DeSantis signs bill to revamp condo laws

News Service of Florida

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a bill to revamp condominium-safety laws passed after the 2021 collapse of the Champlain Towers South building in Surfside that killed 98 people.

The wide-ranging bill (HB 913), approved unanimously by the House and Senate in April, was crafted after residents and condominium associations argued that the laws passed after the collapse were driving up costs.

DeSantis, who made revising condo laws one of his top priorities of this year’s legislative session, said the laws were “well intentioned” but raised questions about affordability.

“There were a lot of folks that had a lot of concerns about how some of these assessments were being done, whether people could even afford to even stay in their units,” DeSantis said Monday during an appearance at the Island Way Grill in Clearwater.

The laws, passed in 2022 and tweaked in 2023, included requiring “milestone inspections” of older buildings and “structural integrity reserve studies” to determine how much money should be saved for future major repairs.

Milestone inspections were supposed to be completed by the end of 2024 for certain older buildings that are three stories or higher.

Some condo associations hit owners with large assessments in the race to comply with the deadline.

The newly signed bill, which will take effect July 1, includes extending by one year the deadline for structural-integrity studies.

Among other things, it allows for a temporary pause in reserve funding for two years immediately following a milestone inspection and gives condo associations flexibility on meeting reserve requirements.

The bill would allow associations to use lines of credit or loans to satisfy reserve obligations if a majority of owners approve.

DeSantis on Monday also signed a separate bill (HB 393) to change the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program, which helps harden buildings to better withstand hurricanes.

Part of the bill will reduce from 100% of unit owners to 75% the number needed to apply for grants and clarifies that associations must pay $1 for every $2 provided by state grants.