When the City of Sunny Isles Beach was incorporated 16 years ago, many condominiums within the City were already built. Now, several of them are up for the 40 Year Recertification as mandated by Miami Dade County Ordinance No. 75-34. The 40 Year Recertification Ordinance was initially adopted by Miami Dade County in 1975. In 2001 the Ordinance was replaced by the current law which follows the Florida Building Code. The law requires that buildings in Miami Dade County after 40 Years be recertified by a Licensed Florida Engineer or Architect for Structural and Electrical Safety. This Recertification goes into effect every 10 years thereafter. Not all built dwellings fall under the Ordinance. Single family homes, duplexes and any building with an occupied load of ten (10) or less and 2,000 square feet or less, are exempt.
When a condominium gets the Notice of the 40 Year Recertification from the County or from the City, the property owner has 90 days to complete the inspection, and based on the results, if improvements are required, the property owner is given in general 150 days with a possible 60 to 90 days extension to complete the required improvements.
As condominiums age, common element parts and equipment are replaced through assessments levied on the homeowners, so it is prudent for the property owner to maintain a portion of the maintenance as reserves so that the burden is alleviated when the need for repair or replacement arises. The same rule applies for the 40 Year Recertification of a condominium.
About 85% of the residents in Sunny Isles Beach live in condominiums and an important part of each unit owner’s budget goes for maintenance expenses. It is the responsibility of condominium boards and managers to steer the building expenses in such a way as to minimize the impact of assessments by utilizing the maintenance revenues in a proactive way.
Conclusively, whether the 40 Year Recertification is just around the corner or several years away, the golden rule is to spend the money to maintain the condominium common elements in good shape and have much less to worry about spending for the required improvements when the recertification comes around.
Hence in condominium upkeep, “A Dollar Spent Today is A Dollar Saved Tomorrow.” In conjunction with the City Advisory Committee (CAC), Clay Parker, Building Official of the City of Sunny Isles Beach, will host a seminar on the 40 Year Recertification at City Hall. Attendance is highly recommended at the following meetings to be held in the Commission Chambers:
April 3 at 6:00 p.m. – CAC Workshop Series: Building Permits and Code Violations
April 9 at 6:30 p.m. – City Advisory Committee (CAC) Meeting
April 24 6:00 p.m. – CAC Workshop Series: 40-Year Building Re-Certification
For more details please call Assistant City Clerk Mauricio Betancur at 305-792- 1703.
Good article explaining the necessity of prompt repairs.
Due to new State of Florida law, a milestone inspection should be conducted in buildings 3 stories or higher, starting at 30 years (25 years if within 3 miles of the costline). Also new Miami Dade County Ordinance 22-57 lower the Building Recertication Inspections from 40 years to 30.
I do like that you remind people to keep their condominiums in good shape in anticipation of the 40 year recertification. After all, that kind of certification is important for making sure your condominium is safe to live in. It also shows that you care quite a bit for the condo you live in.