Coral Gables building inspection guide: latest laws and regulations
If you received a letter from the Coral Gables building department letting you know that you are required to complete a Building recertification or a milestone inspection we can help. Our Coral Gables building inspectors are highly knowledgeable on all the new changes to the Florida condo laws and new regulations that were implemented after the tragedy that occurred at Champlain Towers South in Surfside.
These new building laws have prompted Coral Gables building owners and homeowners associations to further inspect their buildings to ensure the safety and security of the residents and community nearby. In this guide, we will review all the new changes and give you a comprehensive understanding of the Coral Gables Building Inspection process and what it entails.
What is the 40 year recertification requirement in Coral Gables?
The 40-year recertification program was a Building recertification program in Miami-Dade which includes Coral Gables. The program required Building Owners in Coral Gables to pass a recertification process once the building reached 40 years of age. Once you completed your first Building Inspection you were required to recertify your building every 10 years after.
The program had two main components. A structural portion that looked at columns, load-bearing walls, and other critical structural infrastructure to determine if it was safe for use. The program is still in effect but there are some new changes to the inspection program including the time frame when your first Building Inspection is due as well as the name of the program.
What are the new Coral Gables laws on condo inspections?
As stated previously the 40-year inspection is no longer. After the collapse of the Champlain Towers in Surfside, new litigation was put into place across Florida to avoid a disaster like this from happening again. The new program is known as the Building Safety Inspection program, and Milestone Inspection program and also includes a new Structural Integrity Reserve Study. These new laws are not only required by condos but also any large structure that is 3 stories or more and has a minimum of 3,500 square feet.
Because Coral Gables was already subject to the requirements of the 40-year inspection which meets and exceeds the qualifications of the new program not much has changed but there are some new things you will want to know about. The first important difference between the 40-year inspection and the new Building Safety Inspection program is when it must be completed. The new Building Inspection laws state that you must complete the Building Inspection once your building reaches 25 years or 30 years. If your building is more than 3 miles from the coast it is required after 30 years and if it is less than 3 miles from the coast it is required after 25 years. This means that large homes in Coco Plum for instance would be subject to the reinspection process every 25 years due to its proximity to the ocean.
The Structural Integrity Reserve Study is also a new program that was introduced. This inspection looks at the current condition of your building’s structural and electrical components among others and provides you with an evaluation of what the cost would be to maintain your building over some time. This program ensures that building owners, associations, HOAs, and property managers have sufficient funds to cover the future repairs that are required.
After you have completed your first building inspection regardless of whether it was a 40-year inspection or a Building Safety Inspection you will need to get your building reinspected every 10 years after.
What if my building in CORAL GABLES already passed a 40 year Building inspection?
If you own or manage an older Building then chances are you already completed a 40-year inspection. If this is the case then you can coninue with the scheduling of reinspecting your building every 10 years however you now have to complete an additional inspection as stated above called the Structural Integrity Reserve Study also known as the SIRS.
How do I know if my building is required to pass the inspection?
More than likely the Coral Gables Building Department will likely send you a letter in the mail letting you know that your building is due for an inspection. However, if you do not receive the letter you are still liable for carrying out the inspection. The best way to find out for certain if your building needs to pass this inspection or when your inspection will be due is by contacting the Coral Gables Building department. Although we try to give our customers the most accurate information possible you should always check with the Coral Gables Building Department for the latest up to date information regarding local building department inspection policies.
Not completing the Coral Gables inspection within the given time frame which is usually 90 days can result in fines starting at $500 a day. We have listed the Coral Gables Building department’s website and contact info below so you can reach them if you have specific questions that wasn’t answered in this article regarding these Coral Gable Building inspections.
How do I schedule a Building inspection in Coral Gables?
The best way to schedule your Building Safety Inspection in Coral Gables is to give us a call. We can not only answer any questions you might have but can also provide you an estimated time frame when one of our engineers can visit your location. We also have a section on our contact page where you can get a proposal for your Building Inspection in Coral Gables within 48 Hours. On our contact page we have our phone and email address but the form is the best way to get an inspection scheduled as soon as possible.
Coral Gables BUILDING DEPARTMENT
What buildings in Coral Gables do not require a Building Safety Inspection?
There are very few building in Coral Gable which are exempt from the Coral Gables building safety inspection program which are the following:
- State of Florida buildings
- 1 to 2-story family dwellings
- Any buildings under 3500 square feet
- US government buildings
- Schools under the jurisdiction of Broward County School Board
- Buildings built on indigenous tribe reservations
Who can perform a Building Safety Inspection in Coral Gables
Not just any home inspector can perform these complex Building Safety Inspections. As a matter of fact some companies will only complete one of the required inspections. For example they might do the structural but not the electrical or visa versa. We can take care of all of the inspections required by Coral Gables. The Building Safety Inspection, the Electrical inspection portion and structural, we can also do the Structural Integrity Reserve Study as well as any other structural inspections.
In order to be qualified to carry out these inspection the Building Inspector must be a licensed engineer or architect. These are the only people that are certified to certify your building with the new guidelines outlined in SB-4D.
What to do once you complete your Coral Gables building inspection?
Whether you passed or failed your inspection the next step is to submit your signed and sealed report to the Coral Gables Building department. If your building was not found to have any structural problems then you are free and clear for another 10 years. If there were some structural or electrical problems found in the inspection such as concrete spalling, cracks in structural columns, or another structural deficiency then you will still need to submit the report to receive an extension.
Usually, you will have 120 days to pull the permits required to carry out the repairs. Make sure to submit your inspection as soon as possible to avoid any fines or fees. If you pass the inspection but do not submit it in time the Building Department may require you to do the process over which will cost you more time and money.
Final thought on the Coral Gables Building Safety Inspection program
The Coral Gables building safety inspection program can seem like a lot to take on but it is an important public safety program that safeguards your Building from getting too far into disrepair. It also helps you manage problematic areas in your building that you might not have noticed. This program helps prevent accidents like the one that occurred at Champlain Towers in Surfside Florida from happening again. It also ensures that Building Owners mitigate legal risk and excessive maintenance costs by not taking care of structural elements in a building. We have completed thousands of these inspections and will be by your side the whole way.
