Tool · Florida §553.899 / SB 4-D
Milestone inspection deadline checker
Enter your building's height and year built to find out whether a Phase 1 milestone inspection is required under Florida law and when the deadline falls.
Statute citations reviewed by the Common Elements editorial team, which includes a Florida-licensed community association manager (LCAM) and insurance broker.
Count full above-ground floors.
Certificate of Occupancy year, or approximate.
Phase 1 vs Phase 2
Phase 1: required for all
A visual inspection by a Florida-licensed engineer or architect of the building's exterior and accessible interior for signs of substantial structural deterioration. Required at 30 years (25 years where the local enforcement agency has adopted it) and every 10 years after.
Phase 2: conditional
Triggered only if Phase 1 finds substantial deterioration. Involves a more detailed assessment of affected components and sets a repair timeline the association must follow.
Read the full milestone inspection guide →
This free checker covers the deadline only. The full estimator on Common Elements adds Phase 1, Phase 2, and SIRS cost ranges for your building.
Track milestone inspection deadlines on Common Elements
Store your Phase 1 and Phase 2 reports, set compliance reminders, and document the inspection history your board will need for insurance and financing.
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Florida milestone inspection FAQ
- What is a Florida milestone inspection?
- A Florida milestone inspection is a structural safety inspection required under F.S. §553.899, enacted by SB 4-D (2022) following the Champlain Towers South collapse. It is a two-phase visual and engineering inspection of a building's structural components: load-bearing walls, columns, beams, slabs, primary structural members, and their connections. Phase 1 is a visual inspection by a licensed architect or engineer; Phase 2 is a detailed engineering inspection triggered when Phase 1 finds signs of substantial structural deterioration.
- Which Florida buildings require a milestone inspection?
- Under F.S. §553.899, residential condominium and cooperative buildings that are three stories or more in height are required to undergo a milestone inspection. This applies to both existing buildings and newly constructed buildings. Single-family homes, townhomes, and buildings fewer than three habitable stories are not subject to the milestone inspection requirement.
- What is the deadline for a Florida Phase 1 milestone inspection?
- Under F.S. §553.899(3)(a), the milestone inspection is due by December 31 of the year the building reaches 30 years of age, measured from the certificate of occupancy, and every 10 years after that. Two phase-in deadlines applied to older buildings: a building that reached 30 before July 1, 2022 had to be inspected before December 31, 2024, and a building that reached 30 between July 1, 2022 and December 31, 2024 had to be inspected before December 31, 2025. Proximity to the coast does not shorten the deadline on its own. Under §553.899(3)(b), the local enforcement agency may determine that local circumstances, including proximity to salt water, require the inspection at 25 years instead of 30; that applies only where the agency has adopted it.
- What happens after a Phase 1 milestone inspection finds structural concerns?
- If the licensed architect or engineer performing the Phase 1 inspection finds evidence of substantial structural deterioration, the building must undergo a Phase 2 inspection. Phase 2 involves a more comprehensive review that may include nondestructive or destructive testing and sampling of structural components. The Phase 2 inspector must provide a full written report with findings and recommended repairs. The association must promptly notify owners and the local building official of the results.
- Who can perform a Florida milestone inspection?
- Under F.S. §553.899, a milestone inspection must be performed by a Florida-licensed architect or engineer with the appropriate structural engineering expertise. The inspector must be contracted by the condominium association, not by individual unit owners or property managers. Local building officials have authority to approve the inspector and review the final report.
- What triggers a Phase 2 milestone inspection?
- A Phase 2 milestone inspection is triggered when the Phase 1 visual inspection reveals any sign of substantial structural deterioration, defined in F.S. §553.899 as a material weakening of any portion of the building due to deterioration of building components. This includes corrosion, cracking, spalling, or deflection beyond accepted engineering tolerances. The Phase 2 inspector may require testing such as concrete core sampling, rebar analysis, or infrared thermography.
Statutory basis
The condominium structural-integrity reserve study and milestone obligations tie back to F.S. §718.112. Read the full section for the governing statutory text.