Jul 20, 2022 | Florida, Law, Maintenance, Safety
In a surprise move, the Florida Legislature decided in its pending Special Session to take up the “Surfside legislation” that did not pass during the Regular Session earlier this year. A Bill was adopted unanimously by the Senate on May 24, 2022 by the House on May...
Jul 8, 2022 | Florida, Law, Maintenance, Rules Regulations
Q: In a previous column, you mentioned the new statute that deals with building inspections and reserves. I understand the reason for these changes, but do not understand how they are enforced or how extensive they are. Can you comment further on that? (S.S., via...
Feb 15, 2022 | Associations, Law, Q&A, Rules Regulations
In 1988, Congress added “familial status” – defined as including those family groups with children under 18 – to the list of protected groups under the Fair Housing Act. Since that time, condominium and homeowner associations have been discovering that their various...
Feb 8, 2022 | Law, Maintenance, Rules Regulations
In general, a community association is responsible for operating and maintaining the common areas of the community (in the case of homeowners’ associations), and the common elements (in the case of condominium associations). If there are trees located on these common...
Feb 4, 2022 | Associations, Law, Rules Regulations
There is an old saying that the two dirtiest words in community associations are “special assessment”. Board meetings at which special assessments will be discussed and imposed are often the only well attended meetings throughout the year in many communities. The...
Jan 20, 2022 | Associations, Law, Q&A, Rules Regulations
Q: While current Florida law permits the use of fireworks 3 days a year, what, if anything, can an HOA do to restrict residents setting off fireworks within their community? In addition to the disruption of neighbors and the effect on many pets, the possibility of...
