Boca Raton Introduces New Laws for Condominiums

It has been over a year since the Champlain Towers South collapsed in Surfside, Florida, as a result of construction failures and years of weathering that went unchecked. Earlier this year, the Florida Legislature failed to pass any laws requiring additional safety and inspection measures for condominium buildings, but local municipalities have taken matters into their own hands. While many are still working on proposed ordinances, the City of Boca Raton has become the first municipality in Palm Beach County to pass an ordinance requiring safety inspections for older condominiums.

Boca Raton's new ordinance requires all condominiums that are over three-stories high and thirty-years or older to be re-inspected and recertified. The plan categorizes the one-hundred-ninety-one buildings located within the City that fall into the ordinance to be divided into four zones for inspection. Buildings east of the Intracoastal will take priority for inspections, and have until February 1, 2023, to submit their reports to the City for review.

The City will require each condominium to pay a $500.00 fee per recertification to cover the costs of the new ordinance. Each condominium will then be subject to a complete review by structural and electrical engineers, who will produce reports for the city, detailing any potential issues with the building and necessary repairs. If the building fails to comply with the new ordinance, it may be subject to fines.

Boca Raton expects all condominiums located in the municipality to be inspected fully by November 1, 2026. Other municipalities throughout the county are also looking to enact similar rules.

This article is not intended to be legal advice nor create an attorney-client relationship.