Council Addresses Fire Sprinkler Retrofit Requirements
.jpg)
Naples City Council Urged by CALL to Adopt Resolution in Support of HB 561 and SB 1222 to Extend Deadline for Compliance with Costly Fire Sprinkler Retrofit Requirements. Collier County Commissioners Expected to Consider Resolution at Upcoming Meeting.
Representatives from the State Fire Marshal's Office presented information to City Council members and interested citizens regarding the improvements required for high-rise buildings (including condominiums and cooperatives) to comply with the Florida Fire Prevention Code. A recent report of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation pegged estimated compliance costs at up to $8,600 per unit. This, at a the time of an historic decline in property values and unprecedented association assessment delinquencies, all while the efficacy of the requirement has yet to be shown.
While Florida Statutes, Section 718.112(2)(l) provides that an Association may vote to opt out of the requirements to retrofit the units of a high-rise residential condominium, currently there is no way to avoid a partial retrofit of interior common areas in a high rise building (a building greater than 75 feet in height). WZVN (Channel 7) reported about the "angry condo association presidents" and county leaders that hoped to extend the deadline or even change the law completely.
On another note - we are proud to be nominated as a Best Blog in the Sun-Sentinel's Best of Blog Awards. The voting process is already underway - click HERE to vote for Florida Condo & HOA Law Blog in the Business and Technology Category!
