Miami-Dade Recertification

Changes Effective June 2022

How Are Building Recertifications Affected by the New Law?

The new state law, which went into effect on May 26, 2022, created new requirements for milestone inspections of condominium and cooperative association buildings that are three stories and taller. Miami-Dade County has had a building recertification program since 1975, which was amended on June 1, 2022. The integration of the new law together with the amended Miami-Dade ordinance has the following impacts on all existing buildings in Miami-Dade County:

• Buildings Built Before 1982: Structures that have already had an initial recertification inspection through Miami-Dade’s 40-Year program will continue to follow the established schedule.
• Coastal Buildings (1983-1997): Coastal condominium and cooperative buildings three stories or taller located within three miles of the coastline must have a recertification inspection by December 31, 2024, and every 10 years thereafter. These buildings are being identified through a GIS mapping project. All other buildings built between 1983 and 1992 must also have a recertification inspection by December 31, 2024, and every 10 years thereafter.
• Newer Coastal Buildings (1998 Onward): All condominium and cooperative association buildings three stories or taller located within three miles of the coastline must undergo a building recertification inspection when the building age reaches 25 years and every 10 years thereafter.
• Non-Coastal Buildings (1993 Onward): All other buildings must undergo a recertification inspection when the building age reaches 30 years and every 10 years thereafter.

Changes Effective January 2022

The recertification program in Miami-Dade County has been strengthened to include inspecting additional building components and providing a more detailed look into existing buildings. Approved by the Board of Rules and Appeals (BORA), the updated guidelines and report templates have been revised and are available below.

Click here for detailed guidelines and report templates.

How the Process Starts

Each year, new properties become subject to the recertification process at 30 years and every 10-year interval thereafter for the life of the structure, pursuant to Section 8-11(f) of the Code of Miami-Dade County. For those properties that require certification, property owners receive a Notice of Required Recertification to commence the process. The recertification reports must be submitted within 90 days from the date of notice.

Note: The following types of residences are exempt from the recertification process:

• Single-family homes
• Duplexes
• Buildings with an occupant load of 10 or less and a total area of 2,000 square feet or less

After Notification

Property owners must submit written recertification reports prepared by a Florida-registered professional engineer or architect, certifying each building or structure is structurally and electrically safe for the specified use for continued occupancy. The design professional must have proven qualifications by training and experience in the specific technical field covered in the inspection report (structural and/or electrical), as per the Miami-Dade County Code.

Important Notice

Please note that recertification forms have been updated. Cases F2022 and onward shall use form version 12/23R1.3 if they have not initiated the recertification process with the county (that is, submitted initial reports). As of January 2024, all building recertifications must use the new report templates. Proprietary report forms will not be accepted.

Access the updated forms and guidelines here.

Submission Requirements

Each page of the electrical and structural report must be signed and sealed by the engineer or architect unless submitted electronically using a verifiable digital signature. Additionally, if there is more than one building on the property, a site plan or copy of a survey showing the location of each building must be submitted. The building that is the subject of the recertification report must be clearly identified on the site plan or survey.

For more information visit:

www.miamidade.gov/recertification.page