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The Florida Senate

CS/CS/SB 440 — Condominiums

by Judiciary Committee; Regulated Industries Committee; and Senator Altman

This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.

Prepared by: Regulated Industries Committee (RI)

The bill amends several provisions in s. 718.112, F.S., which specifies the provisions that must be included in the bylaws of condominiums, to distinguish the bylaws requirements for residential condominiums from those for commercial condominiums. The bill limits the following bylaw requirements to residential condominiums:

  • The time periods for associations to respond to a unit owner’s written inquiries;
  • The requirements for the election of board members, the use of staggered terms for members of the board, and the use of limited and general proxies;
  • Prohibitions on persons who are not eligible to serve on the board of a condominium association, including co-owners of a unit, persons who have been suspended, persons who are delinquent in the payment of a monetary obligation due to the association, and persons convicted of a felony;
  • The pre-election certification requirements for newly elected or appointed board members; and;
  • The requirement that the bylaws of the association must provide for mandatory nonbinding arbitration of disputes by the Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes within the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

The bill also limits the requirement that associations initiate an application for a building permit for the required installation of a sprinkler system by the specified date to residential condominiums. The bill also extends the specified date by which residential condominium associations must make the application for a building permit from the end of 2019 to January 1, 2020.

The bill also limits the following condominium laws to residential condominiums:

  • Requirements that condominium boards adopt shutter specifications for each building within each condominium operated by the association;
  • Requirements that condominium boards approve a unit owner’s installation of hurricane protections that conform to the specifications adopted by the board;
  • Requirements that the alternative dispute resolution provisions in s. 718.1255, F.S., which provide for the mediation and voluntary non-binding arbitration of certain disputes, do not apply to nonresidential condominiums unless specifically provided for in the declaration of the nonresidential condominium;
  • Limitations on the ability of the developer to modify the plot plan for phase condominiums; and
  • Requirements that certain information related to the development of a phase condominium be described in the original declaration of condominium or approved by an amendment.

The bill also extends the bulk buyer provisions in s. 718.505, F.S., from July 1,, 2015 to July 1, 2016.

If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2014.

Vote: Senate 40-0; House 116-0