Milestone Inspections

As the State of Florida looks to inspect all older multi-story residential buildings over the next year, it’s important you understand your options as a resident or the management association.

Called “Milestone Inspections,” nearly a million buildings in Florida will need to be inspected, including all buildings built before July 1, 1992.

The first step in your Milestone Inspections will be to order a phase one inspection through a licensed engineer. This is the minimum inspection required for buildings older than 30 years through the state. The findings on this inspection are basic in nature and, if cause is found, a “phase two” inspection will be ordered.

It’s at this time it imperative to have your legal team on board. We can work with your engineers to find the issues facing your building and determine who is at fault.

Without a legal team in place, it could be you and your fellow residents facing millions of dollars of out of pocket expenses to ensure your residence is safe.

Your Questions About Milestone Inspections

Why is this an issue?

After the horrific events around the Surfside building collapse, the Florida Legislature took action to ensure a tragedy like this never occurs again and passed new legislation requiring inspections of older, multi-story residential buildings.

What buildings are required to be inspected?

This new legislation specifically requires residential buildings taller than two stories to be inspected if they are more than 30 years old. If they are within three miles of the ocean, the requirement is more than 20 years old.

When must these inspections be complete?

The legislature is requiring all buildings to be complete by the end of 2024

What exactly is a "Milestone Inspection?"

The legislature has deemed all such inspections as “Milestone Inspections.” This is a general term over the different phases of inspections that are now required at specific milestones of a building’s life.

What is involved in Phase One of the Milestone Inspection?

According to the legislation: a visual examination of habitable and nonhabitable areas of a building, including the major structural components of a building, and provide a qualitative assessment of the structural conditions of the building. Surface imperfections such as cracks, distortion, sagging, deflections, misalignment, signs of leakage, or peeling of finishes are not considered signs of structural distress unless the architect or engineer performing the inspection determines that such surface imperfections are a sign of structural distress.

What is Phase Two of the Milestone Inspection?

According to the new law: A phase two inspection may involve destructive or nondestructive testing at the inspector’s direction. The inspection may be as extensive or as limited as necessary to fully assess areas of structural distress in order to confirm that the building is structurally sound and safe for its intended use and to recommend a program for fully assessing and repairing distressed and damaged portions of the building.

Does every building need a phase two milestone inspection?

No. If the expert conducting the phase one inspection finds no issue, a phase two inspection will not be needed.

What is the role of Orlando Law Group with my Milestone Inspections?

We work for you and/or your association, ensuring your rights are maintained. If there are issues with your building, we’ll work with the experts to accurately determine any fault by others, like construction defects, bad designs or other issues, and work to ensure those liable are held accountable.