Florida Senate Bill 1702 effective July 1st, 2022: Requiring Milestone Inspections

  • The purpose of the newly required Milestone Inspection Phase One, established by Senate Bill 1702, is to evaluate the current condition of an aging building to assess its structural condition.
  • If the inspection indicates a heightened level of concern, a more involved Phase Two Milestone Inspection must be done, which will include a detailed analysis of structural issues found. These inspections also serve to create a baseline for comparison with future inspections.

 

Link to Florida Statute: Please see the pdf and provide link.

(Helpful Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEckCpCltEs)

The ‘odds’ are that nothing physical has dramatically changed within your condominium building since Senate Bill 1702 was signed into law on July 1st of 2022. Here are the primary components of Senate Bill 1702:

  1. Establishes a new term, “A Milestone Inspection” the purpose of which is for an engineer/engineering firm to establish to the best of their ability the following for any building 3 stories or more in height the following:
    1. Attests to the Life-Safety of the building.
    2. Attests to the  Structural Components of the building; and,
    3. Determine the General Structural Condition of the building.
  2. The Milestone Inspection must be conducted when a building is:
    1. 30 years of age.
    2. Or 25 years of age if it is located within 3 miles of the coast.
    3. Thereafter every 7 years for Coastal Buildings or 10 years for non-coastal.
  3. There are two types of Milestone Inspections:
    1. Phase One may be done by a licensed architect or engineer.
    2. Phase Two is done if indicated by the Phase One report that there is ‘substantial structural deterioration’ and may only be done by an engineer.
  4. A copy of the report must be distributed to the Unit Owner – (FYI: NOT THE OCCUPANT, if that is different from the Owner. )
  5. All Milestone Reports must be supplied to prospective Buyers. A Buyer may cancel a contract on the basis of  the report, if defects have been found.

The Milestone Inspection is a vital component of the new laws enacted. It is the legislated ‘starting point’ for the creation of a professional plan of due care and attention in ensuring the safety and integrity of aging condominiums 3-stories and above in Florida. Senate Bill 4-D is yet another step, recently enacted into law.