake of Hurricane Debbie, Hurricane Helene, and now Hurricane Milton, which have left widespread devastation in southwest Florida, there is no storage shortage of property owners dealing with the aftermath of flooding. As remediation begins, a common question is the FEMA 50% rule. The 50% rule, while always applicable to home improvements or renovations, is also applicable when those repairs or improvements are being made in relation to a natural disaster or other unexpected event. Read the article…………………………….
The Body of Water Doctrine (FL)
We too often here about a child drowning in a body of water. So many of our beautiful communities are built next to a natural lake or contain man-made lakes. It begs the question…..Can a developer face liability if a child drowns in a river or other body of water? That question was answered in Feliciano v. Rivertree Landings Apartments, LLC, 387 So.3d 422 (Fla.App. 2 Dist., 2024) where a Personal representative for a child who drowned in a river ...
Crunch Time: Implementing Structural Integrity Reserve Study (SIRS) Requirements (FL)
With budget season and the Structural Integrity Reserves Study (SIRS) deadline fast approaching, condominium associations should already be considering how they will implement SIRS-related obligations and the timing in which funding will begin. Condominium associations that haven’t yet obtained their SIRS should already be making arrangements to do so prior to the end of the year. There are various integrated issues to consider relating to SIRS implementation that can dramatically affect the budget for 2025 and beyond. Read the article…………………………….
Making a list and checking it twice? No, It’s not Christmas, it’s new Records Request Requirements (FL)
If you’re one of those people who finds checking things off a list or making a chart oddly satisfying, then House Bill 1021 (“HB 1021”) is the new legislation for you. As you may have already heard, HB1021 made sweeping changes to the condominium law landscape. Perhaps none of these changes will be felt quite as much as the new procedures required for Official Records Requests. Read the article…………………………….
Navigating Hurricane and Storm-Related Insurance Claims for Florida Community Associations
Over the last decade, Florida has faced the destructive force of numerous hurricanes and tropical storms. Some of the most notable hurricanes include Hurricane Irma (2017), Hurricane Michael (2018), and Hurricane Ian (2022), each leaving behind billions in property damage and economic losses. These storms have severely impacted condominium, homeowner (HOA) and townhome community associations. Read the article…………………………….
The Ultimate Guide to Hurricane Preparedness for Home Owners
Each year, an average of ten tropical storms develop over the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. While many of these storms remain over the ocean, about six will typically strengthen into hurricanes, with two reaching major hurricane status with winds greater than 110 mph. In an average three-year period, roughly five hurricanes strike the U.S. coastline, resulting in the loss of 50 to 100 lives from Texas to Maine. Read the article…………………………….
How to Prevent Confrontation in Community Associations
Last year, there was a disturbing trend of confrontation – some of which even became violent between condominium owners or homeowners, and their association board members. From our own back yard to across the globe, there were several instances of multi-family housing residents whose disputes were bad enough to make the news. Read the article…………………………….
Appeals Court Makes It Clear Even to a Small HOA: Allow Access to the Association’s Official Records or Else (FL)
Wayside is a small, ten-home, self-managed homeowners’ association located in Seminole County. Pecchia and Porter both respectively own homes within Wayside. As members of the association, Pecchia and Porter were concerned that Wayside was failing to adequately maintain the association’s common elements, and that it also was not enforcing violations of the CCRs against homeowners. As a result, they requested the official association records from Wayside pursuant to section 720.303(5), including insurance policies for the prior two years, and records ...
Florida’s Latest Condo Rider Update: What Real Estate Professionals Should Know
The Florida Realtors have recently provided a new Condo Rider that will be in use starting October 1, 2024. The Condo Rider now reflects recent amendments in the last legislative session to Florida Statute 718, which is the governing statute for Condominiums in Florida. In particular, while many in the real estate community anticipated further revisions to the Condo Rider, the revisions focus primarily on the new definition of “Condominium Property” in the wake of the IconBrickell decision. Read the ...

Florida Article Archives

Florida Laws

The Condominium Act, Chapter 718, F.S.

The Cooperative Act, Chapter 719, F.S.

The Florida Mobile Home Act, Chapter 723, F.S.

The Florida Vacation Plan and Timesharing Act, Chapter 721, F.S.

Homeowners’ Associations, Chapter 720, F.S. (jurisdiction limited to arbitration of election and recall disputes)

Community Association Management

Condominiums and Cooperatives – Building Reporting
718.501(3)(a), F.S./Senate Bill SB4D requires all condominium and cooperative associations with buildings 3 stories or higher to report the following information to the Division of Florida Condominium, Timeshares and Mobile Homes on or before January 1, 2023.

Florida Condominium & Homeowner Association Resources

Condominium Associations

The mission of the Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares and Mobile Homes is to provide consumer protection for Florida residents living in the communities we regulate through education, complaint resolution, mediation and arbitration, and developer disclosure.

Homeowners’ Associations

The division has authority to arbitrate election and recall disputes under Chapter 720, Florida Statutes. However, the division does not have authority to investigate complaints under Chapter 720, Florida Statutes.

Arbitration

Arbitration Frequently Asked Questions All HOA election and recall disputes must be filed with the Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes for mandatory binding arbitration instead of being filed in the courts.
Statutes and Rules
- 2018 Chapter 720
- Chapter 61B-80 thru 81, Florida Administrative Code
Forms
Guide to Recall Procedures

The Laws

Chapter 2013-188, Laws of Florida – effective July 1, 2013
Chapter 2013-218, Laws of Florida – effective July 1, 2013
Chapter 720, Florida Statutes
Chapters 61B-80 and 81, Florida Administrative Code
Chapter 61B-85, Florida Administrative Code

Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes The mission is to provide consumer protection for Florida residents living in the communities we regulate through education, complaint resolution, mediation and arbitration, and developer disclosure.

CAM License Search/Check

Condominium Ombudsman

City of Miami HOA Contacts: Certain applications (such a special events & temporary use permits) require you to send letters to Homeowner Association (HOA) Lists. Click here for the list. These are organized by district.

Community Association Networking Group

C.A.N. provides monthly educational seminars for association managers & board members, no membership required! Our mission is to offer the most current information available covering the topics that matter to you, delivered by top professionals in their field! What makes C.A.N. different is the delivery of our presentations. We provide several professionals to cover each topic, so that you receive interactive information, from every angle. In addition, we set aside time for your individual questions at every meeting. At Community Association Network, we made the conscience decision to limit the number of service providers who attend and sponsor our meetings, so that our audience can focus on receiving the information they need. Best of all, every event is held at a beautiful location, includes a full breakfast or lunch and PARTICIPATION IS ALWAYS FREE! Come and join us for our monthly breakfast or lunch meetings! RSVP on the Events page.

Community Association Institute Chapters

CAI – Gold Coast Chapter –

CAI – North Gulf Coast Chapter –

CAI –South Gulf Coast Chapter

CAI – Central Florida Chapter

CAI – Southeast Florida Chapter

CAI – Suncoast Chapter

CAI – West Florida Chapter

Community Advocacy Network – Florida The Community Advocacy Network (CAN) is the leading statewide advocacy network dedicated to promoting positive community association legislation while advising legislators to resist the urge to micromanage and over-regulate private residential communities. .

Broward Coalition of Condominiums, Homeowner Associations and Community Organizations, Inc. – For over thirty years, the Broward Coalition has successfully worked to bring Condominium and Homeowner Associations from Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade counties together for updated information and education. Our voices and concerns are well known in the three counties, and Governor’s office, throughout the State of Florida and up to the halls of Congress. Many of our members include leaders of the Communities, Elected Officials and Corporate Business Partners.

Cyber Citizens for Justice was founded to unite Floridians in their quest to improve the daily lives of citizens in our State. We are seeking to present citizens’ interest in Florida through advocacy, education and legislative reform.

Tri-County Communities Association – Tri County Communities Association holds educational seminars monthly from January through April for community association and management company members.

Community Association Managers of Marco Island – The Community Association Managers of Marco Island is dedicated to furthering the profession of community association management through education and networking

Kendall Federation of Homeowner Associations, Inc. – The purpose of the Kendall Federation of Homeowner Associations, Inc. shall be to promote the general welfare of the Kendall Community by identifying and addressing quality of life issues and matters of concern through a Federation of Homeowner Associations. The Human Equation’s

Condo Craze & HOA’s radio show on WFTL AM850 Sunday’s at noon (also streamed live)

Downtown Sarasota Condominium Association

Key Biscayne Condominium President’s Council