Do you live in a Florida condo or serve on its board? Then HB 913 matters to you.
This law took effect on July 1, 2025, and it changes how many condominium and cooperative associations handle inspections, reserve studies, records, meetings, and funding. The goal is not to remove safety rules. The goal is to make compliance more workable while keeping boards focused on structural responsibility.
In plain terms, HB 913 gives associations more flexibility in how they meet some of the post-Surfside requirements, but it does not let them ignore them. Milestone inspections, reserve planning, and disclosure rules still matter. Boards simply have clearer paths for timing, documentation, and funding.
What does Florida’s new condominium law entail?
Florida’s new condominium law (HB 913) offers a new approach to managing the safety and finances of condominium associations. It establishes clear deadlines for structural inspections, improves access to key documents, and allows for greater flexibility in managing large building repair costs.
At a high level, the law does five important things. It adjusts how milestone inspections and Structural Integrity Reserve Studies (SIRS) apply. It gives boards more flexibility to fund major repairs and reserves. It strengthens disclosure rules when professionals want to bid on repair work tied to inspections or reserve studies. It expands some recordkeeping and meeting requirements. And it gives owners a clearer view of how decisions are being made.
For boards, that means more planning tools, but also more responsibility. For owners, it means better transparency and a better understanding of how building safety and funding decisions affect the community.
What’s New in Florida’s Condo Law?
House Bill 913 isn’t just a small tweak. It’s a smart, community-friendly adjustment to the rules that govern how condos handle inspections, budgets, and board accountability.
The highlights?
- More time to complete structural inspections : The new law doesn’t eliminate the requirement — it simply extends the deadline for completing Structural Integrity Reserve Studies (SIRS) by one year. Originally, buildings were required to submit these reports by December 2025. Under HB 913, the new deadline is December 2026.
This extension helps reduce scheduling bottlenecks and gives engineers more time to conduct thorough, highhis extension helps reduce scheduling bottlenecks and gives engineers more time to conduct thorough, high-quality assessments. Boards that act early will benefit from better pricing and greater flexibility. On the other hand, those that delay may face limited availability and higher costs as the deadline approaches.
- Better access to important documents: Under HB 913, associations must keep important engineering and financial records—like inspection reports, reserve schedules, and contracts—accessible on-site for residents. This change boosts transparency and helps prevent confusion or mistrust. When owners can review key documents at any time, community involvement and trust both increase.
- Fairer rules around penalties and decision-making: No more sudden fines or behind-the-scenes decisions. The new law requires that boards notify owners before issuing fines, follow clear procedures, and allow appeals.
- Greater financial flexibility for large repairs: One of the most impactful changes in HB 913 is how condominium associations can fund long-term capital repairs. Previously, associations were required to fully fund reserves based on recommendations from Structural Integrity Reserve Studies (SIRS) — often triggering sudden, steep special assessments for owners.
Under the new law, associations are now allowed to use lines of credit or alternative financing options to meet their reserve funding obligations. This flexibility enables boards to move forward with critical
What New Disclosure Requirements Does HB 913 Introduce for Milestone Inspections and Structural Integrity Reserve Studies?
Here’s something condo boards, engineers, and contractors should know: a brand-new layer of accountability is being added to how professionals bid on building inspections and repairs in Florida.
As of July 1, 2025, House Bill 913 introduces specific disclosure requirements that aim to increase trust, transparency, and ethical boundaries — especially when it comes to milestone inspections and Structural Integrity Reserve Studies (SIRS).
So, what exactly is changing?
Milestone Inspections: No more hidden connections
Let’s say your building hires an engineer to perform a milestone inspection. Later, that same engineer (or someone closely connected to them) submits a bid to do the repairs they recommended. Sounds like a potential conflict of interest, right?
Let’s say your building hires an engineer to perform a milestone inspection. Later, that same engineer (or someone closely connected to them) submits a bid to do the repairs they recommended. Sounds like a potential conflict of interest, right?
Under HB 913, here’s what must now happen:
- If an architect or engineer wants to bid on any work related to the results of a milestone inspection, they must formally disclose their intent in writing to the association.
- If they — or a relative — have any direct or indirect financial interest in the firm that did the inspection, they must clearly say so.
- If they don’t? The contract can be voided, and they could face disciplinary action under their professional license.
Bottom line: the law is closing the loop between the inspection and the repair. Associations get full visibility before making decisions — no surprises, no hidden agendas.
Structural Integrity Reserve Studies: The same rules apply
These new requirements don’t stop at milestone inspections. They also apply to Structural Integrity Reserve Studies (SIRS) — the in-depth reports that guide how condos plan and fund major repairs.
Here’s what’s now required:
- Professionals bidding on services related to a SIRS report must disclose in writing that they plan to bid.
- If they (or a relative) have ties to the company that produced the original study, that connection must be made clear up front.
- Again, skipping this step means the association can cancel the contract — and the bidder could be held accountable by the state licensing board.
This isn’t just red tape. It’s a protective measure that helps condo boards make informed, conflict-free hiring decisions for critical structural work.
What changes are being made after the Surfside incident?
After the Surfside collapse, Florida adopted much stricter condominium safety requirements. Those rules pushed associations to inspect aging buildings, study reserve needs, and stop delaying major structural funding.
HB 913 does not undo that direction. Instead, it adjusts the system so associations have a more realistic path to comply. The law keeps milestone inspections and SIRS in place, but it adds flexibility in timing, funding, and administration.
That matters because many communities were facing the same problem at once: aging buildings, tight deadlines, limited engineering availability, and very large repair costs. HB 913 responds to that reality without removing the expectation that boards must act on structural issues
Additional Protection: “My Safe Florida Condominium” Program
In parallel with HB 913, Governor DeSantis approved the expansion of the My Safe Florida Condominium Program. This new program mirrors the successful “My Safe Florida Home” initiative, which provides funding for storm-hardening measures.
Depending on program rules and available funding, this may help communities strengthen features such as roofs, openings, or other components related to storm resilience. It is not a substitute for milestone inspections or SIRS, but it may support a broader resilience strategy for some buildings.
Boards should review the current eligibility rules carefully because program conditions, funding availability, and application requirements may change over time.
What should owners and boards of directors do today?
Start with the basics. Confirm whether your building is subject to milestone inspection and SIRS requirements. Review your last inspection history, reserve status, and upcoming deadlines. Then make sure the board knows what documents must be organized and available.
If your association has not yet completed a SIRS or still needs follow-up structural work, this is the time to act. Early planning usually gives boards better access to engineering schedules, better budget forecasting, and more time to explain the financial impact to owners.
Owners should not assume the board is already on top of everything. Ask when the next inspection or reserve study is due, whether any repair recommendations are pending, and how the association plans to fund required work.
The communities that handle this best are usually the ones that move early, document well, and communicate clearly.
At Eastern Engineering Group, we’re here to help
Understanding the law is only the first step. The harder part is applying it correctly to a real building, a real reserve schedule, and a real board budget.
Whether it’s conducting Structural Integrity Reserve Studies (SIRS), milestone inspections, or guiding your board through financial planning, our licensed engineers are here to help — from kickoff to final documentation.
Questions and answers
When did HB 913 take effect?
Most of HB 913 took effect on July 1, 2025.
Did HB 913 eliminate milestone inspections or SIRS?
No. The law did not remove those requirements. It changed timing, definitions, funding options, and some compliance rules.
What buildings are affected?
Many of the structural safety requirements apply to condominium and cooperative buildings that are three habitable stories or more in height.
What is one of the biggest changes for boards?
Boards now have more flexibility in how they fund required reserves and repairs, including the possible use of loans or lines of credit when approved as required by law.
Do conflict-of-interest disclosures apply only to milestone inspections?
No. HB 913 also applies disclosure rules to work connected to Structural Integrity Reserve Studies.
Should owners wait until the deadline?
That is usually not the best move. Waiting can reduce scheduling options and make planning more difficult.
Let’s make sure your community is ready for 2026 — together.
© 2025 Eastern Engineering Group wrote and published this article. All rights reserved.
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