Waterfront property is something that has attracted millions of residents to Florida over the years. Whether it be a single-family home, a large homeowners association, a vibrant condo association or a busy commercial marina, the right to utilize the water that lies immediately adjacent to upland property is a long-standing […]
With Florida condominiums, excessive wear and tear on the common elements may shorten their useful life and expedite costly repairs and maintenance. This problem may be exacerbated at larger condominium associations when both tenants and owners are using the common elements. A condominium association can mitigate these deleterious effects by […]
During the 2019 legislative session, State Representative Jason Fischer introduced and sponsored House Bill No. 7103. The proposed bill contained language that amended various state statutes, all dealing with development in Florida. On June 28, 2019, Governor Ron DeSantis signed the bill into law. While the bill is not controversial, […]
One of the most challenging aspects of effectively running and operating a condominium association is the constant turnover in board membership and the inconsistency this creates concerning rules enforcement. Most association board seats are up for reelection every one to two years. When members decide to run for the board, […]
Over the past few years each legislative session in Florida seems to generate new laws that impose various requirements on local governments. Some are labeled “unfunded mandates” and others are described as an assault on “home rule”. But as bad as those things sound, the reality is that most state […]
According to NOAA, Florida has over 8,400 hundred miles of coastline. That is second only to Alaska. Since 2000, 79 tropical or subtropical storms have impacted the state of Florida. Many of us cringe when we hear the names Floyd, Bonnie, Florence, Ivan, Dennis, Irma, Matthew and Michael. Collectively, these […]
What’s that smell? What’s that sound? What am I looking at? Whatever it is offends me. Could it be a nuisance? Florida Condominium associations deal with nuisance complaints on a regular basis. The challenge in addressing nuisance issues is defining exactly what constitutes a nuisance. Generally, nuisance is defined in […]
If you own operate a business, rent to commercial tenants, develop real estate or even just own a parcel containing a single-family home, chances are, you are going to have to seek some sort of regulatory approval from a local government. A zoning exception to sell beer and wine, a […]
There are benefits to community associations using drones for issues such as covenant enforcement and common area maintenance. The biggest of which is the cost effectiveness and efficiency of using drones instead of individuals to perform these inspections. However, there are significant risks as well. There are a number of […]
Although it is rarely welcomed by the owners, condo associations are permitted by Florida statute to impose special assessments for necessary and routine maintenance. There are a lot of considerations that come into play in deciding whether special assessments for necessary maintenance are required, both procedural and substantive considerations. For […]