Florida condo safety reforms show early progress, CAI says

A new Florida legislative report gives the first statewide look at how the state’s post-Surfside milestone inspection program is working, with thousands of inspections completed and hundreds of repair projects underway. Community Associations Institute says the findings point to meaningful progress while also highlighting reporting gaps and the need for long-term building safety planning.

Why it matters: - Florida’s milestone inspection program is the state’s main post-Surfside effort to identify structural problems in older condominiums and cooperatives before they become life-safety risks. - The results matter far beyond Florida because the state has 50,100-plus community associations, 3.91 million homes and about 9.5 million residents living in those communities. - The report offers a benchmark for other states weighing condo safety reforms as aging housing stock becomes a broader national issue.

What happened: - The Florida legislature’s Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability released Milestone Inspection Reporting Data 2024 and 2025, the first statewide assessment of the milestone inspection program. - Community Associations Institute praised the report and tied it to reforms advanced after the 2021 Champlain Towers South collapse in Surfside, Florida. - The law requires structural inspections of older condominium and cooperative buildings to spot significant deterioration early. - Dawn M. Bauman, CEO of Community Associations Institute, said the report shows Florida’s condominium safety reforms are driving meaningful action.

The details: - OPPAGA found 8,736 Phase One milestone inspections and 1,575 Phase Two milestone inspections reported across 2024 and 2025. - The report also tracked 903 repair permits, with projects ranging from less than $1,000 to $30 million. - Repair work included concrete, electrical and structural projects. - Thirty buildings in 2024 and 24 in 2025 were reported as unsafe or uninhabitable, and most of those buildings remained occupied. - CAI said approximately 0.6% of buildings receiving reported Phase One inspections were classified as unsafe or uninhabitable. - Bauman said OPPAGA identified incomplete reporting, inconsistent classifications and differences in how inspections were counted. - CAI said it has pushed reforms focused on structural inspections, reserve funding and long-term building maintenance in Florida and nationwide. - CAI formed a multidisciplinary Condominium Safety Public Policy Task Force after the Surfside collapse to develop safety recommendations.

Between the lines: - The report shows real momentum, but the data quality issues suggest the program is still being refined. - The mix of inspection volume, repair activity and a small share of unsafe findings points to a system that is finding problems without implying widespread failure. - Florida’s experience is becoming a model other states can study, especially as legislatures balance safety requirements with homeowners’ financial constraints. - At least 18 states have introduced condominium safety legislation since Surfside, and significant reforms have already been enacted in California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington. - CAI says it has been a leading resource for policymakers through research, technical expertise, education and best practices.

What’s next: - CAI is urging Florida condominium and cooperative associations to review the OPPAGA report and work with local building officials to meet reporting requirements. - The state’s next challenge is turning early compliance and repair activity into durable safety and financial planning standards. - More states may use Florida’s data as they draft or update their own condominium safety laws. - For more information and resources on condominium safety, reserve studies and milestone inspections, visit CondoSafety.com.